Here is What You Need to Know About Your Dog’s Tail
Who doesn’t find it adorable when a dog wags its tail? It’s super entertaining when dogs chase their own tails and keep going in a circular motion. However, a dog’s tail has a lot to say about their feelings, besides being a cute fluffy part of their bodies.
The tail of a dog assists them with movement and balance which allows them to walk narrow paths and quickly change directions. One of the most important functions of your dog’s tail is communication. It tells you a lot, if you pay attention and try to understand what your dog is trying to communicate to you.
Let’s walk you through some common tail placements and what those try to tell you.
WHAT DOES YOUR DOG’S TAIL PLACEMENT MEAN?
TAIL WAGGING
We all know this one generally. A wagging tail means a happy dog, right? Well, let’s talk about this in a little detail.
While it’s quite possible that a wagging tail means that your dog is excited and happy, but it can also symbolize fear, frustration, or other negative feelings.
You should consider the following things to distinguish because a positive or a negative wagging tail.
- A back and forth wag which is long and slow may indicate excitement but a faster wag may indicate that your dog is on high alert.
- A scientific study in Correspondence submits that tail wags to the right show positive emotions and to the left show negative ones.
- A wagging tail to a neutral height usually shows that they are relaxed and happy.
TAIL HIGH
While some dogs’ tails are naturally higher or they curl up over their back, e.g. a pug’s. But others who don’t have such natural tails, the high tail can be indicative of certain behavior.
Rule of thumb is high tail is equal to a high alert. It can mean that they are attentive to something, be it in a negative or positive way.
TAIL LOW
Have you ever heard the phrase, “walked away with their tail between their legs”? This usually indicates feelings related to fear. This is literally the case with dogs as if your dog’s tail is all tucked in, it means they are afraid, nervous, and uncomfortable.
Your observation of your dog’s tail being low in a certain situation, around a person, or a particular pet, can tell you if something is going on. Once you know what is making your dog uncomfortable, you can take measures to address it. You can also get your dog checked by your veterinarian to make sure there is no illness or pain.
TAIL RIGID
A rigid tail means your dog is tense. It can indicate uncertainty, discomfort, or apprehension. It can also be an indicator that your dog is getting in his fight or flight mode. Tension that is apparent by a rigid tail shouldn’t be ignored.
Remain calm while you handle the situation. Once you make sure that your dog isn’t subject to imminent danger, gently take the away from the situation that is causing them to be tensed.
TAIL RELAXED
This one’s easy. A relaxed tail means your fur baby is relaxed and everything’s good. However, the relaxed neutral position may vary from breed to breed, so you can start by taking note of how your dog’s tail is placed when they are relaxed. Taking a mental note of it can help you recognize whenever your dog is at ease.
FULL DOG BODY LANGUAGE
When you look at your dog’s tail behavior, remember that you have to look at it in context of their overall body language. Dogs communicate with their back, paws, face, ears, and overall posture as well.
We should always remember that even though our dogs don’t use the same language as we do, they always try to communicate with us. We just have to pay attention, and listen to what they are trying to tell us.
