Is my dog unhappy if he doesn’t wag his tail? A Comprehensive Guide

Is a wagging tail a sign of a happy dog?

One of the things we know best about our dogs is their tails!

The sight of a dog so happy to see his human that his tail is going a mile a minute is a heart-warming one.

If your dog is wagging his tail, that could be a sign that he’s happy. That said, it does depend on what kind of wag your dog is doing.

Your dog’s tail is one of the main ways that he communicates with those around him. Happiness and excitement aren’t the only things he’ll convey with his tail.

If your dog is holding his tail neutrally or slightly upright and it’s wagging moderately quickly, that’s a sign he’s happy. But if he’s holding his tail down low and it’s wagging slowly, that could indicate that something is making him feel stressed.

So it’s important to understand the different ways that your puppy uses his tail to communicate.

Before we get into why your puppy rarely wags his tail, you might have some other questions first. Make sure you take a look at these puppy behavior articles for more info on your puppy:

What messages does a wagging tail communicate?

Before we learn to speak “tail,” we must recognize that the neutral or natural position of a dog’s tail varies by breed. Most dogs have tails that hang down near their heels when they are relaxed. But some dogs, like Beagles, hold their tails more vertically. Others, like Greyhounds and Whippets, curl their tails under their bellies. Still others, like Pugs and Boston Terriers, have tails that coil tightly against the body and don’t wag at all.

Tail position may indicate:

Preparedness or agitation. When dogs are alert, they stand with their ears up and tails raised. This posture indicates that they are watching and ready to confront whatever caught their attention.

Negotiation. When a dog suddenly stops wagging his tail and freezes, it may mean that he wants divert a threat without being aggressive. Many dogs do this when petted by strangers, to communicate that they don’t want to interact with them.

Aggression. When a tail moves from a neutral position to a vertical one or arches over the back, it indicates that the dog may be aggressive. The higher the tail, the greater the threat. This high tail position also releases more of the dog’s scent from the anal glands, announcing the aggressive dog’s arrival and marking his territory.

Submission. When a tail moves from the neutral position to a lower one, the dog is submissive and is not a threat. If the tail is tucked tightly between the rear legs, the dog is scared. He perceives a threat and is asking not to be harmed. This lower tail position reduces the amount of scent emitted from the anal glands and allows the dog to remain in the background or fly under the radar.

Curiosity. When a dog is curious about something, she holds her tails straight out in a horizontal position.

Happiness. When a dog is happy, he holds his tail in a neutral or slightly raised position and adds a healthy wag.

The rate at which a tail moves adds further meaning to canine communication.

Wagging speed may indicate:

Excitement. The faster the wag, the more excited the dog. A tail wag may range from very slow to extremely rapid (known as flagging). Sometimes the dog’s tail wags so fast that it appears to vibrate.

Insecurity. A dog that is tentative about meeting a new person or another dog may wag his tail ever so slightly to indicate that he is insecure.

Friendliness. A dog that is very friendly may wag his tail more freely and even wiggle his hips at the same time.

Aggression. When a dog wags his tail very fast while holding it vertically, he may be an active threat. Remember that a person can get bitten by a dog that is wagging its tail!

Canine “tail talk” is so complex that even the direction of the wagging is significant. Studies show that dogs wag their tails to the right when they are happy or confident and to the left when they are frightened. Interestingly, there is a scientific reason for this.

The left side of the brain controls movement on the right side of the body and vice versa. Therefore, the left brain is engaged when the tail wags to the right and the right brain causes the tail to move to the left. Since the left side of the brain is associated with positive feelings like love and serenity, a happy dog wags his tail to the right. Conversely, the right half of the brain is associated with negative feelings like fear and depression, so a frightened dog wags his tail to the left.

If your dog’s tail is sticking straight out behind them then this means they’re feeling a little apprehensive about something. You dog may take this stance when they aren’t sure about someone new, or if they hear a strange noise that they’re unfamiliar with. Whenever you see your dog assume this position, just give them a little space to figure things out. But if you are outside with your dog and their tail begins to do this, grab onto their leash in case they bolt or have a negative reaction.

When a dog is scared or sad, they will stick their tail between their legs. This could be a stance they take when they’ve done something bad, like peeing in the house, and they’re feeling ashamed. Or if they’ve been scolded they may put their tail between their legs. Dogs will also assume this position when they’re scared about something. When this is the case, just calmly assure them that everything is okay.

Dogs do a lot of communication through body language. One of the ways that they express themselves and what they’re feeling or thinking is through their tails. They can convey all kinds of emotions with just one wag – or a lack thereof. And below are the different signs and what they mean:

What do you think about these dogs’ signs? How often do you see these different tail positions? Let us know!

Tail down coupled with their head down could be a sign that they’re feeling either sad or submissive. This stance is a “beta” posture, so it could be them signaling to you that they know you’re the pack leader.

14 Signs Your Dog Doesn’t Love You (Even if You Think They Do)

If your dog does not wag its tail, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about it.

So, why doesn’t my dog wag its tail? Common reasons why dogs don’t wag their tails are depression, injury, tiredness, boredom, or being intimidated.

There are actually multiple reasons why your dog might have been doing it and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main reason and there are a number of things you can do about it.