We all know at least one dog who could wag their tail professionally, constantly excited and full of energy. If a dog brings their wagging tail into the home environment however, this can lead to subsequent issues such as tail trauma from banging against hard surfaces, and also broken furniture (to the owner’s dismay)! The reasons behind tail wagging are more complex than most people think. The tail is vitally important to dog communication. In this blog we will be discussing different messages a wag could be trying to communicate. As well as ways you can protect your home from wag-induced destruction whilst keeping your dog happy.
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So firstly, what is in a wag? Tail wagging, like all forms of communication, is not present from birth. But is instead learned by puppies from their mothers, littermates and other dogs. Pups learn to utilise a tail wag to communicate a wanting to play with siblings, or to tell their mothers that they’re hungry. As the dog ages and learns to communicate body language more effectively, their tail wag will gain different characteristics to communicate different things, either to other dogs or to humans. So whilst people commonly associate wagging tails with happy dogs, this may not be the case. If your dog is wagging its tail excessively at home, it could be worth trying to identify what your dog is trying to communicate to you.
Wags and What they Mean…
Generally, a highly held and sweeping wag is indicative of a happy dog wanting to play. A raised and stiff tail could indicate hostility or a dog on alert. And a very taut upright tail could mean aggression. Lower hung tails and slow wags can indicate nervousness and maybe fear. Does your dog wag their tail differently depending on the situation or environment? Is the tail wagging associated with any other forms of body language? Remember to interpret it along with other key indicators of dog body language.
It is important to try to differentiate these wags as it may help you to identify if there is an underlying issue or reason which could help in addressing the problem. For instance, if your dog is wagging a lot at home, with their tail low, this could be indicative of nervousness or anxiousness; which can be an ongoing issue. Or which can also happen when a sudden change in the home environment has upset your dog slightly. In this case, behavioural therapy can be an extremely helpful tool in reducing the dog’s anxiety. Thus also the amount of tail wagging at home and subsequently the tail banging into things.
Behavioural Therapy
To elaborate on behavioural therapy, creating a calm home environment for your dog can make huge differences in their contentment and happiness at home. Ensure they have a safe place of their own to rest; try to reduce the impact of sudden changes and even better try to make any changes gradual; if you have more than one dog ensure that you have enough toys, feeding bowls, etc. for all of them to reduce any competition-associated stress.
What if they’re just bouncy?
If your dog appears to be wagging their tail for friendly and playful reasons, holding their tail high and appearing bright and excited, then the way you would go about reducing this wagging would be different. In this case, I would focus your efforts on ensuring your dog gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation outside. Maybe taking them for a walk a few times a day to encourage them to expend more energy out and about. If you have an enclosed garden, letting them play outside throughout the day could also help with this. Once you are able to establish the general outdoors as their place to play and be excited; it should be easier to establish the indoors as a place to be calm and unwind. Specifically, not reacting to and inadvertently encouraging excessively excited behaviour whilst you’re at home. And rewarding your dog during periods of calm with positive reinforcement techniques, could be very helpful. For more specific advice, talk with a professional – a clinical animal behaviourist or your local vet.
In summary, tail wags can mean a variety of things and attempting to interpret them can lead to a greater understanding of how to reduce your dog wagging excessively at home, potentially harming themselves or things around them.
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