How do we recognize displacement behaviour in a dog that you are training? I'd really like to understand it as it pertains to dogs.

 Quote: From Wikipedia,

In psychology, displacement is a subconscious defense mechanism whereby the mind redirects effects from an object felt to be dangerous or unacceptable to an object felt to be safe or acceptable. Displacement is usually used to refer to the displacement of aggressive impulses.

So is this the same with dogs as it is with humans?

I've done a search through the whole site and only found some passing references to displacement behaviour even in this last post of mine.

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/131105/page/1#Post131105

As I am really thinking that my pup is showing some classic displacement behaviours so I would like to formulate a game plan to deal with it.

Thanks in advance

I would like to respectfully point out that "Wikipedia" is often a highly inaccurate source of information for basically anything ( any user can post anything in it's data base, which makes any info from there suspect, at best ) so using it for definitions is risky at best.

Just a FYI....

Got ya Will She looks like she grins and shows her teeth in a non aggressive way or scratches her collar or looks like a 3 year old watching a cartoon, ie no focus on the command or handler. I actually thought she may have had a hearing impairment at one point, but she doesn't.

I'm a big guy so I have a low baritone voice, I try to put that excited inflection into my voice but it never seems to come across. I don't know if that is part of it?

So Webster put's it like this

 Quote: merriam-webster

3 a: the redirection of an emotion or impulse from its original object (as an idea or person) to another b: the substitution of another form of behavior for what is usual or expected especially when the usual response is nonadaptive —called also displacement activity displacement behavior

This makes more sense to me with what my pup is doing from time to time.

When I give her a simple command ie Down, sit etc, she may go off to never never land as described. Then I'll have to repeat the command and/or reach out and tap her on the shoulder or pass a liver treat under her nose with the command "ahh ahh watch me" to regain her focus on the task at hand. As for her not knowing the commands I believe that she does as she does comply a high percentage of the time.

 Quote: Mike J Schonbrood

Dogs who bite the leash n act whiney n frustrated at 7 months old tend to be the dogs who'll bite their handler at 2 or 3 years old because they don't like the correction. Especially malinois.

This is what I'm a little concerned about, she hasn't done any of these behaviors but being a Malinois I don't want to go there.


Edited by Geoff Empey (03/03/2007 11:07 AM)
Edit reason: added comment

Having a high-drive Mal ( like there is another kind? ) means dealing with displacement behaviors. Dogs in drive want to do something...anything...and when they can't and are frustrated, that's when we see the crate spinning and all those other expressions of frustration.

Just goes with the territory!

How do other members here deal with these type of irritating behaviours? With Mals or other high drive dogs.

I'm more looking for some examples from experience and how the handler and dog got to positive conclusions?

Appreciate the insight!

First step, IMHO, is work 'em, work 'em & work 'em, then work 'em some more -- You can even make them work for their food, one bite at a time, to blow off more steam <:-)

Another nail in the coffin of the "Wikipedia".

It turns out that one of it's editors really, really exaggerated his credentials:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,257340,00.html

I don't allow my dogs to "win from displacemetn behaviors. If sthey are doing it because they are confused (in "conflict") then I make sure they know the command and practice to confirm their obedience. Breaking down the behavior into tiny baby steps for the dog is usually the soution here. Don't correct in this instance since it's actually a training problem, not an obedience problem.
If they are doing it out of nervousness, I redirect their focus on me or something to keep their mind calm. Like a toy or a new behavior or I get them into a position where tey are more calm. No corrections here either. Mild verbal to stop the bahvior can help but it's more of a detterant than an actually correction to teach the dog somehting.

If they are doing the displacment becuase they are resistent to obeying, then I correct (verbal or collar (usually)- whatever works for your dog). I do not ask the command twice or wait until the dog wants to do it. Sit means to sit down now not, scratch first then I will ask again and go chase you if not. This is how displacemnt "wins".

I ask sit, then if the dog tries to do one if those annoying displacment behaviors I correct as soon as I see the dog begin to think about scratching, then command sit and make sure the dog sits. I always praise when the dog finally complies because the use of corrections alone may worsen the displacement behavior.
I try to really think about the cause of the displacment to fix it. You have to get to the root with these or they will hide but show up later. Dog may be sensitive or dominant, nervous or tired mentally, etc. Fix the root cuase and the displacemtns will disappear, corrections alone will not solve the problem.

sorry about the outrageous spelling errors! how embarrassing!

Yeah I heard that story on the radio this AM on the way to work. The first thing I thought yup Will Rambeau was right.