Talk to the Tail!

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

30 Jun 2006 08:11 AM

What is better than coming home to the sight of a happy, wagging tail? Dogs give the best greetings. But they do much more than communicate happiness with their rear ends. Dogs communicate a whole range of emotions with their tails.

Tails "talk" in three different ways -- through position, shape, and movement. A dog will only wag his tail at something else that is alive. So think of the wag as a celebration of life!

A tail that is up can be a sign of confidence and comfort, or a sign of confidence and dominance. A gentle curve in the tail usually says that the dog is comfortable and confident. He knows his position in the pack, he is happy with life in general. Things are good.

A tail held up and straight out or with a sharp bend can be a danger sign. A bend in the tail near the tip can be a threat; a sharp bend in the middle can be a sign of impending attack. Your best bet is to get out of the way... especially if that tail is aimed at you. Another warning is a tail straight out with the hair standing up and bristling. You may also see the hackles raised along the dog's back and his teeth bared. These are warning signs that you should back away.

A tail held down is a sign of discomfort or uncertainty. A tail straight down can be a signal that the dog is unhappy or even sick. A tail held down with a slight wag is a sign of submission. Your dog may take this pose with another dog. If your dog takes this pose with you, he may be feeling the pressure of harsh training or that you are too dominant. Just like people, some dogs take pressure better than others.

Keep in mind that the tail emphasizes what is going on at the front end. The message from face and ears will be repeated by the tail.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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