The Tale is in the Tail

The Main Idea: A dog uses it's tail to communicate

Read Time: 790 words - 3 minute read

Hi, I'm a puppy and I recently learned how to wag my tail. My tail helps me with lots of things. It helps me keep my balance, like when walking, running or swimming. I also use my tail to communicate, show my emotions, like happiness or fear.

I even learned how to read tail signals from other dogs, which helps me keep out of trouble, like when that big dog is telling me to stay away.

The tail tells a lot, but what it means can depend on other body language a dog is communicating.

Let me share some of the emotions I can express with the help of my tail.

Australian Labradoodle puppy playing

High Tail

The higher the tail and faster the wag, the higher my reaction level. If the tail is straight up or curved over the back, emotion is at a high level. It does not always mean I feel happy, however, sometimes it shows fear.

How can you tell which emotion is being expressed with a tail? You need to read the rest of the dog’s body language.

A happy dog will be wiggly, with soft eyes, open mouth, a grin. Sometimes the entire body wags. In this case, you may want to wait for calm before going in to pet and snuggle, or we may just overwhelm you in kisses.

A frightened or aggressive dog, on the other hand, will be stiff, with hard eyes, an intense focus on you. Best to slowly back away and avoid any direct eye contact. This dog is in protective mode, and may even bite.

A high, slower moving tail, means the dog is just slightly aroused. While the dog is just feeling friendly, but not overly excited about you at the moment. If you don't know the dog, use caution. Is the dog tense, and giving you a warning to stay back? Or, is the body relaxed, the eyes soft, and it the pup just taking a pause to think you over, decide if you are okay.

Half-mast tail

Is the dog happy and relaxed with bright eyes, mouth open? A half-mast wagging tail means the dog is calm and relaxed – and the speed of the wag can tell you how calm the dog is. However,if the half-mast tail switches from a wag to a freeze. it can be a warning that the dog has gone on guard. This dog is probably not inviting in for a cuddle.

Labradoodle playing with soccer ball

Circle Wag

This wag is usually saved for someone very special. Like you! It means the dog is overjoyed to see you.  Very friendly dogs, like the ALD, can start up a circle wag just because they are happy to see you, or excited to meet a new friend.

Low Tail Wag

This is a wag below half-mast. This dog is likely feeling fearful, on the defense. The entire body is usually lowered, and sometimes submissive urination occurs. The faster the lowered tail is wagging, the more fearful emotion the dog is expressing to you. Never comfort a low-tail wagging dog. This dog is telling you she feels very uncomfortable at the moment and wants to be left alone.

She may even roll over on her back. You may think she wants a belly rub, and she may accept one, or she may bite you. Since she really is just saying, please go away, I am feeling threatened by your nearness, just leave her be. This is her last attempt tell you to leave her alone. 

No Wag

Again, read the dog’s other body language. The dog could simply be feeling calm and you will hear a soft breathing, soft eyes and muscles. The dog is content and taking a pause before doing the downward dog yoga pose, the play bow, or before a playful bounce to invite you to a fun bout of play. Yet, the no wag can mean the dog is experiencing fear, so much so that his emotions have shut down. He is so afraid he can’t move. It may be the freeze before an attack.

Learning to read the body signs of dogs can reveal a lot about the emotion they are feeling. The tail tells a lot, but it does not tell it all.

Since I’m an Australian Labradoodle from long lines of dogs bred for friendly disposition, been socialized with humans and other dogs so bonding is a natural, and trained with only positive rewards, I don’t really get fearful or angry. However, this is not the case for every dog.

When you want to read what to read what your dog is trying to tell you, the tail may give you a clue.

Labradoodle wagging his tail