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July 24, 2013

What Does Your Pet’s Tail Tell You?

You have to admit that at first glance tails are not exactly awe inspiring.  Anatomically, tails are just about the simplest body part around, which is why it is even more impressive just how much information our pets can convey with nothing but their tails.  I swear, Eko is more
You have to admit that at first glance tails are not exactly awe inspiring.  Anatomically, tails are just about the simplest body part around, which is why it is even more impressive just how much information our pets can convey with nothing but their tails.  I swear, Eko is more articulate with his tail than I am with my words.  Here are my top ten favorite types of tail-wag-messages that Eko sends.

1. “Where have you been all my life!?” – If I leave Eko for over a half hour, it might as well be a lifetime.  This tail wag is definitely my favorite.  He wags his tail so hard and fast that it seems to hit him on both sides of his body at the same time.  You can see him swinging his tail with reckless abandon at the beginning of the above video

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2. “Please don’t get mad!” – When Eko knows I’m upset he will run to the couch and look away from me.  He wags the bottom third of his tail very rapidly against the couch begging for forgiveness.  It’s hard to stay mad for long!

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3. “Glad you’re home, but I’m pretty tired right now” – Normally I get the royal treatment when I walk in the door, but sometimes Eko just can’t be bothered to get up.  He will lazily wag his tail in appreciation of my return but that’s all he can manage

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4. “Is what I think is about to happen about to happen!?” – If Eko gets the inkling that something good is about to happen – a walk, a trip to the park, or an incoming treat (the above photo) – he immediately sits down and remains still. Except for the very tip of his tail, he just can’t help himself and those last few inches of tail wag with anticipation

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5. “I’ll never eat the trash again, I promise!” – Once Eko knows I have forgiven him for his latest transgression he always comes over to apologize with lots of kisses.  You can also see the relief in the way he wags his tail to disperse the built up tension

6. “Am I good, or what!?” – At the very end of the above video you can see Eko’s triumphant tail wag.  He holds his tail high and shows off big time!

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7. “Shh, be wewy wewy quiet, I’m hunting wabbits.” – When he spots a rabbit Eko will initially freeze.  Then his tail begins to slowly waver in excitement for the hunt.  It is at that point I know to redouble my hold on the leash

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8. “What’s that???” – Also known as “radar tail,” Eko’s tail will swing in low sweeping arcs when he is scoping out something new or trying to decide what to do next

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9. “I have no idea what’s going on.” – When Eko’s brain gets scrambled, so do the signals that go to his tail.  Meeting Emily’s niece was such mental overload for Eko that it broke his tail-control system.  His tail would erratically swing all over the place and then just stop completely

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10. “You said the magic word!!!” – If we’re home, “walk” and “hungry” are the magic words and if we’re out the magic words are “go play!”  Eko’s tail goes from 0-60 in about one second flat and then is not much more than a wagging blur

There is a way to say just about anything with a tail.  What your favorite tail-message you get from your pet?

Comments for What Does Your Pet’s Tail Tell You?

  1. raisingdaisy says:

    I recognize a lot of those tail signs with Daisy too. And one more – when we’re out for a long walk or exploring a new area and Daisy gets tired, her tail droops. Give her five minutes of rest and it’s flying high again!

  2. Tiffany F. says:

    I think the first video is my favorite. Eko’s like “Don’t care what I must do or who I must go through, but I will. Get. To. EMILY!!” Hahha Soo cute. Hope he didn’t break her glasses or your face. =P

  3. that video with Emily is still my all time favorite!

  4. where have you been all my life – that’s the best! But sometimes this tails can be like swords :o)

  5. Emmadog says:

    I’m a huge tail wagger. Mom’s favorite is when I am too lazy to get up but so happy to see her…I just lie there and wag my tail as best as I can. Cute post!

  6. Misaki says:

    daddy says my tail is like a fan 🙂

  7. You’re such a smarty pants, Eko! Mom reads my monkey-tail signals, too. Mostly they say, “Gimme a treat. Gimme a treat. Gimme a treat!”

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

  8. Sage says:

    Wow–you can sure tell who Eko missed. Emily!!! I’m a little more subdued in my greetings, but my Toby would scream when he saw Mom coming back from a trip. Everyone at the airport loved it!

  9. Dottie knows all of those tail signs including a really sad, scary tail that involves her tail tucking under almost touching her chin when she encounters someone at the V-E-T that she doesn’t know.

  10. I never get tired of watching Eko greet Emily. So sweet.

    My cat LIndy likes to place her two front paws at the very edge of my desk, before wrapping her tail up and around them just so. It’s quite endearing.

  11. Jura says:

    Very cute – I love no. 2 Tala does that rapid beating of the bottom third of her tail too though it is either when she is in trouble or simple because she is so tired she can’t be bothered to move!

  12. Victoria says:

    the video where he welcomes back emily is the best – he is such a happy dog to see her – overjoyed (you can tell from his tail and his whole body)…its a beautiful thing to see!

  13. […] The blog’s main focus is of course, Eko, but they also share interesting observations like in One Nation, Under Dog, and while there is valuable advice throughout the blog there are certain posts such as What Does Your Pet’s Tail Tell You? […]

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