RSSWhy Are Dogs Wagging Their Tails
Jul 01
Dog Information dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, pets, why do dogs wag their tails No Comments
Have you ever thought why dogs have the habit of enthusiastically wagging their tails? Your dog cannot voice out its gladness that you have come home safely but if you care to understand, the body movements of the dog would be a clear indication of its feelings in a given situation. Dogs really do have the propensity to wag their tails to show happiness. The wiggling of the dog’s tail typifies its friendly personality. It is common for children to form a legendary attachment with a dog. Dogs may not immediately take to strangers but a child will be met by the dog with a happily wagging tail.
To communicate with humans and with other animals, man’s best friends would use various body movements like pricking the ears and wagging the tail. In the absence of hands, dogs would use the ears and the other parts of the body to communicate. A dog can communicate more effectively by using its tail. Just as calling hi and waving to a friend at a distance, dogs can communicate with dogs at a distance simply by waving the tail. Similar to human handshake; tail waving is the dogs’ way of greeting each other.
The kind of tail wagging depends on the emotional state of the dog. Only the tip of a tail that is raised high is wagged if the dog is tense and aggressive. Dogs wagging the tail this way may attack. Dogs with nervous personalities are also called “yellow dogs”. When confronted by other dogs or by humans the tails of these dogs would be held between the legs and wagged ever so slow.
The wagging of the tail is also an indication of the dog’s submission. The same with the wolf ancestors, dogs are also pack animals. Wolves that are lower in rank would have to recognize the leader of the pack and the way the tail is held is believed to be a form of submission to the alpha male. Dogs lower in rank will wag the lowered tail slowly in the presence of the leader of the pack. On the other hand, the leader of the pack will hold the tail up proudly and wag it in a very dominant manner.
Dogs wag their tails in different manners and to be able to know the emotional state of the pet, it would be very necessary for a dog owner to make an effort to understand what the pet is trying to convey through the movements of the tail.
Having learnt about why dogs wag their tails. Wouldn’t you like to know more. Visit Sarah’s Dogs and read about hundreds of other interesting dog beahaviours.
Related posts:
