Interpret Dog Tail Wags: How to Understand Dog's Body Language

In this video, we'll explain the meaning of each dog's tail signs.

The position of a dog's tail can reveal a lot about what that dog is thinking and feeling. The speed of the wag, the pattern of movement, and the breadth of each tail sweep can all give information about a dog's intentions and emotions. In this video, we will teach you how to interpret the language of a dog’s tail.

Tail held high and stiff indicates alertness and the desire to display dominance. When dogs are alert, they stand with their tails raised and ears up. This posture means that they are observing carefully and ready to confront whatever caught their attention. This position could also be a display of dominance. In other words, they are showing their role as the dog who rules the world

Tail held straight out means that the dog is taking in new information and is so far responding neutrally. There could be a new canine in the neighborhood, or at the dog park. Your dog is curious and just doesn’t know what to make of them yet.

Tail held between the legs indicates submission or fear. A tucked tail is a sign that your dog is afraid, scared or uncomfortable. They could be in pain, or afraid of something or someone.

Tail wagging to the left
It may be hard to catch, but a dog will wag their tail to the left if they are suspicious of another dog or a person they don’t trust.
Recent studies suggest that a tail wagging to the left indicates negative feelings, fear or stress. Dogs may show this tail wagging behavior in the presence of an unfamiliar, dominant dog.

Tail wagging to the right
It seems a little bit unbelievable, but recent research suggests that tail wagging to the right indicates positive feelings, or that your dog is relaxed. Oftentimes, dogs show this tail wagging behaviour when they see their owner.

Tail held high and wagging indicates the dog is happy but also alert. The dog is cautiously excited but displaying dominance.

 
The breadth of each tail sweep and the frequency at which a tail moves add further meaning to canine communication.

Fast, Broad Wag: This indicates a friendly, happy dog who is not threatening anyone. You may have brought them a new treat, or maybe you got the leash out for a walk. This is the closest to the popular concept of the happiness wag, especially if the tail seems to drag the hips with it.

Slow, reluctant wag: A slow wag with the tail at half-mast is less social than most other tail signals. Generally speaking, slow wags with the tail in neither a particularly submissive nor a dominant position might indicate a dog who is feeling anxious, less enthusiastic, or insecure.

Quick, short wag: A slight wag, with each swing of only small breadth, usually happens during greetings, when a dog is feeling tentative.

Very tiny, high-speed movements that give the impression of the tail vibrating are signs the dog is about to run, fight, or attack. If the tail is held high while vibrating, it is most likely an active threat.

It’s important to recognize that different breeds carry their tails at different heights. Some dogs, like Beagles, hold their tails vertically. Others like Greyhounds tuck their tails. All tail positions should be read relative to the average and neutral position where that dog normally holds its tail.

A Short Tail
A stubby or curly tail may make it more difficult for dogs to communicate with their owners and with other dogs.
A key component to reading truncated tails is to look at the base of the tail. They still mimic the same signals as those with long tails, but may not be as easily recognizable.
Interestingly enough, recent studies have shown that dogs with tiny tails are twice as likely to have aggressive encounters as dogs with longer tails

While you can understand a lot about your canine companion from their tail signs, it’s important to observe the entire dog and watch out for other tell-tale signs such as posture, facial expressions and body movements. Watch our other videos to learn more about how to understand your dog better.

[aaronburratwood.]

I love this, I always see my dogs tails as sign language. Dogs will tell you everything you need you to know if you pay enough attention to them. I can tell by just the way my Husky rings the PP bells on the door if she really needs to go out or if she’s just board of being inside. She loves to lay on the concrete in the sun and get her coat so hot than come in & lay on the cool wood floors usually about a foot away from the air vent under the ceiling fan. She’s got it ruff I tell ya. (Being a Husky she is moody by nature)

[_feli]

My little dog does the very high, tiny, high speed wag whenever he’s about to start snapping so I’m not surprised that this means he’s ready to fight

[gracemlc]

It’s a good video it’s just that I have a Akita inu... which means that her tail is always up on her back and is curled into a bun 🙃

[bestbuildereu]

Recent studies suggest -> full on conclusion -> no sources posted.
Thanks

[thatz_tango]

I have a question what if the dog tail is held straight out and it is wagging and barking

[tabsnapp]

My pitbull curls her tail and does a slow sway back and forth as she slowly raises her bottom up and down. What does that mean

[antonicortez]

Every time I get home my dog has a happy tail wag but puts his head down I’m not sure if this a bad sign or good sign?

[ConscriptReporting]

What about the tail that is twirl upwards and sometime being wagged left to right.
Our new dog always does that

[chrislx]

What about a helicopter blade tail lol, my cockapoo sometimes imitates a windmill :)

[thevoid]

does the first one also count for high and curled?

[EnchantedSmellyWolf]

I always found it cute when my dog walks away from me and toward then door with his tail wagging left and right and his cute buttwhole expose when I say want to go out? I miss my tall corgi mix. He looked like a German Shepherd with long tail but weird looking. RIP.

[ZoeSummersA]

How does this translate to handedness? Is it reversed for left-handed dogs?

[catlord]

Help its rotating on circles what do i do

[aira]

What if the tail wags left and right fast instead of up and down?

[TareqHamadallah]

My dog sticks his tail to his back but a little bit to the right. What does that mean?

[Djustin]

dog's tail wagging to the right does it mean my right or my dog's right? if i stand in front of him?

[jcfsaiyan]

My Blue heeler will go to his bed when he sniffs his food look up with his eyes but not his head and every time I speak to him give like three or four wags of his tail banging down on his kennel what does that mean?

[Flexb]

Interesting, but with my dogs tail being a stump its very hard to read.

[penelopelopez]

What about a dog that holds their tail straight down, like a pin, with very little movement?

[mandlin]

My Jack Russell had a full tail, as it should be!!! But she usually holds it curled on her back or low behind with it curling up a little when she’s relaxed. She can deffo do the “dominant” pose. She does it in the park when she’s looking for birds or squirrels to chase 😂

When she greets me Andy husband she has two different ones. I’d say in the morning my husband or I go downstairs and see her, she will have her ears pinned back head hung low and tail low with wide fast tail wags. And she rolls over, being very submissive. Once that’s over. She will run to the other one of us she’s not seen let hopping around, ears up with that big dog smile and tail higher and wagging so fast her whole body wags with it lol.

With other dogs. She has different reactions depending on how well she knows the dog. Her best friend Chester, she reacts in a similar way to greeting us. So the hopping around and buddy waggle, or the super submissive greeting. Then they go right into play fight and weird noises that I can’t discribe but she does that nose when I play with her too lol. So I know it’s not aggression at all.

With dogs she somewhat knows. It’s usually the submissive greeting but not rolling over, and once the stop sniffing each other’s faces for a moment it’s right to running around.

New dogs she likes, it’s a slow prowl stopping every few steps to make sure they know she’s not wanting a fight. She gets close, they sniff her face. Then she starts running around them with her tail up 45degrees, hopping about. Stopping now and then like, “you gonna run around or what!?”She’s trying to play lol.