A dog’s tail is perhaps the most important body part for communication. In this post, we will explore how to interpret the wagging of a dog’s tail.
1) A tail wagging slowly and reluctantly means the dog is insecure, anxious, less enthusiastic and not too friendly. It may also indicate that the dog is not too sure about what to do and possibly contemplating its next move. It is best to be cautious with a dog wagging its tail slowly.
2) When the tail wags to the right, the dog is friendly and relaxed; dogs often wag their tails to the right when greeting their owner. When a dog wags it tail to the left, it may mean suspicion, stress or negative feelings about a person or another dog.
3) When the tail is standing up, erect and not wagging, it means the dog is alert and ready to confront what is facing it. It also indicated dominance. A sudden tail rise from a slump position shows the dog is feeling aggressive.
4) A tail held down and between the legs is a sign of submission or fear. If the tail is down but not tucked in between the legs, it is a sign that the dog is not comfortable with the situation and is nervous.
5) A dog with its tail straightly horizontal is contemplating, observing, and trying to form an opinion about a situation.
6) If a dog’s tail is wagging speedily but the range of the wag is very small, it means the dog is excited and is getting ready to fight or attack. It is best to be cautious around such a dog.
7) If the wag is broad and big, it means the dog is friendly. A happy dog often wiggles its hips while freely wagging its tail.
8) If your dog is continuously chasing its tail, it is likely suffering from CCD (Canine Compulsive Disorder). Like humans, even dogs suffer from compulsive disorders.
9) When a dog stops wagging its tail and freezes, it means it is not interested in interacting with a person, another dog, etc.
In conclusion, a dog’s eyes are very sensitive to movement and when another dog wag its tails, clear signals are conveyed to the former. Not just dog owners but even those who do not like dogs should know how to correctly interpret wagging as it can prevent them from being attacked.
Image by Ben Kerckx from Pixabay
I am a dog lover and creator of this site. I am also the author of ‘Keep Sleeping Keep Missing- if only you knew’ (available on Amazon, Flipkart, Kobo, Google Store, etc.).
