Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

The position of a dog’s tail can reveal its feelings: a high tail indicates confidence, while a low tail signals submission.
Ever wonder why your dog’s tail wags so much? Or why its tail suddenly droops when the neighbor’s dog passes by?

Tail-wagging is one of the most recognizable dog behaviors, but there is a lot more to it than an indication of happiness.

Dogs use their tails to communicate a range of emotions and their intentions, not only with their humans but with other animals, too.

Learning how to read your dog’s tail can help you understand their emotions and what they might do next!

Take a walk with us through the history and science behind tail wagging and why it’s so important for you to understand not just your dog but the dogs you meet along the way.

The position of the tail, whether in motion or still, can tell us quite a lot about a dog’s current emotions and general feelings.

For example, if your dog knows it is in trouble for chewing up your shoes, you may notice its tail low down and between its legs.

A very high position shows confidence and can be interpreted as a happy or alert dog. A tail that is more neutral or middle-height can indicate curiosity or a more calm demeanor.

Veterinary physiologist Federica Pirrone at the University of Milan in Italy likens a dog’s tail position and movement to how people gesture with their hands as they speak. It could also be compared to our facial expressions.

So, what do dogs wag their tails for?

The way humans respond to body language, especially a wagging tail, may have taught dogs that it’s an easy way to get a treat, especially in the early stages of domestication.

The wagging tail is an easy way for a dog to communicate that it is submissive and not a threat to the humans it is approaching, much like rolling over and showing its belly.

One Russian experiment lasting over 59 years showed that even foxes started to wag their tails as they became more domesticated.

This indicates that canines, in general, will use this to communicate with humans.

Wagging tails may also be a product of selective breeding. Humans see a happy dog as a good dog and will help that dog breed more often.

Over thousands of years, it has become a common trait in all dogs.