Talking with tails?! 

If you’re like most pet owners, you likely wonder what your pet is thinking. It may be easier than you think to understand what’s going on in your pet’s head by just checking out what’s up—or down—with their tail!

Good mood or excited
If your dog’s tail is swishing back and forth in a circular motion, good news—it means your pup is happy and relaxed! A stiff tail wag means your dog is alert and excited. Usually this represents positive excitement, but use the context of the situation to determine if your pet is reacting to a negative cause. 

When your cat is sauntering around with their tail high, it means they’re happy and confident—especially if their tail is straight up and twitching slightly. If your cat’s tail is high and hooked into a question mark, it means they’re happy and in a playful mood. 

Threatened or stressed
A dog who’s feeling threatened or submissive will lower or tuck their tail between their hind legs. Remove them from the situation or remove the source of their fear. Note that some breeds have a low tail position all the time (e.g., whippets and greyhounds), so take their breed into consideration.

If your cat has puffed up their tail, it means they’re feeling very threatened or stressed. They’re trying to make themselves appear bigger to scare off the threat. Likewise, if their tail is tucked beneath their body, they’re feeling nervous or threatened. Give them space and try to identify and remove the source of the stress. 

Fearful or aggressive
When you notice your dog raise their tail suddenly, they may be feeling aggressive—this is especially true if the raised tail is accompanied by small, quick wags. Give them space, and identify and remove the source of their stress. 

When your cat is whipping their tail back and forth rapidly, watch out! It means they’re fearful or aggressive—or both. Give your cat space to avoid upsetting them even more. 

Want to know why your pet “talks” a certain way? Find out now! >>