Why do dogs wag their tails?
Tail wagging is a form of dog communication. Dogs wag their tails to tell us how they’re feeling, just as they do with other forms of body language. But do you know what a dog wagging tail really means? Why do dogs wag their tails? Dogs wag their tails to communicate with humans and other animals. Often, it seems fairly obvious what the dog is trying to tell you when it wagging its tail.
Most people see a dog wagging its tail and think it’s happy. While this is usually true, sometimes a dog will wag its tail before it becomes aggressive. It’s important to note how the dog holds the tail while wagging. Where the tail is and how the dog’s body wiggles when it wiggles can give you clues about what it’s trying to convey. We should also pay attention to other signs to be expressed in the dog’s body language.
- Does the happy wagging dog’s tail relax and move back and forth? Does its body move with the rocking? If a dog is wagging its tail and the rest of its body seems relaxed or moving with the wagging, then you are probably dealing with a happy, comfortable dog. A happy, relaxed tail wagging is usually accompanied by a happy facial expression. A happy dog usually has bright eyes, an open mouth, and possibly a gentle body rub against your pants. A quick tail wagging along with other happy signals usually means the dog is excited.
- Other reasons Is the dog’s tail high and moving back and forth, while the dog’s body remains fairly upright and rigid? If a dog keeps his body upright and stiff while wagging his tail, he may be telling you that he is territorial or uncomfortable with what is going on around him. The tail may be low and wagging slowly, usually because the dog is hesitant about something. Or the dog’s tail may be held high and moved back and forth, narrow but swift. This discomfort can be a precursor to an attack. This is one of the reasons people sometimes report dogs wagging their tails before biting. So, if you come across a dog you don’t know who is wagging its tail, look at what its body language is telling you before approaching. It’s better to be safe than to be bitten by a dog.
- Does it matter which direction a dog’s tail is wagging? Dog-to-dog communication may be important, a study suggests. The researchers found that dogs responded differently depending on whether the other dog’s tail was wagging to the left or right. The dog who observed the other dog swaying to the right seemed to become relaxed. Dogs watching another dog with a left-wagging tail show signs of nervousness, stress, or anxiety. The study sheds some light on how dogs interact with each other.
