52 on Friday – Tails
Oh the Tales a Dog’s Tail Tells!
What’s in a tail? More than you think, actually! Everyone knows that a dog wags his tail when he his happy, but did you know that they also wag when they are scared, or even ready to attack? To the untrained eye, all wags look the same, but dogs have an entire ‘tail language’ all their own. A great book on the subject is : “Tail Talk: Understanding the Secret Language of Dogs.”
Most dogs use their tail to communicate with each other (this puts a dog whose tail has been docked at a slight disadvantage): A tail sticking straight out and not moving can mean aggression, dominance, or the beginning stage of a chase. If it is straight out (like a line), but wagging, then the dog is feeling friendly. The best way for us mere humans to translate this tail language is to put it in context with the rest of the dog’s body language. Here is a great link to help you do just that: http://www.pawsacrossamerica.com/interpret.html
A tail sticking straight up means that they are alert, anxious or excited, and that they are intent on whatever their subject is…if their focus is on a ball, no problem. But if their focus is on you, then it’s wise to precede with caution.
Wouldn’t you like to know one of the ways your dog is telling you how much she loves you? Check out the wag! When a dog is happy and feeling positive about something or someone, her tail will have a right bias to it (see the diagram below). But if they are frightened, concerned, or otherwise anxious, their tail wagging is biased to the left. Pretty neat isn’t it?! http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wag-the-dog/
In addition to communicating their feelings and emotions, a dog’s tail aids their locomotion. It helps with balance and physical performance. Working dogs, such as retrievers and herding dogs, will use their tail as a rudder when swimming or quickly maneuvering around a herd of cattle. Their tail actually helps steer them in the right direction, enabling them to turn on a dime. I often will have people ask me why Harvey has a tail and if it should be docked. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception for many breeds. As the AKC puts it for the Australian Cattle Dog: “Tail docking actually handicaps a dog’s ability to maneuver and is a GREAT disservice to the dog” (emphasis in the original) As you can see in the images below, it comes in pretty handy when chasing after a ball or a frisbee too! 🙂
I hope you enjoyed this weeks installment of our 52 weeks project – thanks for stopping by! Next up is Petlense Photography by Lina Tay in Wichita, Kansas
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
Yes, quite a rudder he has!
Thanks Shelley! Tail or no tail, fuzzy dog butts are simply the best!!
Great references! And is that a little drool I see while chasing after the tennis ball? Perfect!
Haha! Yes, Karen, drool it is!! Isn’t that fantastic?!
Love Harvey and these are such fun shots of him having a great time!
Thank you, Kathryn! I love to sit on the sidelines and just capture all of his movements – dogs are so stunning when they are out playing with abandon!