Understanding Dog Displacement Behaviors
A sudden itch may be a displacement behavior.
What Are Displacement Behaviors?
If you're reading this, then you may be a dog training professional that has heard about canine displacement behaviors, or you may be an owner just wishing to learn more about your pup's behaviors and quirks. Whichever is the case, learning more about dog displacement behaviors is a big plus for those passionate about dog psychology.
So, what are dog displacement behaviors, and how do they affect your pup? Most of all, how can you and your dog benefit from recognizing these behaviors?
Displacement behaviors, as the term implies, are out-of-context behaviors that animals engage in when they're faced with conflicts. For example, a bird that cannot decide whether to engage in a fight or flight response may decide to peck a tree branch instead.
In a similar fashion, you may find yourself scratching your head when you're uncertain about how to proceed in a certain situation. On the other hand, psychiatrist/primatologist Alfonso Troisi noted how humans might also undergo similar, self-directed behaviors when they aimlessly manipulate objects, such as chewing pens, biting nails, or twisting rings.
My Experience With Displacement Behaviors
I observed this behavior personally when my hen was broody. When I prevented her from repeatedly going to her nest, she started repeatedly scraping the ground with her beak. I am guessing she was very frustrated, and since she couldn't go to her box and couldn't attack me, she engaged in this displacement, sort of out-of-context behavior.
We must thank Julian Huxley for describing displacement activity for the first time in 1914. Subsequently, Konrad Lorenz conducted further research on this. Further mentions of this phenomenon were offered by Dutch researchers Nikolaas Tinbergen and Adriaan Kortlandt. It was Tinbergen, in particular, who adopted the term ‘displacement behavior' for the very first time.
Displacement Behaviors in Dogs
I saw my first case of displacement behaviors when I was learning my ropes in dog training under the instruction of a reputable trainer. Twice a week, I came to attend and assist his classes so I could complete the over 200 hours required for my certification.
Every Friday, this young Labrador was attending advanced classes to learn how to heel and do search and rescue work. Every time this dog was asked to heel, he would get these sneezing fits.
Displacement behavior or calming signal?
alexadry all rights reserved
Per the owner, these sneezing fits only happened in class and when the dog was asked this particular command. To an untrained eye, this looked like a normal case of sneezing, but at a closer look, you could see other signs of stress and frustration. He used to take treats very quickly and nervously, often biting the owner's hands.
The owner used to also get frustrated when the dog didn't comply the first time. While the dog was eager to get the treats, he must have felt frustrated and stressed as well, so he used to get these out-of-context sneezing fits almost so to metaphorically manifest an "allergy to heeling exercises."
I have since then learned how to recognize many other out-of-context behaviors in dogs and other animals. Recognizing them takes an understanding that the dog is doing them out of context. Therefore, a dog who yawns when it's bedtime is normal, and so is a dog shaking his fur after rolling on the grass. Here are some examples of displaced behaviors in dogs.
Examples of Displaced Behaviors in Dogs
- Scratching when there's not an itch
- Self-grooming when there's no need
- Yawning when the dog is not tired
- Licking lips when there is no food around
- Sniffing the ground when there's nothing to sniff
- Shaking the fur when the dog is not wet
- Licking paws when there is no irritation
Circumstances where you may see displacement behaviors include situations where a dog has a conflict or feels anxious. The dog basically has the desire to do something but suppresses this desire.
For example, a dog may have the desire to approach a stimulus but, at the same time, might be fearful of it. Similarly, a dog frustrated by a child removing his toy may feel compelled to bite but chooses to suddenly lick his paw.
How does a dog select which displacement behaviors to use? This will vary depending on several factors, such as the circumstance, the dog's personality, and the success in using such displacement behavior in the past.
How to Deal With Displacement Behaviors in Dogs
- For starters, identify what triggers them so you can prevent exposure to those situations until you can allow him to gain enough confidence to face them in the future. If you are training a behavior, take an errorless approach and help your dog succeed by splitting the exercise in easier to attain steps that are reinforceable.
