Dog Wagging Tail Meaning

Dog Wagging Tail Meaning? Dog wagging his tail is a common thing and something we can see your pet doing this all the time. But, what does this mean? Most of us believe that dog is happy when he does this. In reality, this is partially true. This expression is something that needs to be explained in detail and we are going to reveal the answers below. Dog wagging tail meaning is a very interesting topic to know.

What does a wagging tail mean?

First of all, why dogs have a tail? It is primarily used to help them balance their weight, not for communication. This is even more common in dogs who will climb various rocks and even trees (yes some dogs climb trees).

A more common question and the one we are interested in here is why dogs wag their tails. In the lack of a better word, they want to show you emotions. A wagging tail can be used to show and even reveal anxiety, happiness when they are nervous and so much more.

When a dog is resting, his tail will be in a resting position. Now, this will depend on the dog breed. Some dogs have a curly and lifted tail that will sit like that all the time. Others have a long tail that almost reaches the ground. We all know a tail of a German shepherd that in its resting position is just spectacular. It will go down and make a slight curve. It is just one of many examples.

Once the emotions of a dog are present or elevated, his tail will start to wig and move. Keep in mind that there are many variations and even more options so you do need to invest a lot of time into the next section of this article.

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Interpreting Tail Wags in Dogs: 10 examples you need to know about

You need to interpret the meaning of the tail wagging in your dog carefully. There are many variations, as we have mentioned so you can use these 10 examples. The goal is to tell with accuracy why your dog does this and to help him if needed. Once you know these 10 examples, you will be able to communicate with your dog better than ever before, so they are very important.

1. He is relaxed

When your dog is relaxed, something you will see often his tail will be relaxed and down. It can be in the U shape as well, but this depends on the breed. An interesting fact is that as he gets excited, his tail will go up. He will start moving him as well, depending on the emotion he wants to show you. Don’t forget that a dog may move his tail slowly and in different directions when relaxed. Although this is not technically wagging the tail, it is important to know the difference so you can tell with accuracy when he wants to tell you something.

2. He is confident and feels dominant

If you have a happy dog who feels confident and also who feels like he is dominant, his tail will be lifted up. He will wag it all the time and the moves will be fast and sharp. You can see the tail changing directions very fast which looks great and appealing. Keep in mind that the moves can be short but they will always be fast.

3. Your dog is happy

This is the best-known fact and explanation why some dogs wag their tail. It is also one of the easiest explanations and can be seen all the time. A dog will wag his tail when he is happy. But, his body will be relaxed and there will be other signs. His mouth will be open, his eyes bright and he may jump, or make funny noises.

The last two are rare though. Try to remember that the tail movement will be very slow. Some even say that you can see his body moving alongside the tail which is the main difference you can use to distinguish this from the next example.

Of them all, this is the most common example and the most appealing one. Your dog will be comfortable and happy. He uses his tail to tell you that. It means that you are a good owner and you can see when your pet does this. As such, you can adapt to his needs.

4. He is excited

As we have mentioned earlier, dogs look similar when happy and when excited. This is the second example when dogs wag their tail often. As you know, dogs are easily excited and they wag the tail almost all the time. But, in this case, a scenario he will wag his tail much faster. His body may not move and you can see similar facial expressions as in the previous case.

An interesting fact is that he can move the tail slow or fast. The faster he does this, the more excited a dog is. In some cases, a dog can wag his tail so fast that it will look like it vibrates. However, this is not common.

5. Aggression example

A dog wagging his tail can tell you a lot of things. One of them is that he is preparing for an attack or he is uncomfortable. This is a well-known reason. Most people who were attacked by a dog claim that they saw him wagging the tail before the actual attack. This example is almost completely different than the above ones.

In the lack of a better word, he will be rigid and you can see this applying to his tail and body. If his tail is wagging slowly and it is low, it means that the dog is hesitating. You still have the time to escape. But, if his tail is lifted and he wags it fast, he is preparing to attack.

We can see that this example also applies when a pet feels uncomfortable and he has some problem. It can be a stranger or another dog on his territory or something similar.

When a dog is preparing to attack, you can see other expressions as well. He may growl, his ears will be erect and his all body will be stiff. In many dogs, his back hair will be elevated as well. The best example is the German shepherd but it applies to many other dog breeds as well.

6. A dog is friendly

If your dog is feeling friendly about a person or other animal, he will wag his tail more freely and he may even wag his hips. This means that he is comfortable with the situation and there is no need to feel frightened or scared.

7. They communicate with other dogs

Dogs have been using their tails for communication with other dogs for centuries and probably even longer. This is possible to the recent studies where scientists have been analyzing the behavior between multiple dogs. If one dog wags his tail on the right side, other dogs will become more relaxed and calmer. But, if he wags the tail on the left side, other dogs will become nervous.

This can be explained a body language and that one dog is trying to tell something to others. It may be a danger or everything is calm in his field of view. There is still a lot of research needed.

8. Your pet is curious

When a dog is curious, he will hold his tail straight and he may wag it just a little bit. His body will be straight and stiff and his ears erect. His tail may be in a horizontal position as well so you can use this difference to define his behavior.

9. He is insecure

This example can be seen when a dog is meeting a new person or a new dog. He will wag his tail slightly and it will be slightly elevated or low. What this means is that your pet is insecure and he may be scared about that person or animal. We can see that this happens all the time when a dog meets someone and that dog owners don’t know what to do. If you are one of them, take your time and make sure this is a slow process and the dog has plenty of time to adapt. A dog who is insecure can be dangerous as well. In this case, wagging the tail is always slow and moves are short.

10. A dog is submissive

This isn’t a wagging example per se, but it is an appealing section to cover. A dog who keeps his tail between his legs and he doesn’t move is a scared dog. He may do this when he sees another dog or a person who hurt him. He will not move his tail at all. Always remember that a scared dog might bite you! If he shows you the teeth, don’t touch him.

Conclusion

I hope by now you get more clear about Dog Wagging Tail Meaning. A dog wagging his tail is something that looks so simple, but it is actually so complicated. Dogs do this all the time and they do it for a reason.

Now you know which reason is present in your particular case and what you should do. We hope now you can understand your pet more and you two can form an interesting relationship that will be stronger than ever before.

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