The Many Different Ways A Dog Wags Its Tail

Most people believe that dogs wag their tail when they are feeling happy or friendly however strictly speaking that is not exactly the whole truth.

Whilst it is true that dogs use their tails to communicate that does not always mean they want people to pet them.

There is a kind of language associated with how dogs wag their tail based on its position and motion

When a dog feels relaxed the tail will lie in its natural position says the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

This natural position is not the same for all breeds either. Most dogs have their tails hanging downwards near their hocks or their heels. Greyhounds on the other hand have tails that rest between their legs and pugs have tails that curl upwards.

If a dog is feeling submissive or nervous it will hold its tail lower than its natural position. If it is feeling scared, it will tick its tail under its body. Contrastingly if a dog has been aroused it will hold its tail higher than normal with a vertical tail indicating aggression.

If a dog holds its tail out it is feeling curious and wagging reflects excitement and if there is vigorous tail wagging this suggests greater excitement.

Researchers in 2007 discovered the way a dog wags its tails indicates what it is feeling. If a tail wags to the right, this indicates positive emotions whilst if the tail wags to the left the dog is feeling negative emotions.

This has to do with the fact that the left hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body. The left hemisphere is associated with positive feelings and the right negative avoidance feelings.

Interestingly enough last year a study found that dogs understand the asymmetric tail wagging of other dogs. When a dog wags its tail to the right other dogs are relaxed whilst a left wagging tail stresses them out.