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November 19, 2013

Why You Should Take A Closer Look At Your Dog’s Wagging Tail

As semi-professional scientists, Eko and I like to stay up on the latest in canine research.  I usually have heard of, or at least thought about, most of the the research I see in the paper.  That’s why I was surprised when I read an article that said dogs

As semi-professional scientists, Eko and I like to stay up on the latest in canine research.  I usually have heard of, or at least thought about, most of the the research I see in the paper.  That’s why I was surprised when I read an article that said dogs indicate their mood by which direction their tail wags.

A 2007 study showed that dogs will wag their tail to their right side for positive emotions and to their left for negative emotions.  Of course I immediately had to go back through my photos to take a look at Eko’s tail.

 

Rhodesian Ridgeback, marking our territory, adventure, dogs, photos, puppy

I don’t have a lot of puppy Eko photos, but the three I do have where he is wagging his tail?  In all of them he is wagging it to his right

 

Rhodesian Ridgeback, marking our territory, adventure, dogs, photos, puppy

I also noticed that before a play pounce, Eko’s tail is generally to the right as well

 

 

Rhodesian Ridgeback, marking our territory, adventure, dogs, photos, puppy

And when I mentioned the word “treats” at the beach? A lick of the lips and a tail wag to the right!

 

 
Rhodesian Ridgeback, marking our territory, adventure, dogs, photos, puppy

Hm, maybe these scientists are on to something

 

A newer study also suggests that dogs can pick up on what direction other dogs are wagging their tails and therefore know what mood those dogs are in.

I also looked at a couple videos where Eko is happy and in both of them his tail wags from the center to his right.  I have never heard of this phenomenon before so I will have to dig deeper and go through some more video.  I am also going to pay more attention to Eko’s tail next time he is nervous or skittish.  Stay tuned for more science!

Comments for Why You Should Take A Closer Look At Your Dog’s Wagging Tail

  1. It’s impossible to see in what direction I wagg with my tail, I’m too fast :o) But when I give my dad some clouts , that means: good morning :o) btw: wish you had tons of puppy photos, Eko is darned cute :o)

  2. snoogiefisk says:

    I’ve been reading about this but I’m a little confused. When Pearl is happy she wags her tail so hard that it bangs both sides of her body. Maybe she’s just an avid wagger. I’ll have to watch her more closely.

  3. raisingdaisy says:

    That’s interesting, we’ll have to notice this when Daisy starts wagging her tail again (aka when she’s not doped up on painkillers and sleeping 16 hours a day!) It always seemed like her tail just wagged fully and crazily (just like Daisy herself!), but now we’ll have to take notice. I thought tail-wagging itself was a positive sign – why would a dog wag its tail at all if it’s not happy? Hmmmm…..pondering…..

  4. nerdgrl (Kim S.) says:

    Eko was/is a cute puppy, but Steffi, the pampered princess, was honestly the cutest puppy. EVER. Her tail is docked so I don’t know if I can do the right/left tail wagging research, but I do know she tucks what little tail she has when she’s scared and wags it so fast one can’t see it when she’s happy.

  5. My first thought, just off the top of my head, what if they’re a lefty? Interesting

  6. I’m with you all – I never heard that before. All the dogs I have lived with wagged their entire rear ends when happy….. which with dogs is pretty much all the time. My dear departed Old English Sheepdog almost folded herself in half side to side when a car ride was mentioned 🙂 ….. From Eko’s puppy photos it is clear he is holding his tail to the right, maybe that’s what they mean? Dogs do wag, but very differently, when they are anxious and trying to please their pack leader [I’ve seen it with bad owners] and now I wonder if those dogs tails are held to their left sides….. Mmmmm food for thought Will. Please do keep investigating and report back.

  7. audrey says:

    what if the tail is going in circle with starting point on the top center?

  8. Victoria says:

    mine do a full side to side – taking just about everything off of any surface in the vicinity -hope that means they are super happy

  9. KDKH says:

    That’s pretty interesting! Thanks.

  10. Misaki says:

    Who knew! I thought any tail wagging was good…

  11. This is interesting. I wonder if it is related to the which side the part of the brain that deals with positive emotions is? If we are going to be all scientific that is!! ^_^

    Eko is pretty adorable but I reckon I have met some cutest ever pup competition for him!

    ~ Amy

  12. Emmadog says:

    Guess what Mom will be doing today? We are big waggers, so she may learn a lot. We also know that wagging doesn’t always mean happy.

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