Dog Tail Language: The Significance and How to Understand It

Dogs are always communicating, whether it’s telling a stranger they don’t want pets or letting their best doggy friend know they want to keep playing. But in order to figure out exactly what your pup’s trying to say, you’ll need to know the basics of dog tail language. 

Sounds easy, right? It’s true that with a few pointers, you’ll be able to decode dog tail language, but it’s also true that this secret language is a little more complex than you may think. 

You’ll need to take several factors into account, like the tail position, movements and speed of the tail, and direction of tail movement, breed of the dog, as well as other clues from their body language.  

But don’t worry–you’ll soon be fluent in dog tail language, if not with all dogs, at least with your own.

Why do dogs wag their tails?

A wagging tail is one of the most recognizable messages a dog can send to people and other dogs. And a tail that’s not wagging will also tell you a lot about a dog’s state of mind.

When it comes to talking to other dogs, it’s easy for them to spot a wagging tail, even from far away. Since a dog’s eyesight is not as keen as ours in seeing colors or fine details, movement is key. 

Even though our vision might be more precise, a wagging tail is also really easy to recognize with no mistake. You may be thinking that tail wagging always means that a dog is happy, and while that is true more times than not, it can also mean the opposite.

Let’s get into the types of wags or non-wags and what they mean.

Fast-wagging dog tails

Has your doggo ever greeted you at the door with a tail that’s wagging so fast and furiously that their whole body is wiggling and you think they may fall over? They may even grab their favorite toy in their mouth and walk around with it. 

This is the kind of tail wagging that does mean happiness and pure joy. The wiggly hips are key, and you can also check if your dog’s tail is wagging to the right. Studies have shown that a right-wagging tail means happiness, while the left side signals fear. You can also look for relaxed ears and tongue that may be hanging out the side of their mouth.

Now, a fast tail wagger might not always be happy. It could signal aggression. You’ll have to rely on the tail position and the other body language, like the mouth and ears, to determine what kind of wagging it is. Aggressive dogs that are on alert hold their tails higher, and it may be wagging. Their ears will probably also be up, and their body will be stiff. Be aware and cautious, especially around dogs you don’t know that show this behavior. Don’t approach if you see these signs.

Dogs with a slow tail wag

Sometimes the tail wagging is a lot slower, so you may wonder if that means something totally different in the world of dog tail language. Surprise–it does! Look at the position of the tail and the overall situation in the case of the slow wag. 

Let’s say you’re walking up to a friend’s dog that you see every once in a while, and they’ve always liked you. They may start slow wagging because they think they recognize you but aren’t sure yet. The wag may get faster as you get closer and they can recognize your face or scent.

Now if you’re walking past a dog in the neighborhood, and they do a slow wag when they see you, they may be slightly apprehensive because they’re not sure about you yet. If they have their tail lowered, that means they are more insecure and possibly anxious about you passing, so don’t try to pet them in this case. 

However, if that slow-wagging tail is held up high, it could be very similar to the high tail that’s wagging fast. The faster the tail wags, the more chance it’s a sign of aggression or a warning before a confrontation.

A tail that’s not moving

Basically, a high tail that is not moving means a dog is apprehensive and on alert. The dog may even be ready to throw down or attack. It’s kind of like raising a flag high up where everyone can see it, even from a distance.

If the tail is straight out and not moving, it could mean the dog is curious about something or someone. But if it’s lowered or even tucked under the dog, they are anxious or scared. 

Wagging tails that stop

Here’s another situation you should look out for. You may be approaching or even petting a dog that’s wagging their tail fast or slow, but then it just stops. When this happens, the dog is trying to send a clear message that they want out of the current situation without a fight. This can happen when you’re petting a dog and they want you to stop, or they want to get away from whatever is causing them anxiety.

Dogs with no tails or curly tails

What do you do if your dog is a Pug with a permanently curled tail, or if they have no tail at all? In this case, you have to rely on other body language, which will be a bit more difficult without clues from tail movement to help. 

One good indicator no matter the situation is a dog’s posture. Just like us, stiff body language can mean fear or aggression, and loose, relaxed body language signals friendliness. Ears that stand up mean alertness, and those in a neutral position mean a dog is more relaxed. Open mouths with relaxed tongues are also good signs.

Pay attention to all the body language your dog is showing in different situations, and you’ll soon be an expert on what your dog is saying and feeling.