Category_Dog Knowledge
Lifestyle
Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails? The Science Behind Tail Wagging
Your Dog's Tail Functions
Before we take a look at what your dog's tail movements might mean, let's consider why a dog has a tail in the first place.
The original purpose for a dog's tail was to use it for balance, the same way that many wild animals still use their tails today. In this fashion, the dog could use the tail as a balancing weight when making sharp turns, or while traversing narrow ledges or climbing uphill. As dogs evolved over the years, they had less of a need for the tail to be used for balance, and it started to play a role in communication. When a puppy is first born, they don't wag their tails at all. In fact, wagging doesn't begin until at least a month of age, when the puppies start to communicate with their mother and littermates. Then, they might start to wag the tail in order to "request" milk or food from the mother, or to signal to the litter mates that there's too much rough or aggressive play between them and that they'd like to back off. Another way that a dog uses the tail is to spread their natural scent from the anal glands. Every dog has their own unique scent, and that scent is another form of communication between dogs. An alpha dog who holds the tail high will release more scent than a dog who is carrying the tail lower. In fact, a dog who holds the tail in between their legs doesn't want to release their scent at all — it may be the dog's way of trying to remain unnoticed. So, adult dogs' tails have evolved from a balancing lever to an essential communication tool. It's also sometimes used to spread their scent. Puppies begin using the tail for communication at only a few weeks of age. But what do your dog's tail positions mean?