Five Reasons Why Dogs Wag Their Tails

Many believe that dogs wag their tails when they are happy. But wait, experts say otherwise. So before you try to pat that seemingly smiling dog headed your way, better exercise some caution as it may not be as happy as you think it is.

According to Dr. Jeff Werber, a veterinarian, a wagging tail can mean a lot of things, and it must not be automatically equated to being playful or happy. "While it is true that dogs wag their tails when they are happy, they also can wag their tail when they are afraid or aggressive," Werber said.

Many accidents occur because of this misconception. Most of the time, people or kids end up getting injured because of the belief that a dog is trying to befriend them just because it was wagging its tail.

She Knows published the five different things that a dog's wagging tail could mean. Take a look at the list below. It will help you understand dogs better.

1.      If the tail is wagging, but it is low, then the dog is suspicious. If you see this kind of wagging, better back off. You don't want to breach the line between suspicion and actual threat.

2.      If the tail is upright and not wagging, then the dog's alert levels are in red. Better not do anything that could jolt it.

3.      If the tail is between its legs, the dog is afraid. Words or a touch of comfort might do the trick.

4.      If there is no movement in the dog's rear end and the tail is wagging, then the dog's attitude is being aggressive. The best thing to do is to stay away.

5.      And lastly, which everybody knows, if the rear end is held high while wagging, then the dog is definitely happy. It is being playful and simply having fun. You can be assured that a pat on its head will not be thwarted with a growl.

Daily Mail also mentioned that left wagging is associated with aggression, while right wagging is linked to feelings of happiness. Pet owners don't often see the difference in directions simply because of the hyperactive movements of dogs.

In addition, Werber said, "The more experience you have with your dog, the more you observe his or her reactions, the better you will become at interpreting their feelings based on these cues."