Is a wagging tail always a sign of happiness in dogs?
One: Expressions of Emotions in Dogs
Relaxed
When a dog's tail sways gently from side to side, primarily to the right, its facial expression is relaxed, and its mouth corners slightly curve upwards, it's in a particularly relaxed state. This indicates that it is in a good mood, likely because it has encountered something that brings it great joy.
Curious
When a dog's tail bobs gently while its ears flick back and forth, and its head tilts to one side, with eyes fixed on you, it shows a level of curiosity towards something or towards you. This suggests that it is intrigued by its surroundings or by you.
Excited
A fast tail wag, combined with a bouncing and jumping motion, indicates that the dog is highly excited. The faster the tail wag, the more excited the dog seems to be. Sometimes, the excitement can be so intense that the dog's entire body sways and it may even spin around, showing that it is at the peak of its excitement.
Bored
A rapid tail wag, often accompanied by the dog spinning its tail and even trying to bite it, suggests that the dog is feeling bored. It might be continuously biting its tail because it is itchy, possibly due to parasites.
Aggressive
When a dog encounters a threat, such as an animal that poses a danger to it, its tail will naturally extend backward, remaining tense, with its back hair standing on end, its body lowered, and it may emit a low, threatening growl. This behavior indicates its aggression and suggests that an attack may follow.
Scared
If a dog lies down, wags its tail, and even tucks its tail between its legs, with averted eyes, it is showing fear or discomfort. If you see this while scolding it, it might be acknowledging its mistake.
Trusting
When a dog wags its tail, lies on its back, and exposes its vulnerable belly to you, it shows great trust and dependence on you. This dog completely trusts you and looks forward to playing and frolicking with you.
Sad
If a dog's tail hangs down and its ears droop backward, it indicates that the dog is in a bad mood and may require comfort and rewards from its owner.
Two: Observational Points
To determine whether a wagging tail signifies happiness or anxiety, it's essential to observe the dog's other body language simultaneously.
How the dog moves and in which direction it is moving;
Whether its body movements are stiff or relaxed;
The frequency, height, and curl of the tail wag;
If its mouth is closed or relaxed;
Whether its eyes are fixed on something specific.
Direction of Tail Waving
As we know, the human brain is divided into left and right hemispheres, controlling rational and emotional thinking, respectively. It turns out that many animals, including dogs, which are closely related to humans, also have this characteristic.
Research suggests that the direction in which a dog wags its tail may reflect its mood. A wag to the left might indicate sadness, while a wag to the right might indicate happiness. This is because the left brain is thought to be more focused on behaviors related to energy acquisition and positivity, such as seeking food and pleasing the owner, while the right brain is associated with behaviors related to energy expenditure and negativity, like running away or fighting. The direction controlled by each hemisphere is opposite in dogs.
Height of Tail Waving
Due to significant differences in the natural tail height among different dog breeds and individual variations within breeds, it is challenging to establish a specific height. However, generally speaking, a low and relaxed tail wag is considered more friendly than a high and stiff wag.
Many northern breeds, such as Shiba Inu, naturally have a hightail posture. In contrast, some breeds, like Greyhounds, have tails that are naturally low or tucked between their legs, which can be a normal state. In many other breeds, this tail posture may indicate fear.
