[nagdu] tails

[larry d keeler]

Usually, tail wagging is either an indication of happiness or also can be
nervousness. When we got a dog from the humane society many years ago, Pez
for those who have heard of him on the list. Anyway, he was initially quite
nervous because he didn't know what to expect. So, he would watch us coming
and wag his tail slowly until he found out everything was good. Also, dogs
will hold there tails up high to show dominance. Or, as with Holly, extreme
excitement! The esky I have when really excited curls his tail into a tight
little ball. And of course, most folks know that when the tail is down or
tucked in between the legs while standing it is usually a sign of the dog
being scared or feeling threatened. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielle Sykora
via nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 1:17 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Danielle Sykora
Subject: [nagdu] tails

Two tail questions/observations...
I know that tail position in dogs is a very good indicator of emotional
status, so I try to pay attention to my dog's tail in certain situations.
His normal wag when he is excited or happy is holding his tail relatively
straight out behind him and sweeping it from side to side. When he
encounters unfamiliar dogs however, his tail is curled over his back with
only small side to side movements. I have some idea of what this means, but
I wonder how others would interpret this behavior. Knowing whether he is
excited or anxious around other dogs has definitely altered my approach to
dog distractions in the past.

Earlier today, my dog got his tail stuck in a door. I know it must have hurt
because he was yelping and barking for the few seconds it took me to get the
door back open. He let me examine his tail without whining or moving away,
but he was pretty tense and wanted to look back to see what I was doing. He
seems comfortable enough, but he is still reluctant to completely straighten
his tail. Thoughts...

Danielle and Thai

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