Isn’t it the best feeling in the world when your dog greets you at the door with her tail wagging furiously? We all know that dogs wag their tails to show affection and excitement. But have you ever wondered the real reason why dogs have tails?
Dogs have tails for more than just adorable looks and displays of affection with wagging. Keep reading to find out more.
Tails assist dogs during movement. The next time you play fetch with your pooch, observe her tail as she takes off after the ball. Or watch your dog as she chases another dog. You’ll notice that the tail turns in the direction your dog is going. This counteracts the body weight and prevents her from tumbling down or spinning off course.
Another major function of a dog’s tail is balance. Just like a tightrope walker uses their body to balance, dog’s use their tail to maintain balance. This is especially true when a dog is walking or running on uneven surfaces.
Dogs use their tails to communicate with other dogs. Dominant dogs tend to keep their tails held high. They wag their tail to release unique scents from the anal glands which lets other dogs know they are not to be messed with.
Over time, humans have come to understand doggy tail language. A wagging tail indicates joy and excitement. A tail tucked between the legs indicates fear.
In some breeds, dogs use their thick, furry tails to protect their noses in blistery cold weather. Some sighthounds use their tail like a whip to rapidly change directions while running at high speeds. Water retrievers use their tails like rudders to help them swim. So, as you can see, a dog’s tail can play many different roles.
01 December, 2022