Trancing is a behavior seen in some dogs where they walk very slowly and gingerly under overhanging foliage, tablecloths, curtains, or other objects that lightly touch their back. They may also freeze and appear to be in a trance-like state, hence the term ‘trancing’. This behavior is also known as ghost-walking or weed-walking. Trancing is seen often enough in Bull Terriers that some online sources make the claim that it is unique to the breed, but it has been observed in other breeds as well, such as Greyhounds, Basset Hounds, Salukis, Whippets, Jack Russells, Labradors, Irish Setters, Cane Corsos, Cavaliers, Australian Cattle Dogs, and Puggles.

The reason behind this behavior is not fully understood, but some owners of trancing dogs suspect that their dog actually enjoys this odd behavior, noting that when they snap them out of their trance, they almost appear a bit miffed to have had their episode cut short. Most trancing episodes, when left uninterrupted, last only a few minutes.

Trancing is usually harmless, but if a dog is trancing under something dangerous or poisonous, it’s time to intervene. If a dog starts trancing out of the blue, is experiencing other significant behavioral changes along with trancing, or if the owner is concerned about their dog’s slo-mo walking or trance-like state, it is always helpful to get a checkup from a vet to rule out any possible underlying medical conditions, such as seizures.