Why does an active dog need a tail? The meaning of a dog's tail Why a dog doesn't have a tail

Adults are increasingly less likely to ask themselves questions about why and why. But children are constantly interested in questions of the universe. Just recently, my youngest daughter dumbfounded me with the question: “Why does a dog need a tail?” As always, the answer to such a simple question was ambiguous.

Any scientist will confirm to you that everything created here on Earth has meaning and nothing superfluous exists in nature. Even the smallest part of the world is needed for something. The same thing happened with the dog's tail. Our pets need it for several reasons.

Tail - as a way of communication

The dog's tail is almost always in motion. He will tell you a lot about her current mood and future intentions. Everyone knows that when he wags, the dog is in a positive mood, and if he presses him under him, he is scared. But there are also a lot of other messages from the tail that the dog wants to convey to its relative, a person or another living creature.

A wagging tail may not always indicate friendliness on the part of the dog. Rather, it denotes excitement. For example:

The tail is like a rudder

Notice the fast moving dog. Her tail takes an active part in the movement. It helps her during sharp turns, when moving along a log or other uneven surfaces. During swimming, the tail also helps its owner not to drown and swim in the right direction. In the video below you can admire a boxer diving (his tail is not docked). The video clearly shows how the tail helps the dog reach its goal underwater and swim to the water surface.

The tail is a way of transmitting smell

At the base of the dog's tail are the paraanal glands, which contain a special secretion with its own individual scent. If an animal is confident in itself, it waves its tail to spread its scent, make itself known, and tell the relatives around it who exactly is in front of them. In addition, such actions attract individuals of the opposite sex. But if it is afraid or frightened, it pinches it under the stomach, preventing the smell from spreading. This is a kind of attempt not to attract attention to oneself.

All this happens provided that the anal glands are not blocked, which happens quite often. If this happens, then in this video you can learn how to clean the anal glands in dogs yourself.

Why does a dog need a tail? It’s beautiful

Look around - we are surrounded by so many different dogs. Their tails are long and short, erect and hanging, curled and straight. And the tail of each of them is magnificent. It complements the greatness of the animal and creates a complete picture. This is a source of pride for every adult dog. Here are just a few photos of these different ponytails and ponytails. Mikhail Prishvin, in his stories about animals, compares the tail of the Irish setter with the wing of a bird.

We're going backwards

If you ask your friends a question about why a dog needs a tail, then judging by their answers you can divide them into types.

Romantics believe that the tail is an indicator of the dog’s mood;
pessimists argue that a dog needs its tail to tuck it in when afraid;
scientifically minded citizens think that the tail is an extension of the spine;
aesthetes say that a tail is necessary solely for beauty;
pragmatists see the benefit of the tail in balancing and regulating movement, various jumps and balance.

What type of people do you recognize yourself among?

It’s nice that tail docking is happening less and less often and we can increasingly see long-tailed handsome boxers, schnauzers, Dobermans and others. Now that you have learned about why a dog needs a tail, the question about may now seem unnecessary. I suggest you ask your child his version of a dog's need for a tail. You can write interesting answers at the bottom of the article in the comments.

Almost every third family has a four-legged barking pet, and some have more than one. However, adult dog owners rarely wonder about the anatomical features of their pet. But children are often interested in why a dog needs a tail, big ears, or fur? Why do some dogs have a tail, while others have it intact? So why do dogs need this body part?

Any researcher will agree that everything that is created on Earth has a certain meaning, and there may be no talk of unnecessary things. And even a tiny part of the body is of great importance to its owner, the same can be said about a dog’s tail. It is very important for the animal and performs a number of functions.

The tail is in a mobile state almost all the time. It is a clear indicator of the dog’s mood; it can be used to determine what the dog is going to do in the near future. Almost all people know that if a dog wags its tail, then it is in a positive mood and is very happy, and if the tail is located between the hind legs, the pet is scared or very ashamed.

But these are not all the “tailed” gestures that the animal uses in communication with people, its relatives and other animals, and they are not always interpreted unambiguously. A wagging tail can also be a sign of aggression, but a dog whose tail is in a calm state may be friendlier than it might seem at first glance. The alphabet of the “tailed” language says the following:

In a relaxed animal, the tail is positioned naturally - the position depends on the breed - in pugs it lies on the back, in Labradors it hangs down, in huskies it forms a ring.
Careful wagging from side to side, a sort of waving, speaks of the dog’s joyful mood.
Intense waving, and even accelerated movement around its axis, in the manner of a propeller, is unbridled joy and happiness; the pet is immensely glad that its owner has returned.
A tail drooping or tucked between the hind legs is a sign that the dog is nervous or submissive. In this mood, the dog may try to quickly wag it. But this does not apply to Italian Greyhound dogs - this tail position is normal for them.
The tail is pressed tightly to the stomach - the animal is very frightened or is trying to demonstrate exceptional submission.
A high tail, which stands straight and rigid, resembling a pipe - something alerted the dog.
The tail is raised high, and its end sways from side to side - usually in this position the dog stands in one place, showing aggression, threatening people or other animals. From the outside it may seem that the dog is happy, but all other body movements indicate the opposite.
A vertically raised tail, which seems to be shaking, means the dog is ready for a fight or an attack.
The dog is carrying something in its teeth and at the same time the tail is raised slightly above the body - this pose indicates that the animal is confident in itself and will not simply give up its prey.

