What About That Wagging Tail?

So a dog’s wagging tail means he’s feeling friendly--wrong! One of my favorite statements I hear is: “Don’t ever worry about a dog whose tail is wagging because they’re all friendly, right?” Well, a dog can be wagging like crazy in the back and ripping your spleen out up front.

A wagging dog tail means excitement, not friendship. Now granted, 95% of the time you see a dog wagging his tail, the dog will mean, “Oooh, a friend!” But the dog's wagging tail could also mean, “Lance, look at this banquet”. Wagging dog tails mean excitement. Now they can go up or straight out or down or whatever depending on the degree of aggression and dominance, etc. The important thing is that just because you see movement in the back doesn’t mean everything is ok up front.

Other things you can read from dogs’ tails:
· Wagging tail slowly in horizontal direction shows caution
· A stationary tail indicates relaxation
· A low, tucked tail shows fear or submission.

So, "reading" your dog's wagging tail is a great window into what he is feeling!

by Dr. Dennis Fetko, "Dr. Dog"
http://www.drdogsbehaviorsolutions.com/