- Never punish a dog for exhibiting a displacement behavior; doing so will only add to the anxiety. Remember that these behaviors are triggered by anxiety, uneasiness, and uncertainty. In some cases, the dog is buying time to decide his next move.
- Also, consider that if your dog engages in a displacement behavior instead of biting, you definitely don't want to punish it or next time, he may skip the displacement behavior and go straight to a bite!
- At the same time, though, you don't want to reinforce such behaviors to the extent that the dog may repeat them and transform them into an obsession.
- You want to manage the situation and then proactively work on it so the displacement behavior no longer has a need to surface because you have changed the dog's emotional response towards the trigger or situation. This is ultimately a win-win situation for all!
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
© 2013 Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST
Comments
Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST (author) from USA on December 30, 2019:
Hi Morgana, what you are seeing is quite common.
If he does this when you ask him to do something, it may help troubleshooting why. Is it something too hard for him? Are you using gentle training methods? Also, when he can't do what he wants to do, it helps to redirect him to doing something else. For example, if he wants to chew a table leg, you ask him to "Leave it" and offer him a toy to play with instead.
Morgana on December 28, 2019:
Hi, Adrienne. I was wondering, could I have some advice/help please? I have a almost 2 year old Standard Poodle. He displays displacement behaviors when I ask him to do something he already knows or he just won't do what I ask him to.
He also does it when he wants my attention, and when he can't do what he wants to do, he also does it when I have him walk nicely on a leash. It's VERY frustrating
Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST (author) from USA on July 11, 2019:
Kel, that's a very good question. I will try to provide my theory as I don't think there's an official answer to this. I see calming signals taking place when dogs feel somewhat threatened or are trying to avoid conflict and want to manifest pacifying signs. Displacement behaviors in my opinion are mostly behaviors used to somewhat "discharge energy" due to the buildup of stress, frustration or anxiety. I can see them being intertwined due to some common elements.
Kel Ertl on December 08, 2016:
How do you distinguish between displacement behaviors and calming sigals as explained by Turid Rugaas? You have a few like lip licking, yawning, and sniffing at the ground which are classic calming signals.
Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST (author) from USA on May 04, 2013:
Jenincognito, thanks for the votes up! It's a very interesting topic.
JenIncognito on May 04, 2013:
This hub is very helpful to dog owners. I had never heard of dog displacement behaviors but thank you for this useful information. I will use it with my dog. Voted up, useful and interesting.
Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST (author) from USA on May 03, 2013:
It could be he is simply buying some time as he's still not completely sure and needs to figure things out. It could be he's a bit worried of not performing the command correctly. Some dogs do this to create a pause, and then a few seconds later they perform the behavior.
Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST (author) from USA on May 03, 2013:
ClaireDixon, glad you found the article interesting and that it helped explain some behavior your newly adopted dog is exhibiting. thanks for stopping by to comment!
Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST (author) from USA on May 03, 2013:
ArF that's a great example! Indeed, when we teach stay in class, we do get these displaced yawns quite so often. Thanks for stopping by!
Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST (author) from USA on May 03, 2013:
Thanks for the sharing and votes up sid76!
Shasta Matova from USA on May 03, 2013:
We've been trying to teach Zeus to speak. It apparently makes him very nervous because he will do a lot of yawning, and eventually make a very small barking sound. He does bark (loudly) in the house when he is excited to go for a walk so I am not sure why it makes him nervous to speak on command.
Claire Dixon from Billingham, Cleveland. UK on May 03, 2013:
Interesting, something I had not thought about before, but it does explain some of the behaviour that our recently adopted dog is displaying. Thank you.
Allison on May 02, 2013:
My dog does the yawning thing ALL the time. And it's not just a little yawn, it's an exaggerated and vocalized yawn. She usually does it when she wants to go play but has to stay still. Luckily it's not destructive, just cute and funny.
sid76 on May 02, 2013:
Wow fantastic article alexadry. I will definitely share it. Voted up!
