Dog Tail Wagging Could Signal Whether Animal Is Happy Or Anxious

A dog tail wagging is generally the sign of a happy and excited canine, but researchers say the flicking of the tail might carry a much deeper meaning.

Researcher said the exact way a dog’s tail is wagging could signal what kind of mood they’re in. A tail switching to the right signals a content animal, which a flick to the left is generally a sign of a more anxious animal, a new study published in Current Biology finds.

The study says that for a dog, tail wagging is an extension of the right-brain left-brain split and can carry more than on meaning. For the study, the dogs were shown videos of other dogs wagging their tails, some to the left and others to the right.

The control group of dogs was monitored to see how they reacted to each video. Those that watched dogs wagging tails to the right were relaxed, but when they saw the dog wag its tail to the left the animals started to show signs of distress and anxiety.

“In other words, a dog looking to a dog wagging with a bias to the right side — and thus showing left-hemisphere activation as if it was experiencing some sort of positive/approach response — would also produce relaxed responses,” said researcher Giorgio Vallortigara of the Center for Mind/Brain Sciences of the University of Trento in Italy.

“In contrast, a dog looking to a dog wagging with a bias to the left — and thus showing right-hemisphere activation as if it was experiencing some sort of negative/withdrawal response — would also produce anxious and targeting responses as well as increased cardiac frequency,” Vallortigara added. “That is amazing, I think.”

The dog tail wagging study isn’t specific to any particular breed. Researchers used a group of 43 animals that ranged from pure breeds to mutts.

Researches say the study and its insight into the true nature of dog tail wagging can help improve animal welfare and treatment. The information could be used to better inform animal control officers, police, and veterinarians to learn when an animal could become distressed.