How to Understand Dog Body Language: The Tail
Brown Poodle Standing on a Tennis Court in the Rain
All creatures use verbal sounds to communicate. But it’s also critical to understand - and factor in - nonverbal communication for a complete picture.
This also applies to canine body language.
Over the next few months, join us as we explore the world of dog body language through their:
Tail.
Body posture.
Eyes, eyebrows and ears; and
Facial expressions.
Similar to people, body language provides an accurate reflection of what is being felt at that moment in that specific situation. While dogs of course use verbal communication or cues, K9 vocalization is secondary to their body language.
The Importance of Dog Body Language
Beautiful White Poodle Sitting on a Wood Floor
Why is it important to accurately understand your dog’s body language? Doing so will help you:
Build a stronger, mutual bond.
Address, redirect and diffuse a potential issue.
Create a better form of communication in both understanding and responding.
Create a safer situation for both dogs and people.
Reduce stress for your dog (and yourself!).
Avoid mishandling a situation or even exacerbating negative behaviors.
Be a responsible dog parent.
Each dog is different and may uniquely express itself, so spend time watching your dog to learn his body language cues. This skill will help you not only understand your dog better but will also help you properly react and address what your dog is really saying! By understanding what is “normal” when it comes to your pup’s body language, you’ll be much better prepared to recognize something that is not normal!
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” (Orhan Pamuk)
The accurate interpretation of a dog’s body language will help you from anthropomorphizing your dog’s behaviors, emotions and intentions. (Anthropomorphizing is the attribution of human qualities to non-human animals or objects.) While it’s often fun to do, this could be a recipe for disaster.
Next, let’s take a closer look at how domesticated dogs communicate through their tails.
Dog Body Language: The Tail
People most often watch for this “obvious” cue. But they may also misconstrue what the tail’s language is saying.
For example, does a wagging tail mean a happy dog?
No! Although it’s commonly misinterpreted by humans. According to the AKC, “All a wagging tail means is that the dog is emotionally aroused.” This arousal could be due to:
Happiness.
Excitement.
Frustration or even
Aggression.
Video: Dog Tail Wags Explained by Science
Black Poodle Sitting in a Field of Orange Flowers
Interpreting the Wagging Tail
So how can you properly interpret a wagging dog’s tail? Here are a few quick tips.
Speed
The faster the wag, the more aroused the dog is feeling.
A fast, twitch-like wag indicates a high level of arousal. You can liken it to a guard dog on alert. Their arousal may also be in a negative way.
Long and slow wags from side to side (even involving the whole body) indicate a relaxed dog!
Direction
The direction of the tail’s wag also holds clues according to a recent study.
Right: Happy, positive-feeling dogs tend to wag more to the right.
Left: When facing something negative, dogs may wag more to the left.
Spinning: The “helicopter” tail (spinning in circles) is a happy dog greeting someone he knows and loves.
Position
The way a dog’s tail is positioned relative to the ground reveals its current emotional state
The higher the tail, the more assertive and alert the dog feels.
Dogs holding their tails high like a flag are feeling confident but possibly aggressive too if the tail is still.
Tails pointing down to the ground or tucked between their legs indicate feeling stress, submission and fear.
A truly relaxed dog holds their tail in a neutral, straight-out position. The exact position may depend on their breed.
How to Understand What a Dog’s Tail is Saying (Courtesy of DogHealth.com)
Remember, understanding your dog’s body language is critical especially when it comes to responding and training! Look for Part 2 about understanding your dog’s eyes, eyebrows and ears body language in February!
All pictures are the Courtesy of MobilityDog.
Infographic is the Courtesy of DogHealth.com.
Email Info@MobilityDog.org to get involved! We look forward to meeting you soon!
