The Black Vault

[druid]

Dogs appear to wag their tails when happy or on friendly encounters with othr animals.
Is it known if this acivity is purely a signal or does tail wagging when they ars in isolation but, for instance, discover a tasty morsel of food?

[Dark-Samus]

To me it´s pretty obvious that waving the tail has atleast two meanings.

If it is waving fast then it´s happy or excited.

If it´s waving slower it is curious.

[Wing-Zero]

Where the tail is, is an important part in communication with other dogs AND humans. The differences in the types of wag determine the different emotions the dog is displaying. Usually when a dog sees a piece of food it wants or likes, it is usually a much less fast, ecstatic wag than it would be if, say, you came home after being out all day.

Also, especially water dogs, they use it as a rudder when they're in the water to stay afloat and helps guide them.

But no, D-S, a slow wagging tail means that they're on guard. When the tail is hanging horizontal, but not stiff, is when they're more interested or curious.

[chiselray]

dogs appear to smile,but maybe their tails express it or is meant to..

[druid]

All fair comment, but the problem is whether this signal is communication or an automatic reaction.

[Wing-Zero]

All fair comment, but the problem is whether this signal is communication or an automatic reaction.

Signal.

[chiselray]

its memory related....

The brain as ours will process and deliver a chemical into the bloodstream within an instant based on a memory...good or bad..good chem or bad chem...

[BloodStone]

My dog wags his nub when he's happy. He keeps his nub down between his legs when he is unsure.

Points his nub straight up when he locks onto target. Straight out when in attack mode (hair on his back also stands straight up.)


nasty lil bugger.



BloodStone...

[bionic]

Dog's waggin tails
Cat's purring (supposedly thye have a "suffering" purr, too..though I have never heard that..and I have cared for many cats over the years..)

hmm..
The following seems related for some reason..

Did you know many marine mammals (whales, for sure)..when held in ccaptivety for a while..their dorsal fin (the one on top) stops standing up straight..it bends/curls over

like a dog's or cat's tail goes down when it's weary or scared

it feels connected in some way

humans don't have tails, or fins, or purr that we can see..but it sure does seem that the happy, at peace folks seem to have some kinda "glow" to them.

[ironrose2000]

It's a signal - we as humans just aren't (normally) wired to understand the full range. Dogs (like cats, horses and quite a few other animals) use a full range of bodily movement to convey messages. They cannot verbalize, and they cannot smile/frown - all cues humans are used to. When we say "that dog is smiling" we're simply projecting human traits. And as someone who's had over 25 in his life, I feel like I've only scratched the surface. BTW, I have seen instances of a dog wagging it's tail one minute and then biting the hell out of someone the next.