While breeds like huskies are known for their “talkative” natures, most dogs are not particularly chatty. They may bark when they are excited or defensive, and they may whine when they are upset or want something. Otherwise, your dog probably does not vocalize their thoughts often.
But this does not mean that your dog is not talking to you. Dogs speak with their body language, and nowhere is this more obvious than their tails. It is also more complicated than a wagging tail means happy and a tail between the legs means sad. Your dog can actually tell you all kinds of things with her tail as long as you know how to interpret her language.
How to Decode a Dog’s Tail
There are two aspects of the tail wag that you can translate. The first is tail position and the second is wagging speed, or lack of movement. Other body language, such as posture and ear position, can also give you extra clues on what your dog is thinking or feeling in the moment.
Let’s start with position. Here are some common tail positions and what they mean:
- Tail Up – A tail pointing up indicates that your dog is excited and alert. If there is wagging involved, she is probably happy. If the tail is still and ears are pricked, your dog is watching and might be getting ready for confrontation or chase. The raised tail releases more scent from the anal glands, announcing their presence.
- Tail Out – Many dogs will hold their tail out or slightly down as their neutral position. Straight out is usually a sign of curiosity and exploration.
- Tail Down – Depending on the downward angle, this can be anything from neutral to submissive. A relaxed downward angle is neutral, and the dog is either bored or relaxed. As the tail moves between the legs, the dog is perceiving a threat and trying to avoid it. The lowered tail blocks scent from the anal glands, making her less obvious to other dogs.
The tail moving between positions is also indicative. Moving from a neutral position to a raised tail is often a precursor to aggression while moving from neutral to down is a sign of submission.
Whether or not the tail is wagging is also a sign of your dog’s thoughts. Fast movement indicates excitement. Broad wags show happiness, while more narrow wags are for agitation. Slow wags or no wags mean your dog is more neutral about a situation, but not unhappy.
Another important sign is when your dog goes from wagging her tail to standing still. This is often a sign that she noticed a threat and is attempting to avoid it without seeming aggressive, such as when a person approaches her with unwanted pets.
“Listening” to your dog by knowing and responding to her tail ways is one of the best ways to increase the positive communication between your dog and. It lets you anticipate unwanted reactions and behaviors, as well as advocate for your dog when she is in situations where she is uncomfortable. And it also offers confirmation that your dog is happy to be around you, which is always a welcome reminder.