Many people think that a dog wagging their tail is happy, but this isn’t always true!

Dogs use their tail to communicate their feelings, along with many other parts of their body. But we need to look at the whole dog to really understand what a tail wag could mean.

Different breeds of dogs will have different ways they naturally carry their tails. This will affect how they wag them. For example, Pugs, Bulldogs and some Spitz breeds have curled tails. So they may always carry their tails high, or be unable to wag them fully. This often means you get a full body wag when they’re happy!

Dogs who’ve had their tails docked (surgically shortened) may also wag slightly differently. Some dogs have a little stump to wag, and some dogs are left with very little tail. Thankfully, in the UK tail docking is restricted to working dogs but may still be seen in imported dogs. Some dog breeds, like Australian Shepherds and French Bulldogs, are commonly born with naturally short tails or no tails at all.

A happy tail wag is generally at a mid-height (depending on how they naturally carry their tail. It’s also loose, wide and sweeping, side to side. Sometimes, the tail will start to go round and round like a windmill or even up and down! Happy dogs will also have relaxed, wiggly bodies and soft relaxed faces. The happy wag can be slow and steady, or fast and whippy!

Dogs who are very worried may tuck their tail between their legs. They may also still wag, but this is generally a sign that they’re asking for a bit of space and mean you no harm. Sometimes it looks like a little wiggle, rather than a full wag.

If a dog's tail is very stiffly upright and wagging, they’re either feeling very excited or agitated. It might not be safe to approach this dog, especially if the rest of their body appears stiff and tense. You may also see raised hackles on this dog (the fur in the middle of their shoulders or over their rump). Sometimes these tails almost look like they’re vibrating!

Generally, if the wag seems stiff and narrow, this indicates tension in the dogs’ body. This could mean they’re feeling worried or agitated.

Learning what your dog is trying to say to you is important. There’s a great book called ‘Doggie Language’ by Lili Chin which we highly recommend. It’s especially useful if you have children as you can read it together.

Worried about your dog’s communication with other dogs or any other issues? Book a chat with one of our behaviourists.