Why do dogs wag their tails?
Talk about it together
What do you think a dog might be saying with a big, wiggly tail wag?
What about...?
Ask your child's own question
Transcript
Have you seen a dog wag its tail? Why does it do that?
A dog may wag its tail when it sees a friend or hears a happy hello. The tail helps show what the dog feels.
A loose, wiggly tail can mean a dog feels friendly and excited. Its whole body may wiggle too.
But tails can say other things too, like worry or being unsure. We can look at the dog's whole body and give it space.
So that's why dogs wag their tails: tails help dogs talk without words. A wag can mean different things!
For grown-ups: the science
Dogs wag their tails to share how they feel, but each wag can mean something different.
Tail wagging is a form of canine communication, not always a sign of happiness. A relaxed body and broad, loose wag often occur during friendly excitement, while tail height, speed, stiffness, direction, ear position, face, and the situation all help show a dog's state. Children should not approach unfamiliar dogs and should give dogs space when their signals are unclear.