a wagging tail always means a dog is happy? true or false
1 This is hands down my favorite wag. I believe that a dog who’s tail wags in a circle is the happiest he can be.  I have one dog who wags in a circle, and he always does this when I come home. I think it means he is elated. In both scenarios, the dog’s tail is wagging, yet they mean very different things. While it does help to know your dog, never assume that one behaviour carries a specific meaning or that it applies to all dogs. Better yet, learn your dog’s specific triggers. 1 A tail that is held very high is often a sign of a dominant dog. Watch dogs at the dog park or when interacting with other dogs, the dog with the highest tail is almost always the dominant dog.  When you add to this dominant stance a vigorous wag it can also be a sign of danger and aggression. It is a misconception that a tail wag is a sign that the dog is happy, says Beth Strickler, DVM of Veterinary Behavior Solutions. This is one of the reasons that children are often unable to differentiate between a friendly dog and a non-friendly or aggressive dog.. For help with figuring out what the tail wag means, look for the direction of the wag or at how fast his tail is moving. Studies show that dogs wag their tails to the right when they are happy and to the left when they are frightened. If Baby wags her tail high and back and forth, she's in her happy place. Dogs use their tails to communicate strong emotions such as agitation, annoyance and anger as well as happiness. A person can get bitten by a dog that's wagging his tail because he read the signs incorrectly. And make no mistake, there is a science to tail wagging. Dogs have been wagging their tails since...well, there have been dogs. These furry masses of bones serve multiple purposes. 1 This is hands down my favorite wag. I believe that a dog who’s tail wags in a circle is the happiest he can be. 2  I have one dog who wags in a circle, and he always does this when I come home. I think it means he is elated.  Not all dogs wag like this; it is my opinion that only the really special dogs wag in a circle 😉. Spotting anxiety comes more easily. Owners are less likely to push a dog past what it can tolerate. However, contrary to popular belief, a wagging tail does not always mean a happy dog. It is just not possible to take one isolated behaviour and draw a conclusion. Extrapolating information in this fashion is similar to assuming that a spouse is lying because they looked away during a conversation. A Parallel Tail Wag. 1  The dog that wags parallel to his spine is usually the sign of a happy dog. 2  This is neither a dominant wag or body stance nor a submissive stance or wag.  This is usually the wag you see when he is playing or doing something he loves. The Circular Tail Wag. 1  This is hands down my favorite wag. I believe that a dog who’s tail wags in a circle is the happiest he can be.  I have one dog who wags in a circle, and he always does this when I come home. I think it means he is elated.
False