Tail steering

Looking at a dog that is moving, it is noticeable that the tail is actively involved in this process. It helps the animal balance when the dog walks on logs or uneven surfaces. Also, thanks to the tail, dogs can abruptly change trajectories, this is especially important for dogs that develop enormous speeds - greyhounds, hounds.

In addition, the tail helps dogs swim, because it is not without reason that all water breeds - Labradors, Newfoundlands, Irish Water Spaniels, Portuguese Water Dogs and others - have a rather long and thick tail. It helps the dog swim long distances, dive and swim to the surface.

Tail - flavoring

Not all dog owners know about them, which are located at the base of the tail. They secrete a special secretory fluid that has an individual aroma. When a dog feels confident, it actively wags its tail, spreading its own scent, notifying the entire area of its presence.

In addition, the secret is an information carrier and can tell a lot about its owner. It attracts the opposite sex and warns rivals. And if the dog is not so self-confident and does not want to attract everyone’s attention, he tries to press his tail to his stomach, covering the anal glands.

Interesting:

Tail - decoration

For some breeds, the tail is a chic addition to the look. With long hair - in lapdogs, Pekingese, ringlets in huskies, dense in German shepherds - this is not the entire list of situations when the tail is a real decoration.

It’s not for nothing that one of the points in the standard is dedicated to this particular part of the body. In a German Shepherd it should be as long as possible, in a Labrador it should be shorter, in a Japanese Chin and Pekingese it should be straight and lie on its back, and in a funny way it curls.

Each breed has its own requirements, and for some this means docking. Yes, today this procedure is viewed ambiguously, but dogs of some breeds really look more impressive without this, albeit important, detail. Fortunately, modern owners have the right to resolve this issue in one favor or another.

A dog's tail is a fan, a mood indicator, a rudder and a fin. An important organ that should not be underestimated. It is not known whether the dogs themselves are proud of having a gorgeous tail, but the owners are proud - and that’s for sure!

The common belief that a dog wags its tail to express happy emotions is essentially true. But heel wobble in dogs is also associated with other psychological conditions.

Tail wagging is a way of transmitting information to the outside world, which appeared in dogs during evolution. The dog uses its tail as one of the means of communication, which complements the vocal and bodily forms.

Why does a dog wag its tail?

Scientists studying dogs have noticed that tail wagging initially had a physiological explanation. A dog's anal glands give off a unique odor. Each individual has its own, exclusive and unique. The tail helps spread scent through the air, marking territory and warning enemies and competitors. This gesture allows you to quickly navigate the search for your other half for procreation.

Further study showed that dogs, as pack animals, need communication and information exchange. The tail became an important help in this matter. With its help, dogs can express many emotions, receive and transmit important information to others. Over time, humans also learned to recognize dog gestures and determine why the pet’s tail wags.

Gesture meanings

The position of the dog's body, tail, and wagging patterns show what mood the animal is in. The following main positions and meanings of gestures can be distinguished:

Firm stance with head and tail raised. The dog is confident in its strength and superiority. She is in good spirits and calm.
The tail and head are elongated along the line of the withers, the ears are flattened. The dog is tense, feels and expresses threat.
The head is at body level, the tail is lowered, the ears are flattened, the hair on the withers is raised, a roar or bark is made. The dog is aggressive, feels threatened and is ready to attack.
The dog steps, the head is mobile - it lowers, then rises, the tail is raised and wags a little. The dog is wary, but ready for contact, and is friendly.
The dog is active, wags its tail frequently and with great amplitude, stretches its muzzle forward, and makes impatient sounds. The dog is joyful, happy, craves communication, sound and physical contact. And also anticipates the appearance of food.
The tail and head are lowered, the ears are flattened. Recognition of superiority, fatigue, resentment.
The head is lowered, the body is hunched, the tail is between the hind legs. Demonstration of subordination, depression.

Interpretation of tail wagging directions

One of the significant events in determining the meaning of dog gestures was the discovery of Italian animal psychologists. They found that dogs' brains develop asymmetrically throughout their lives, just like humans. The right hemisphere is associated with energy consumption, discharge, and negativity. Left - responsible for enriching energy and pleasant emotions: calm, safety, affection, love.

During the experiments, cats, owners, or clearly dominant dogs were introduced to the dogs. When they saw their owner or their favorite food, the animals wagged their tails to the right. If they saw a cat or another dog near them, they began to wave their tails to the left. Moreover, the amplitude of the movement corresponded to the strength of the emotion.

