Fiddling in Dogs: What It Means and How You Can Deal With It

“Fiddling” describes a conflict behaviour in ethology: a mix of play-like movements and signs of stress or uncertainty. It occurs when a dog is overwhelmed but does not perceive the situation as clearly threatening. The dog does not know exactly how to react.

How can you recognise fiddling?

Fiddling shows itself through various behaviours that combine stress and playful distraction:

1. Excessive tail wagging: The dog wags its tail faster and more irregularly than usual, often combined with a lowered body posture.
2. Quick, exaggerated movements: Sudden jumping, spinning or barking without a clear purpose.
3. Calming signals: Licking lips, yawning or avoiding eye contact.
4. Play bows or play invitations: The dog lowers its front legs and raises its hindquarters, but in a context that does not look like play.
5. Uncertain, hurried behaviour: The dog appears nervous, indecisive, moves hastily and keeps looking around.

What does fiddling mean for the dog?

Fiddling shows an emotional conflict. The dog feels insecure, tries to reduce stress and defuse a tense situation; it wants to prevent an interaction from escalating.

An example: A dog is near another dog or a person it feels threatened by, but cannot withdraw or does not want to react aggressively. Instead, it shows play behaviour as a form of stress relief.

Studies and Research on Fiddling

In ethology, fiddling is considered an expression of an ambivalent state: the dog experiences both attraction and fear. Dogs show this behaviour more frequently in new or unpredictable situations.

A study by Beerda et al. (1997) found that dogs show behaviours that appear calming or play-like more often in stressful situations – an indication of conflict resolution.

When should you let fiddling run its course and when should you intervene?

Let it run its course:

• Mild uncertainties: If the fiddling occurs in a situation without direct threat and the dog gradually relaxes, give it time to calm down on its own.
• Familiar environment: If your dog is fiddling in a familiar environment but shows no signs of aggression or excessive stress, it can learn to cope with the situation.

Intervene:

• Strong uncertainty or fear: If the fiddling is triggered by intense uncertainty and your dog cannot withdraw, intervene. A calming recall or leaving the situation helps.
• Threatening situations: If the fiddling indicates a potential threat or escalation, de-escalate the situation.
• Persistent fiddling without relaxation: If your dog regularly fiddles and does not relax, the situation is too stressful. Identify the trigger, remove it, or seek professional help.

Myths about Fiddling

The behaviour is often misunderstood. Here are common myths and the reality behind them.

Myth 1: Fiddling is always a sign of joy and play behaviour.

Reality: Fiddling can contain playful elements, but it is generally a sign of uncertainty or stress. Dogs use it to defuse an unclear situation. Always consider the context and the dog’s body language.

Myth 2: Fiddling means that a dog is social and outgoing.

Reality: Fiddling does not necessarily mean that a dog is outgoing. Often the dog tries to defuse or avoid potentially unpleasant social contact, signalling that it poses no threat.

Myth 3: Dogs that fiddle are dominant and try to take control.

Reality: Fiddling is not a sign of dominance. It is appeasement behaviour: the dog wants to reduce stress or de-escalate a potential threat. Dogs that fiddle often show signs of submission or uncertainty.

Myth 4: You should ignore fiddling because the dog can cope with it on its own.

Reality: Fiddling sometimes subsides on its own when the dog gets used to the situation. But if it results from uncertainty or stress and occurs regularly, you should not turn a blind eye. Support the dog by removing the source of stress or calming it in other ways.

Myth 5: A dog that fiddles will never become aggressive.

Reality: While fiddling is an appeasement behaviour intended to prevent escalation, it does not mean that a dog could not become aggressive if it continues to feel threatened or stressed. If a dog repeatedly experiences no relief in an unpleasant situation, its behaviour may worsen. View fiddling as an early sign of stress and act accordingly.

Myth 6: Fiddling is a sign of poor training or bad upbringing.

Reality: Fiddling is not a sign of poor training. It is a natural behaviour that many dogs display in various situations, especially when they feel insecure or stressed. Even well-trained and well-behaved dogs may fiddle when encountering new or unpleasant situations. This behaviour reflects the dog’s current emotional state.

Myth 7: You should always interrupt fiddling to avoid reinforcing the dog’s behaviour.

Reality: Fiddling is a coping mechanism and not bad behaviour that needs immediate correction. Observe the situation and assess whether the dog truly requires support or is capable of calming itself down. Hasty intervention can stress the dog further, whereas a gentle, supportive approach helps it feel safer.