When is a dog's wagging tail not a happy sign?
Tails and their wags just like a human mouth and smile can show a range of moods from happy to anxious. Broad tail wags combined with a relaxed muzzle and lips show friendliness. A fast tight tail wag with rear end down of the dog down shows anxiety. When a dog is laying on his back he is not always signally scratch my belly.
Just like kid giggling kid in a tickle fight yells “uncle!
you win”, when your puppy lays on their back with their tummy exposed and gives a fast little wag, your dog is saying "I am submissive." "You win."
In most breeds, when a dog is walking and holds his tail high he is showing dominance. Some research on dog body language even shows wag side difference's for different emotions. When your dog is really happy the tail goes more to the right and if your dog is fearful and anxious the tail wags more to the left. Do a baseline test for your dog to see if you see a wag difference. It is really interesting to me as a body language expert because a dogs tail shows emotions in a similar way that a humans gestures show emotions and people have a right side left side preference. Fear and anxiety more to the left. To read more about about right hand bad left hand good gesturing type in Gestures on this blog.
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
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