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Dogs Use Their Tails As Signals and Gestures

Tail position is an important indicator of social standing and mental state of a dog. There will be some variations, of course, depending upon the natural tail position of the dog: a West Highland white terrier will carry its carrot-shaped tail higher than a golden retriever its flowing, feathery tail, and a greyhound’s relaxed tail position is lower yet.

Almost horizontal, pointing away from the dog but not stiff: This is a sign of attention.

Straight out horizontally, pointing away from the dog: This is part of an initial challenge when meeting a stranger or an intruder.

Tail up, between the horizontal and vertical position: This is the sign of a dominant dog, or one who is asserting dominance, and translates as “I’m boss here.”

Tail up and slightly curved over the back: “I’m top dog,” this says. It is the expression of a confident, dominant dog who feels in control.

Tail held lower than the horizontal but still some distance from the legs: “I’m relaxed.” “All is well.”

Tail down, near hind legs: This changes its meaning with the posture of the dog. If the legs are still straight and the tail slightly brushes back and forth, it means “I’m not feeling well” or “I’m a bit depressed.” If the legs are slightly bent inward, giving a slight downward slope to the back it means “I’m feeling a bit insecure.

Tail tucked between the legs: “I’m frightened!” or “Don’t hurt me!” This is especially common in the presence of a dominant dog or person, when it can also mean, “I accept my lowly role in the pack, and I’m not trying to challenge you.

Bristling hair down the tail: The bristle in the dog’s tail is a sign of aggression. It may modify any tail position. Thus, with the straight out it means “I’m ready to fight if you are!” and with the tail slightly up or over the back it means “I’m not afraid of you and will fight to prove I’m boss.”

Crick or sharp bend in the tail when held high: this is more characteristic of the dogs that look like wolves, such as the German shepherds, and means much the same as the tail bristing.

Broad tail wag: “I like you.” This is often shown during play, when one dog seems to be attacking the other, pouncing, growling, and barking. The wagging tail serves as reassurance that this is all in fun. It also means “I’m pleased” in many contexts.

Slow tail wag, with tail at half-mast: During dog training, I interpret this as “I’m trying to understand you. I want to know what you mean, but I just can’t quite figure it out.” When the dog finally solves the problem, the speed and size of the tail wags will usually markedly increase.

Read more about free dog training (dog behavior training in particular) and how to house train dog.

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One of the most common dog health questions that people ask is how to know when your dog is ill and requires veterinary care. The majority of owners don’t want to continually take their dog to the veterinarian, especially as the charge can be high. Many vets suggest that after you get to know your dog fairly well, it might be best to go with your gut feeling regarding a trip to the veterinarian office.

Some dogs, especially large breeds are very good at hiding their pain and it may go unnoticed by the owners. If you have one of these tough dogs, a sign that he might be feeling very ill is if he refuses to eat or if he eats a significantly smaller portion than usual. A significant loss of appetite is a sign to take your dog to the veterinarian.

Typical Questions from the Veterinarian
Spend some time with your dog and see if he looks or behavesacts as if he is depressed. If his appearance has altered, if he is drinking more or less water than usual or perhaps you notice a change in his attitude or his lifestyle you might want to take him for an exam. Some typical dog health questions your veterinarian could ask you about your dog might relate to persistent vomiting, a decrease in weight and very little desire to play as well as urinating more frequently or having constant diarrhea.

Another typical dog health question asked by dog owners is whether they should have their dog neutered. Male dogs that are neutered typically become less aggressive and the procedure also reduces the possibility of your dog acquiring prostate cancer and reduces the risk of your dog from acquiring testicular cancer. With female dogs it significantly lowers the possibility of acquiring mammary cancer as well as preventing them from getting womb infections and obviously you don’t have to be concerned about your dog becoming pregnant.

Healthy Diet
What type of food should the dog eat is another frequently asked dog health question. You should give your dog a diet that features quality meats and either no or very little artificial preservatives and which offers quality fats and vegetables and grains. Purchasing high quality or natural dog food products will improve his health and may extend his life.

Another dog health question vets frequently are asked is how to stop dogs from eating grass. Unfortunately, some dogs often eat grass and then afterwards vomit. Dogs that live in the wild eat various types of vegetation when they eat the contents from the stomach of their prey and your dog might be eating grass as some type of instinctive behavior. In some cases, the grass may not be the cause of vomiting due to the dog already being sick before he ate the grass. If you have dog health questions there are numerous websites that can provide answers and your veterinarian can also provide you with the information you require.

Other dog articles
puppy crate train
how to housebreak puppy
Puppy litter training
these articles are full of practical advice on the best techniques of toilet training a puppy or dog. Take the stress out of this essential task.

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