Recently I was asked if dogs can smile. A great question \u2013 and yes of course they can \u2013 but unlike us, dogs don\u2019t smile with their mouths and teeth but with their tail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Actually, to be more accurate, a dog smiles with their whole body but the tail is the closest thing to a doggie grin we have – and it is by far the easiest to spot. There is nothing so wonderful as watching your dog wagging from sheer joy and love of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So\u2026 When a dog wags their tail, they\u2019re happy, right? The answer is a definite maybe. Yes, when a dog is happy, their tail is relaxed, usually held at half-mast (depending on the breed\/type), and it can be doing anything from waving contentedly to wagging furiously. This really is the same as our smiles when we are enjoying what we are doing with people we love.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we don\u2019t just smile when we are happy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will usually smile when we meet someone that we don\u2019t know to indicate we are friendly and non-threatening. We smile to try and make people feel comfortable. When we are in a conflict situation or interacting with someone we don\u2019t like or who intimidates us, we often smile to try and appease the other person and prevent things from escalating. We smile out of nerves or fear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We smile lots of times that have nothing to do with happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you doubt it, do a \u2018smile check\u2019 \u2013 and see how many times you find yourself smiling in social situations, or just when out and about, at times when you are not actually happy! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s exactly the same with our dogs\u2019 tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They can wag when they\u2019re excited, fearful, frustrated, unsure, worried, stressed, appeasing, in pain \u2013 and of course, blissfully happy, having fun, or just content and relaxed with their environment and the people around them!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many people get into trouble when they misread an \u2018I\u2019m really scared’ or a \u2018I really don\u2019t want to have to bite you but if you come any closer\u2026\u2019 tail wag for the wag of a dog is happy and friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So how do you tell what a tail is saying? First of all, know your own dog. Every dog uses their tail in a different way, and if you know how your dog wags when they are happy, you will easily be able to tell if there is something wrong \u2013 in the same way, you get an instinct about \u2018fake\u2019 human smiles! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There has been a recent study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing that suggests dogs wag their tail to the right when they are with people they know and trust \u2013 and while fascinating (and related to using different sides of the brain for different functions) this research was only conducted on 10 dogs and all from the same breed. By studying your own dog as an individual, you will know if this is true for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A happy wag goes through the dog\u2019s whole body \u2013 as a rule of thumb, the more the wag spreads through the body, the happier they are. The tail is relaxed and the rest of the body seems loose with no tension. Their eyes are soft, their mouth is either closed or else just gently panting, ears are held relaxed and they simply radiate contentment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, a stiff upright wagging tail coupled with a stiff unmoving body (often coupled with a hard-eyed stare) \u2013 or a low between-the-legs wagging tail coupled with low body language (and possibly wrinkled worried eyes, or whale-eye) \u2013 are signs that your dog is anything but happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, take your time to watch your dog. Learn what their tail is saying and how they use it in different circumstances \u2013 and you will be able to see when they are really smiling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"