Wagging Tail = Happy?
Simba usually always wags his tail. He is such a happy energetic dog. I’ve always thought that when a dog wags his tail that he is happy. I never thought that it could have other meanings. Just because a dog wags his tail does NOT mean he is happy. There are various ways a dog wags his tails. A dog wagging his tail means he is trying to tell you something. Yes, it could mean he is simply trying to tell you he is happy, but it could also mean something else. I’ve learned something new today and maybe you will too!
Communicating with your Dog
Dogs can’t speak although that would be kind of cool or either really creepy. I’m no Dr. Dolittle or a dog whisperer so it is important that I pay attention to Simba’s body language so that we can communicate. Communication is always key in everything so you should definitely pay attention to what your dog is trying to tell you.
How To Tell When a Dog is Happy
According to Amy Bender of About.com, “If a dog is wagging his tail and the rest of his body seems relaxed or is moving along with the wagging, you are dealing with a happy, comfortable dog.” That sounds just like Simba to me! He’s usually very comfortable and is always wagging along behind me or running ahead of me. He’s so fast!
Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?
A dog doesn’t just wag their tail when they are happy. A dog can wag their tail or hold their tail in different ways which has totally different meanings. You can view the article Dog Body Language: Wagging Tail which explains why a dog might wag their tail and also suggested readings for more dog body language information. Pawnation.com also has an interesting article that explains why your dog may do certain things which you can read by clicking here.
Check out this video that answersJC emailed to me below that answers the question “Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?”
Are you good at reading your dogs actions? How? Any tips? Do tell!
Very interesting – thanks!
Hi, whee have a little something waiting for you over on our blog . . .
Hope you like it! 😉
Nibbles, Nutty, Buddy & Basil
xxxx
HutchAGoodLife recently posted..All In This Together!
Interesting info, but I don’t have a tail – I have a cute little nub, that goes back and forth 🙂
Stewey
Good info! My bro Teddy always keeps his tail tucked between his legs. We haven’t figured him out yet!!!
Have a great weekend,
~Scout
It is true!
The way I wag my tail let know my mom how I feel!
Happy friday!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Looks like Hutch a Good Life beat us to it! Miss D nominated you for this award too! Have a good weekend!
Miss D
Aww…..ur doggie is super cute….
n yea, dogs wag their tails fr many diff reasons…whn u live wid them u slowly start understanding these thngs.. 🙂
Neha Mishra recently posted..L’oreal Paris Smooth Intense Smoothing Conditioner Review…
I know that our dogs wag their tail when they’re feeling protective of me, but their body is usually very stiff. And when they’re feeling uncertain, they wag their tail a little bit while crouching – like at the vet. Great post. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kimberly, The Fur Mom recently posted..Announcing New Features at Endearing Keep the Tail Wagging
As a general rule, a wagging tail always means at least one thing for certain, which is a state of excitement or arousal. From there, it varies.
Excitement comes in many flavors. Some good, some bad. Having spent time as a competitive athlete, I can tell you that prior to a very challenging competition, I was excited, but it was definable a different type of excitement than the type I would experience when my father, who was out of town alot when I was young, was pulling in the driveway after being away for a week. I wasn’t thinking “happy thoughts” as I prepared to battle my opponent, however I had a permanent grin on my face when dad came home. Both situations exciting, just in different ways.
So lets look at your dog. Some dogs can be rather excited at the thought of a physical confrontation with another dog. For other dogs, the thought of protecting their home, property, or human companions brings on a very similar state of excitement or arousal resulting in a wagging tail. This wag will usually be very quick and tight.
When greeting their two-legged companions after a long day at work, the wag will be of a much more sweeping motion, going all the way from side to side and we will see the all too familiar “butt wiggle”.
Wiggling Butts = HAPPY DOGS!
Just some thoughts to think about…
Happy Wagging,
KD
KD Mathews recently posted..Crash course in dog food trickery……..