Why does a dog wag its tail when it sees you

While its commonly thought that dogs wag their tail to show they are happy it can be for other reasons as well such as nervousness and excitement. These could be compared to cutting out a humans tongue and removing their vocal cords.

A wagging tail doesnt cause physical harm.

Why does a dog wag its tail when it sees you. Although tail movement and position vary slightly between dog breeds many general movements are the same. A wagging tail and a few licks are usually a friendly greeting. The tail may be low and wagging slowly usually because the dog is hesitant about something.

Or the dogs tail may be held high and moving back and forth narrowly but rapidly. This discomfort can be a precursor to aggression. This is one reason people sometimes report that a dog was wagging its tail just before it bit someone.

Tail wagging is an instinctive behaviour that develops between 3 and 4 weeks of age depending on your dogs breed and is one of the primary communication methods to both other dogs and people. While its commonly thought that dogs wag their tail to show they are happy it can be for other reasons as well such as nervousness and excitement. If the tail of the dog is held high he feels strong and confident.

It may be a signal of aggression. When you see a dog with the tail held high you must be careful because it may bite or chase you. If the tail is wagged awkwardly the dog feels shy and unsure of its environment.

According to Lynn Buzhardt DVM a veterinary consultant for VCA Animal Hospitals dogs will often wag their tails if they feel threatened anxious insecure interested curious or friendly. If you watch a dog take a tight turn at high speed you will likely see him use his tail for stability The tail is also one component of the body language dogs use to communicate along with facial expressions and body postures. Maybe one of the most common misconceptions about dogs and their tails is that a wagging tail means a happy dog.

It means the dog has something going on with you. Dogs may wag their tails when they are happy or when they are aggressive. A wagging tail does not always mean the dog is friendly.

It also depends on the type of barking. A wagging tail doesnt cause physical harm. Unfortunately far too often people mistakenly pay more attention to the tail action than to the front end of the dog specifically the mouth displaying a full set of sharp teeth cautions Alice Moon-Fanelli PhD a certified applied animal behaviorist in private practice in Eastford CT.

Dogs wag their tails to express a wide range of emotions including happiness excitement nervousness or aggression. Energetic tail wagging means that a dog is happy and excited to see you. But a tail tucked between the legs is a sign that a dog is afraid anxious or submissive.

When a dog is happy he holds his tail in a neutral or slightly raised position and adds a healthy wag. The rate at which a tail moves adds further meaning to canine communication. Wagging speed may indicate.

The faster the wag the more excited the dog. A tail wag may range from very slow to extremely rapid known as flagging. Sometimes the dogs tail wags so fast that it appears to vibrate.

Thump Thump Thump goes his tail against your leg arm or face as your dog hits you with his tail. Every dog owner can relate to being hit by his or her dogs tail or having a table or area cleared by a swinging tail but why it happens is not readily clear. All dogs tails wag but what the wag means and what he intends for it to mean can.

In a way a dog wagging Its tail serves the same communication functions as a human smile a polite greeting or a token of recognition. When a human displays a smile does that mean they are happy. It can mean Hello I am coming as a friend Thank you.

Possible reasons why your dog randomly wags its tail are wanting attention boredom thinking youre giving it something hearing something or rewarding the behavior. Your dog might actually be doing it for a number of different reasons and it might be due to a combination of them. Whether youve been gone for the day or just a few minutes a dog that wags their tail when they see you has most likely bonded with you.

According to LiveScience Tail wagging reflects a dogs excitement with more vigorous wagging relating to greater excitement If you love your dog they probably love you back. And in fact a dogs tail is probably one of the most expressive parts of its body just ahead of its ears. This is why docking a dogs tail or cropping its ears hinders the dogs ability to communicate effectively.

These could be compared to cutting out a humans tongue and removing their vocal cords. When it comes to communicating with body language those ears and tail are a major way that our. THE DOG HAS been mans best friend for thousands of years so youd think wed know how to read its emotions.

When the tail is stiff the ears are tucked in and the body is held tight most of us recognise it as a warning sign to keep away.