If you love dogs, you know that they come in all
sorts of shapes, sizes and colors. They can vary
in so many different ways. One of their primary
features — the tail — can also vary widely
amongst different dog breeds .
Some dog breeds have long, shaggy tails that can
wag so forcefully that they can be wielded like a
weapon! Other breeds have short, tiny tails that
aren’t much more than nubs.
Dogs use their tails in many different ways. Some
of you might have thought that tails were just
useless appendages, but they serve several
important functions for dogs.
In addition to communicating their feelings and
emotions, dogs can use their tails for several
physical needs. For example, dogs’ tails help
them keep their balance when they’re moving.
Dogs in very cold climates can also use their
long, bushy tails for warmth when they curl up for
a nap.
Some working dogs, such as retrievers, can use
their tails like a rudder while they’re swimming. In
addition to using their paws as paddles, their tails
can help steer them in the right direction. After
they get out of the water and relax on the shore,
their tails can also be used as a flyswatter,
keeping pesky insects at bay.
One of the most powerful functions of a dog’s
tail, though, is communicating the dog’s feelings
and emotions in social situations. After all, a
wagging tail is a sign of happiness, right? As
you’ll soon learn, that’s a myth that’s not always
true!
Television commercials that show happy dogs in
front of heaping bowls of food equate a wagging
tail with happiness. While that’s sometimes true,
a wagging tail can communicate many different
messages.
Just think about it. It’s really no different than
your smile. When you smile, are you always
happy? Not necessarily, right? Sometimes we
smile because we feel it’s expected of us or we
want to make someone feel comfortable…even if
we aren’t feeling happy at that moment.
In addition to happiness, a wagging tail could
also communicate fear or insecurity. It might
even be a challenge that conveys a warning that
you shouldn’t approach.
Scientists who have studied dogs’ tails have
concluded that there are many different messages
a wagging tail can communicate. In addition to
the wagging tail itself, you need to consider many
other factors, including a dog’s facial expressions,
body posture and the position, direction, and
speed of the wagging tail.
For example, if a dog’s tail is straight back, it
may be on alert for potential danger. If the tail
moves straight up, it can serve as a warning that
the dog feels threatened and shouldn’t be
approached. On the other hand, an “in-between”
tail can be a sign of comfort or relaxation, while a
drooping tail can signal worry, fear, or illness. Of
course, these signs can vary amongst breeds and
should always be interpreted in light of how a
particular dog usually holds its tail.
The speed and breadth of a tail wag can also tell
you a lot. The faster a tail wags, the more likely
it is that the dog is excited. Likewise, the broader
(wider) the tail swings, the more likely it is that
the dog is in a positive mood.