Dogs wag their tails for key purpose – not always excitement

Many pet owners believe that if their dog is wagging its tail, they must be excited – but according to some, that isn’t the case at all.

“Do dogs voluntarily wag their tails or is it a reflex?” asked one intrigued owner on Reddit. “My dog is constantly wagging her tail and it just seems that’s a lot to keep track of.”

The question prompted others to explain that the wagging is, in fact, involuntary at times. One person said: “It’s like smiling. You can do it voluntarily but it also happens when you’re happy.

“Dogs involuntarily wag their tail when they’re excited (both happy, excited, and nervous, excited), but sometimes they also do it as an appeasement behaviour to say, ‘I’m not a threat’.”

A second agreed, adding: “I think it’s kind of like breathing. Your body does it naturally, especially under certain circumstances, but they can also do it voluntarily.”

While a third Reddit user pointed out: “Every single time my dog sees another person or dog he wags his tail exuberantly. This seems clearly like a reflex to me, something in his brain is just wired this way.

“Sometimes when my dog is frustrated with me and wants to play he will do a big play bow and wag his tail a few times. This seems quite intentional, as a way of saying, ‘come and get me!'”

Animal welfare charity, Blue Cross supports this theory, meanwhile, offering a variety of tail insights online.

“Tail wagging develops differently in different breeds, but it usually begins around three to four weeks into life,” they explain. “The wag of a tail is instinctive in dogs; it’s used as part of their varied communication with one another and with humans.”

Blue Cross adds that while tail wagging is instinctive, the shape, size, and way the tail moves will vary from breed to breed and from individual to individual.

“For example, most golden retrievers have large expressive tails that tend to swish from side to side when walking, whereas whippets and greyhounds tend to hold their tails far lower than the average breed,” they elaborate.

“The spitz breeds, like huskies and malamutes, have tails that curl backwards; sometimes the tip of the tail will even touch the dog’s back.

“Despite these differences, along with the size and shape of today’s breeds, most dogs tend to understand each other and communicate well if they are socialised appropriately.”

So there you have it – dogs use their tails as a form of expression. They can be a useful tool to communicate with both fellow canines and humans, too.