Why does it matter how a dog holds its tail?

Watch how a dog holds its tail, as well as how it wags. A happy dog's tail is soft and swishy. A dog holding its tail up high and stiff, even while it wags, might be feeling cross. So before you say hello to a dog, check its tail, and give a stiff-tailed dog some space.

Why does a wag swing more to one side?

A wag isn't always even. When a dog sees something it likes, such as its favourite person, its tail usually swings more to the dog's own right. When it wants to stay away from something, the tail swings more to its left. So even the side of a wag is a clue to how a dog feels.

Why do dogs wag their tails?

Lue answers for ages 4–11, then goes 2 steps deeper each time a child asks why.

Lue says

Dogs like me can't tell you how we feel with words. Instead, we talk with our bodies, and our tails do lots of the talking. When a dog feels happy, it holds its tail softly and wags it in a loose, easy way. So a swishy wag at the door often means a dog is happy you're home.

For ages 4–7

Checked against Why do dogs have tails? (Ask Dr. Universe, Washington State University)
Why does it matter how a dog holds its tail?

Watch how a dog holds its tail, as well as how it wags. A happy dog's tail is soft and swishy. A dog holding its tail up high and stiff, even while it wags, might be feeling cross. So before you say hello to a dog, check its tail, and give a stiff-tailed dog some space.

For ages 6–9

Checked against Why do dogs have tails? (Ask Dr. Universe, Washington State University)
Why does a wag swing more to one side?

A wag isn't always even. When a dog sees something it likes, such as its favourite person, its tail usually swings more to the dog's own right. When it wants to stay away from something, the tail swings more to its left. So even the side of a wag is a clue to how a dog feels.

For ages 8–11

Checked against Why do dogs have tails? (Ask Dr. Universe, Washington State University)