These useful observations led to the conclusion that the direction of the tail movements reflects the emotional state of the pet. Movements of the tail on the left, for which the right hemisphere is responsible, betrays the dog’s negative emotions. Conversely, if a dog waves its tail with an emphasis to the right, it shows left-brain activity and expresses a positive attitude.

Movement of the tail or rear in breeds with docked tails helps a person understand the pet better. And with unfamiliar dogs, this indicator allows you to figure out when it’s safer to stay away, and when it’s time to establish contact.

Well, it’s not for nothing that pets are called “Tailed Friends,” because it’s impossible to imagine a cat or dog without a tail. Why does a dog need a tail is a question from the “why” section, and many will shrug it off and say: “I don’t know why, but it’s definitely needed.” Let’s not dwell on the vague formulation and take the risk of giving a complete answer to the seemingly rhetorical question.

Humanity has always tried to impose its own vision of things on nature. There are no tailless dogs in nature, and the work of breeders has been frustrated more than once by this fact. From a scientific point of view, the tail is an important part of the spine. Responsible for the timely transmission of nerve impulses, regulates muscle balance and maintains normal cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Researchers, from their point of view, answered why dogs wave their tail. The reasons may be a desire to cheer yourself up, a signal of nervous tension, an attempt to relieve pain, itching, fear. Dogs born with a bent or shortened tail are considered physiologically inferior and should not be allowed to be bred.

From a physiological point of view, it is explained why dogs chase their tail. Unfortunately, this funny behavior almost always indicates trouble. There may be several reasons:

Interest– puppies exploring their bodies can run after the tail just like that.

Behavioral syndrome– a pet deprived of attention is ready to bite its tail for the sake of praise/scolding of the owner.

Nervous breakdown– against the background of neural disorders, the dog may perceive its tail as an enemy. If a dog tries to catch up and bite the tail, “drives” it away from food, while behaving seriously and aggressively, this is a reason for close observation and a visit to the doctor.

– if in combination with chases there is a deterioration in the condition, vomiting or diarrhea.

Panic attacks– Pets that have experienced severe stress may spin around in place or chase their tail when they are nervous. With frequent relapses, the tailed friend needs support, attention and preventive examination by a veterinarian.

Read also: Little-known facts about dogs

A healthy and balanced dog rarely engages in such chases; after several trials, the pet understands that dizziness brings discomfort. An exception is choleric dogs - the process is important to them, not the result.

Tail docking, a necessity or a “bad” habit?

In general, docking tails and ears is a precautionary measure and a way to protect the dog. As you know, dog fighting is prohibited and punished by law in all civilized countries, so docking for this purpose can be considered inappropriate. Some herding breeds that guard herds alone or in pairs run the risk of encountering wolves, so their ears and sometimes their tails are cropped for safety reasons.

The remaining “excuses” are nothing more than following breed standards. Of course, the standard is important, but animal rights activists have exerted positive pressure in this area as well. Almost all international kennel clubs condemn tail docking if it is not due to the pet’s lifestyle and “work”.

This is interesting! England, in recent times, became famous for its law on a tax on the length of a dog's tail. Fleeing from extortion, for many years the British docked the tails of their pets up to the second vertebra. This explains the standards of many breeds registered in the UK.

Tail as a communication tool

Studies of dogs' communication with other animals and people have explained why a dog wags its tail. For experienced breeders this is not a discovery, but for the scientific world it is a significant contribution. The first and most obvious function of the tail is to express emotions and mood. There is a whole “tail alphabet” that helps to accurately determine a dog’s emotions, for example.

As you know, everything in nature has a reason, and the structure of the dog’s body is no exception. But does everyone know why a dog needs a tail? This is exactly what we will talk about today.

Why does a dog need a tail?

The tail in different animals performs functions specific to each species. For example, cows need a tail to ward off annoying flies, horseflies and gadflies, and a kangaroo's tail helps in jumping. Then why does a dog need a tail? A dog's tail performs the function of communication. Thus, dogs convey certain messages to people and their relatives.

Let's go back to the times when the dog's ancestors were considered pack animals. At that time, the tail was needed to communicate with each other. Of course, dogs use vocal signals and various body positions to communicate with each other, but the tail plays an extremely important role.

When a dog lives next to you, it is useful to know what signs it can give, what it wants to communicate. A dog needs a tail to convey its mood. Not all tail movements mean friendliness and joy towards the owner. If a dog's tail is raised high and only the tip wags, then this indicates aggression and dominance. The whole quickly wagging tail can tell about friendliness and the desire to play with you, while it is raised high again. Well, if a dog lowers its tail low, wagging it, it is scared and obeys.

Why do dogs have their tail docked?

Tail docking in dogs means cutting off part or all of the tail at a young age (1 to 3 days). Dogs with docked tails often lag behind in development and later begin to run. Then why do dogs have their tail docked? Many hundreds of years ago, dogs had their tails docked to make them invulnerable to rivals and other animals. Then for certain breeds this was considered an integral part of the tradition. Currently, tail docking has no practical use, but remains a tradition for some dog breeds.