subject: Does A Wagging Tail Mean The Dog Is Friendly? [print this page] There was a time when people knew more about animals than they do today. They were familiar with all kinds of animal body language, whether it was horses, cows or pigs. When a goat lowered his head they knew the goat was about to butt someone -- and they knew enough to get out of the way!
Today most people don't have a lot of contact with animals. The only animals most people encounter are cats, dogs and perhaps some caged birds or a snake in a terrarium. Yet, even with over 77 million dogs in the United States there are still many people who are uncertain when it comes to reading a dog's body language.
Many people probably believe that whenever a dog wags his tail he's being friendly. Unfortunately, that's not true. Of course, many times when a dog is wagging his tail he is being friendly, but there are other occasions when a wagging tail, coupled with certain body postures, indicate that you should stay away from the dog. Learning to read these signals can save you from being bitten by the dog.
Do not rely solely on a dog's tail to tell you whether or not the dog is friendly! You must also learn to evaluate the dog's posture, as well as his facial expression. Look at his stance. How is he standing? Is he alert? Does he look relaxed or does he look wary? Are his ears pricked up or are they lying down and relaxed? What is the expression in his eyes? Can you see his teeth? Is he panting and showing his tongue and teeth in a happy smile or does he have his teeth bared in a menacing way?
Learn to look at all of these tell-tale signs and you can learn to read how a dog is reacting to you.
Confident and alert dogs will carry their tails upright. They may wag their tail at you with a slow sweep from side to side. If the dog is wagging his tail quickly from side to side that usually indicates that the dog is excited, in a good way.
If the dog's tail is relaxed, then the dog is usually relaxed. A stiff tail, held horizontally, indicates that the dog is standing his ground. He is in a confrontational mode. If the dog wags his tail slightly in this position you should not take this as a sign that the dog is being friendly or inviting you to pet him.
If the dog has his tail tucked between his legs it generally indicates that he is fearful and submissive. But do not assume that the dog will welcome you if you try to pet him. Many dogs will bite someone when they are scared.
Dogs which are dominant usually have their tails held high and will wag them when they meet a strange dog. Again, this is not a time for you to assume the dog is being friendly!
A wagging tail can indicate many different things about a dog. Many times a dog is telling you something about his status with his wagging tail. He may be giving you a warning. If his posture suggests that he is not being friendly then you should keep your distance. Otherwise you may end up being bitten.
