Displacement

[Komtessa]

Following on from another thread can someone explain there thoughts on this ...

[*Nat*]

Is this another training one Mudgie? 

[Komtessa]

yes    as always... 

[parker]

when they do something else rather than what you have asked them to do, like on a recall instead of coming to you they sniff the floor or grass instead

[*Nat*]

Bit like what happens with children then!!!!!!

[*Nat*]

Not the grass sniffing bit!!!! 

[CarolineH]

when they do something else rather than what you have asked them to do, like on a recall instead of coming to you they sniff the floor or grass instead

That would be a calming signal.  The dog feels under stress, maybe because of your tone or because something is making it feel uneasy so therefore it uses that form of 'displacement' to calm the situation down.  Trouble is, we humans don't often read it like that and think the dog is just being stubborn.  More about calming signals here - http://www.takingthelead.co.uk/2/Commun/calm.htm  It's a fascinating subject and I have been on several lectures about it.

[*Nat*]

Should make an interesting thread then! 

[fizzigal]

interesting read caroline thank you 

[*Lassie*]

Bit like what happens with children then!!!!!!

AND Husbands

[parker]

yep I am reading about calming signals watched the dvd's on them too, i would swing with my example as displacement though

[kizkiznobite]

psychological displacement can be recognised as a behaviour that is often described as a ‘gear shift’ of emotions – it can take the form of fear, aggression, calming, avoidance etc – it is a psychiatric term refering to a psychological physical defense mechanism in which a behavioural response and display of emotion results from a repressed emotion being transferred to another, safer or more acceptable activity.
yawning, scratching, sniffing, head shaking, air kissing and licking are all ways in which a dog can attempt to delay in following a cue – all dogs do it during their learning periods – as an average at least 3 responses per dog is common.
the art is to recognise it and be prepared - in order to either correct or wait it out – avoid losing temper or showing frustration and stay focussed on the task in hand and the dog will quickly recognize that you understand what it is saying and that you are prepared to either meet the problem or let him/her resolve it him/herself - beau - zerlinda's collie - did it at the beginning of the early sessions and always just before the 'haha' moment 
it is often very subtle - often overlooked by trainers but it can lead to cue breakdown – if it is serious – such as taking flight or being displayed as aggression then it needs sorting – this sort of displacement usually occurs when the training is going too fast for the dog to feel any sense of achievement – self worth is important to the dog which is why I always say end on a good note when finishing a session – if the dog develops a flight mentality – as gunner started to exhibit with dummy launchers – then s/he is feeling far too much pressure and the training need evaluating – it is rare for the problem to be the dog - biting is another problem one – the dog feels mentally trapped.  stopping what s/he is doing - known as quitting behaviour – lying down for example - is another way the dog will try to avoid – caused by lack of motivation and sometimes by poor puppy socialisation – or in the case of a worker – then it could be the breeding - it also happens when put under too much pressure – I have seen this with gun dogs and those of you that work herding dogs will have seen it too -  the dog goes on strike even when under risk of a telling off or a beating
those of you that have had paperwork from me -  remember the example of brose returning to me slowly -  horseshoe shaped – when recalled after my son’s accident? – arousal displacement – fear/stress/reaction to my fear/stress in voice – transference

is that what you wanted komtessa
is it the boyo - offering displacment to the girlie?  bet it is - or she doing to you when training    girlies are brill at it    correct me if i am wrong 

[Komtessa]

Oh I knew what displacement was but thought it would be good to share this as I didnt have a clue about it before - thought Nacho was being stubborn.

My two are the creme de displacement...

Nacho offers her displacement constantly.

She is doing great in training no displacement at all...  Loves the clicker... looks at it and squeaks    Clicker means treats - she is a greedy wee munchkin... 

[MaggieT]

This was useful, I'd only considered displacement activity such eating a bun before doing housework.  I can see now that my old goldie girl that I used to take to agility used to lay down on the side of the sand school at the first opportunity even if we were going round the course - wish I had thought more about what was happening.     She felt uncomfortable when there were lots of noisy people and dogs so we dropped it.

Good sticky ?    You said so much Bev I'm going to have to re read it    Getting old.

[parker]

it can take the form of fear, aggression, calming, avoidance

kiz using my example of recall and sniffing the grass would that be avoidance if my tone was normal/the same?

and calming if my tone was different/harder?