You‘ve probably seen your dog exhibit behaviors such as yawning, shaking (at times when they’re not trying to shake off water) and licking his or her lips. While all of these actions are considered normal dog behavior, you may not be aware of some specific reasons that dogs do these things. All three of these behaviors are known as “displacement behaviors”.
Displacement behavior is seen when dogs are trying to calm themselves down in a stressful situation or environment. Many times it can difficult to decipher if these specific actions are a result of being stressed, so it’s very important to play close attention to your dog in different scenarios and make note of his or her body language when these types of activities are being displayed.
The following scenarios are often indicative of displacement behavior:
If you’ve noticed your dog displaying any of these behaviors, or any others that may seem unusual given the situation, stop whatever you’re doing and try to determine what’s causing your dog stress. Try to help your dog become more comfortable in the particular situation (or remove him/her entirely) so the anxiety doesn’t escalate into a full blown panic attack and/or defensive aggression.
Looking for more doggie insight? You can learn about other common dog behaviors by reading the rest of our Why Does My Dog…? series.