A funny video of a dog ‘petting himself’ against the fringes of a handbag is making the rounds of the internet. Turns out there’s an explanation for this strange tic: it’s an example of a rare behavior known as trancing.
Bagel the Walker mix self-petting
Caught my dog pleasuring himself on my purse. (SFW) from videos
In an apparent trance, a dog will slip into super-slow motion as they let a plant, table cloth, or curtain gently tickle their back. They may or may not easily snap out of it.
Bull terriers are especially known for trancing
Some breeds are more susceptible to this fascinating behavior, but any dog could potentially possess this trait. Some dogs seem to learn the behavior copying other dogs.
Trancing in sync
