The Secret Language of Tails: What Your Dog Really Thinks About You

Have you noticed how your dog wags his tail when you come home?

It seems like an obvious sign of joy, but scientists say it's not that simple!

A study published in the journal Animal Cognition has revealed that the direction of tail movement is key to decoding emotions.

If the tail is deflected to the right, the dog experiences positive feelings, to the left - anxiety or aggression. Dr. Stanley Coren , author of the bestseller "How Dogs Think", emphasizes:

"This is due to the asymmetry of the brain. The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and is responsible for positive emotions."

But that's just the tip of the iceberg! Zoopsychologists from the University of Tokyo have found out that the speed of wagging also matters. Fast movements signal excitement, slow ones - uncertainty.

For example, if a dog meets a guest who is actively waving his arms, his tail may slow down - this is a sign of alertness.

Golden retriever owner Maxim from Novosibirsk shared his story:

"After I started paying attention to the tail, I realized that Bonya was "talking" to me. When I took a vacation and started walking more, his tail started wagging more often and higher!"

What about tail position? According to National Geographic , dogs with high tails (like huskies) are more likely to exhibit dominant behavior, while breeds with lower tails (like greyhounds) are more cautious.

However, as dog trainer Anna Morozova notes, "this is not a death sentence. Socialization and training can correct natural inclinations." An interesting case is described in the blog of veterinarian Lidiya Petrova : a pug that constantly tucked its tail stopped doing this after a course of play therapy.

But how to use this knowledge? Experts advise observing the pit in different situations. For example, if the tail trembles when seeing a stranger, this is a reason to carefully reduce the distance.

And sharp swings during play can mean overexcitement - perhaps it's time to take a break.

The main thing is not to overload the dog with attention: as zoopsychologist Daria Klimova warns, "obsessive monitoring of the tail can cause stress. Trust other signals as well: ears, posture, gaze."