Thursday, February 14, 2013 We’ve all heard it said, “A wagging
tail means a friendly dog.” It’s risky to live by this statement
because there’s more to the story. Tail wagging, like other
behaviors a dog shows us, is specific to its context. This means
that we need to look at other aspects of the dog’s demeanor and
what is happening around it in addition to how it is wagging its
tail. Is its body still or stiff, appearing tense? Is it showing
the whites of its eyes and are they dilated? Are its ears
forward or pinned back against its head? Is it being approached
by another dog, a child or an adult who is coming into its space
too quickly? In contrast, what if the dog’s body is soft and
relaxed while it seems to be smiling, with its mouth open and
displaying floppy ears? Its tail might be wagging wildly from
side to side and sticking out straight from its body in line
with its back. In that particular situation, I’ll bet the dog is
happy to see you or perhaps is playing a game of chase with his
best buddy. Ta