Displacement Behaviour

Think back to the sink analogy. Displacement behaviours are shown when the sink is about to flood over (and the overflow hole is being used) or when the sink has flooded but has started emptying, i.e. when a dog is approaching, or calming down from being highly aroused.

Displacement behaviours that could have been noted during consultation include, but not limited to;

• Licking lips or mouthing
• Licking or chewing parts of their own body, or other surfaces
• Yawning
• Stretching out (with front legs forward, usually)
• Shaking as if she has come out of water
• Blinking excessively
• Scratching (e.g. scratching her own neck with her back leg)
• “Snuffing” or half sneezing

If we note when your dog is approaching high arousal, we will be able to give them time out, or more space from their triggers before they show unwanted behaviour. We should see a reduction in overall frequency of displacement behaviours as we achieve our aims.