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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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We all associate a wagging tail with a happy dog, but what does your dog's tail movement really mean?
A dog's canine communication skills are even more nuanced than we might think. Paula Stewart, founder and managing director of The Animal Talent, told Newsweek what to look out for to decode your dog's tail.
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"Tail position is really interesting because there have been studies that suggest the direction of the wag indicates meaning," Stewart told Newsweek.
Different tail positions convey distinct emotions. For example, a tail held high in the air—almost upright—signifies excitement and alertness as they survey their surroundings. A fast wag signals pure excitement, while slow and strong wags to the right might mean anxiety.
Tail Wagging Explained
Directions:
Leftward wag: Indicates concern or unease.
Rightward wag: Signifies happiness and contentment.
Positions:
High and upright: Excitement and alertness.
Horizontal stance: Reflects curiosity about their environment.
Wagging Speeds:
Fast wag: Pure excitement and joy.
Slow but strong wag to the right: Anxiety or nervousness.
"I think a lot of people think that all tail wags mean happiness, but as you can see, the different levels, speeds, and directions all indicate different emotions," explained Stewart, who advocates for learning your dog's body language as best as possible.
A tail held high in the air, almost upright, signifies excitement paired with alertness, as your dog surveys its surroundings. A fast wag signals pure excitement, while slow but strong wags to the right may suggest anxiety or nervousness. If the tail sticks out horizontally, your dog is likely feeling curious.
"It's good for an owner to understand what the dog is trying to communicate so that they can remove them from the situation if necessary or encourage further play if the dog is happy," explained Stewart, who said that the way our dogs express their emotions can be very subtle.
Understanding your dog's body language and what they're trying to tell you can not only deepen your bond but also make training and everyday care much easier.
"Dogs have very subtle ways to express their emotions and feelings and often they are so quick that the human eye may miss them; examples include a tongue flick, a lick of the lips, a hard stare and many more," added Stewart. "Using the tail is a good way to ensure their emotions can be clearly seen by humans and other dogs in the vicinity and it alerts everyone in their surroundings to the emotion of the dog."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week line-up.
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