What Does It Mean When Dogs Wag Their Tails?
Dogs use their tails as a form of communication to convey different emotions. The emotion being conveyed depends greatly on the tail position and the speed of the tail wag.
While most dogs’ tails hang down by their heels, there are some breeds whose natural tail position is upright, and some dogs don’t have tails at all. Fortunately, despite these breed differences, the tail movements are generally the same.
If a dog’s tail wag is thought of as their way of talking, then the positions of their tail can be thought of as words. The speed at which they’re wagging their tail can then be compared to how loud their voice is. The faster the tail wag, the louder the voice.
Here are several emotions a dog can convey through wagging their tail.
When a dog is expressing happiness or friendliness,
their tail is often in a neutral or slightly upright position and wagging at a moderate speed. Their tail is more relaxed than usual and often wagging more freely. It may even be wagging in a circular motion known as a “circle wag” or “helicopter tail.”
The more excited a dog is, the faster their tail typically wags. When dogs are really excited and friendly, they will sometimes also wag their hips or even their whole body, from their shoulders down to their tail.
When a dog is curious about something, such as when they find a new smell, their tail is typically held straight out behind them. This may or may not be associated with a tail wag—the tail is often held still. They will also be standing with an alert posture with their ears perked up.
A dog that is relaxed will stand with a relaxed posture and hold their tail in a neutral position without a tail wag. They will only start wagging their tail when an emotion is elicited.
Before describing a submissive or fearful tail wag, it’s important to note that dogs can express two types of fear: submissive fear and aggressive fear. It’s important to pick up on the cues a dog is giving to avoid heightening the situation.
Dogs that are submissive will often lower their tail or tuck it between their legs. This is typically done because the dog feels threatened and does not want to be harmed. A submissive tail position may or may not be associated with a tail wag.
If a dog is wagging their tail with it tucked tightly between their legs, this is typically indicative of extreme submission and fear. Many dogs show signs of submission when they’re scared.
Using the analogy that the speed of a tail wag equals how loud you are, a submissive tail wag can be thought of as a dog saying, “Please don’t hurt me!” If a dog is exhibiting this sign, it’s best to avoid petting them so the situation doesn’t escalate, as submissive fear can progress to aggressive fear.
There are many different types of canine aggression, such as fear aggression, leash aggression, territorial aggression, and so on. However, the signs of aggression are generally the same.
An aggressive dog will move their tail into a vertical position that often arches over their back. The tail will be very stiff and may or may not be wagging. If a dog is wagging their tail while in this position, it means they are ready to fight. The faster the tail wag, the more agitated and aggressive the dog is likely to be.
Dogs showing signs of aggression should be left alone because it’s likely they will attempt to bite if a human or animal tries to interact with them. Other signs they may exhibit include but are not limited to:
When dogs don’t want to interact at all, they typically stop wagging their tail, and their whole body freezes. A more direct translation of this behavior is, “Please leave me alone.”
At this stage, it’s not associated with aggression; it’s just the dog’s way of requesting to be left alone. However, if the dog is approached, the avoidance signals may transition to submission or aggression depending on the dog. Heed the dog’s request and to not approach unless absolutely necessary.
Scientists have also discovered there is a difference between a more right-sided versus left-sided tail wagging. Dogs conveying more positive emotions will wag their tail slightly to the right, while dogs that are conveying more negative emotions will wag their tail slightly to the left.
Dogs that are wagging their tail slightly to the right tend to be friendlier and exhibit approachable tendencies. Dogs that are wagging their tails slightly to the left tend to be more stressed or anxious and exhibit withdrawal tendencies.
Your dogs tail wont have to be necessarily kept upright and stiff to denote far from amicable intentions. In some cases, dogs fight when they are fearful. Fearful dogs usually arent troublemakers until they are cornered and have no escape. If your dog is fearful aggressive, he will cower, keep his ears flattened against the head and his tail will be tucked between the legs. Your dog may also show his teeth, bark, growl and even lunge and snap at the other dog, especially if the other dog doesnt back off.
When it comes to portraying emotions, dogs are very expressive animals. While you may be tempted to exclusively look at your dogs tail to get a picture of Scruffys inner feelings and motivations, consider that the tail is only a small piece of the puzzle. Breaking down your dogs body language in components may be helpful; however, your final goal should be to put the puzzle pieces together so you can read your dog in his entirety based on the context he’s in.
Adrienne Farricelli has been writing for magazines, books and online publications since 2005. She specializes in canine topics, previously working for the American Animal Hospital Association and receiving certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Her articles have appeared in “USA Today,” “The APDT Chronicle of the Dog” and “Every Dog Magazine.” She also contributed a chapter in the book ” Puppy Socialization – An Insiders Guide to Dog Behavioral Fitness” by Caryl Wolff.
Keep an eye on your dogs tail and screen his entire body language before hes actually into Cujo mode and starts a fight. If your dog is getting ready to start an altercation, he may try to look large and intimidating. His head may be held high, the ears may be kept up and forward and his tail may be kept raised and stiff. He might flag his stiff tail nervously, moving it back and forth. You might also notice raised hair on his back and he may appear to be on the tips of his toes so hes ready to lunge forward. Staring at the opponent in the eyes, he may also show his pearly whites while growling, snarling or barking.
If you cant make head or tail of Scruffys behavior, his tail may give you some clues. This extension of your dogs spinal column functions as a useful emotional barometer, allowing you to take a sneak peek into his inner moods. Dont rely entirely on the tail though; this furry emoticon is only part of the puzzle.
Do dogs only wag their tail when happy?
Dogs often wag their tails to express a state of energetic enthusiasm. In a 2018 study, researchers found: “Dogs wag their tails loosely from side to side to communicate friendliness or their excitability.”
This association between tail wagging and positive canine social behavior has been proven in further research.
In a 2013 study, dogs demonstrated excitement by wagging their tail in response to their achievements. The researchers write these results suggest “tail wagging may be a useful indicator of positive affective states in dogs.”
Meanwhile, a 1989 study published in the journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior found dogs wagged their tails more after a period of limited social contact. This may explain why dogs wag their tails so much after their owner’s prolonged absence.
Regardless, dogs move their tails for any number of reasons — to convey anxiety, alertness, or other emotions. Some studies even suggest that tail wagging can correspond to a dog’s personality, though further research is still needed to be sure.
Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?
We often think of a ‘waggy tail’ as being a sign of our dogs being happy, but recent research has shown that tail wagging doesn’t purely convey a dog’s happiness. The tail of a dog is a communicative tool that they use to express emotions to other animals, and indeed, us as owners. Vets have been suspicious that wagging isn’t always related to happiness for some time – often at the vet dogs that are notably nervous or defensive will have a wagging tail. This can often be misinterpreted – leading to a very dangerous situation for both veterinary staff and owners alike.