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Behaviour

What your dog's tail tells you

Wagging doesn't automatically mean joy. How the height, speed and sweep of the wag show you what's going on inside your dog.

A wagging dog is a happy dog – right? It's not quite that simple. To begin with, wagging only means one thing: your dog is worked up. That can be joy, but also uncertainty or tension. The tail tells you a lot if you look a little closer.

What to look for

Three things give you clues: how high the tail is carried, how fast it wags and how loose the movement is. Roughly speaking: carried high means confident or highly excited. Held low or tucked under means unsure or afraid. A stiff tail shows tension.

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This article is no substitute for veterinary advice. Source: DOGSY editorial team.