AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.
Most people associate a wagging tail with a happy dog, but that鈥檚 not always the case. Dogs鈥� tails can tell us a lot about how a dog is feeling, and a wagging tail doesn鈥檛 always mean that a dog is friendly and approachable.
So Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?
Even though we sometimes wish that our dogs could speak to us, dogs are great communicators and their tails play a huge role in letting us know how they鈥檙e feeling.
AKC Family Dog columnist Dr. Stanley Coren, professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the , wrote in that since dogs鈥� eyes are very sensitive to movement, a moving tail is a great visual cue to other dogs. 鈥淚n some ways, tail wagging serves the same communication functions as a human smile, a polite greeting, or a nod of recognition,鈥� Dr. Coren writes.
Reading your dog鈥檚 tail and body language is the best way to know what your dog is really trying to tell you. Just as different human facial expressions mean different things, tail movements vary on how your dog is feeling.
What Your Dog鈥檚 Tail Is Telling You
A dog鈥檚 tail acts like a barometer for their mood. Knowing tail positions and other canine body language cues will help you understand your dog and how to interact safely with other dogs. Although tail movement and position vary slightly between dog breeds, many general movements are the same.
A tail lowered and between the legs could indicate fear, anxiety, or submission. A slow wag could mean that a dog is unsure and feeling insecure about a situation. A tail held up higher than normal could mean that something has piqued your dog鈥檚 interest, like a or a squirrel running across the yard. A tail wagging energetically from side to side, especially when accompanied with a play bow or a few licks, can be a friendly greeting. However, there鈥檚 more to canine body language than just tail movements. It鈥檚 important to pay attention to other factors.
One study found that the direction a dog is favoring when wagging their tail may be a mood indicator, as well. A dog wagging their tail more on the right side of their body is probably more relaxed. On the other hand, a dog wagging their tail on the left side of their body could be more alert, stressed, or anxious, according to the study published in .
While many of these cues seem fairly simple, recognizing them will help you communicate better with your dog and will help you read the moods of other dogs, as well.