Tales the Tail Tells

[originally written for Fur-Get Me Not's Dog Training News newsletter] When it comes to body language, our dogs can read us like a book, while we may overlook messages they're broadcasting to us. But if we pay attention and know what to look for, we'll get at least an inkling of what they're feeling. One highly visible barometer of your dog's mood is her tail. So  make a study of it. Know your dog's "baseline": When she's just moseying along, where's her tail? How high or low? And watch her tail when she's having a good time. What's it doing when she's playing with you, greeting her best dog buddies, or tracking an irresistible scent in the grass? Answering these questions will help you detect her relaxed or joyfully engaged emotional states. Now that you recognize your dog's happy tail, you'll be quicker to notice changes that convey stress--and quicker to quell it. Once you've seen loose, jubilant wagging, you'll easily identify its opposite: High, stiff, rapid wagging often means high arousal, which may turn congenial, but could instead tip into aggression. So when two dogs meet, wagging alone doesn't signify friendly intent. If you're not seeing your dog's "hurray!" type of wag, be vigilant and cut the introduction short if necessary. A drooping or tucked tail often signals anxiety or even outright fright. Suppose you're out on a walk, and your dog suddenly tucks his tail in fear. You can snap him out of his angst by scattering treats for him to search for, or U-turning away to put the scary thing behind him.  Amid the swirling commotion of the dog park, you'll need the focus of an air traffic controller to monitor all those tails, but do it anyway to keep your dog out of trouble. For example, chase is a favorite game of dogs, but pursuer and pursued both have to agree that it's a game. Watch the tail of the dog being chased. If it's down, that dog is not having fun. If it's your dog, step in and redirect him to another activity, or at least give him a calming break to get his mojo back. If your dog is the pursuer, he's not playing fair and needs to knock it off for a bit. Of course the tail doesn't tell all. But it can be a red flag, and it pays to heed it. Our dogs look to us for reassurance and protection. If we know when they're asking for it, we'll always be ready to give it.