Butterfly Rewards - earn free credits and redeem for good causes - learn more!
about our ads
my care2
make a difference
healthy & green living: more than 5,000 ways to enhance your life

customize your free newsletter

Customize your Healthy & Green Living newsletter now

manage newsletters

ads keep care2 free
ads keep care2 free
Megan, selected from The Bark

Is Your Dog Happy?

posted by Megan, selected from The Bark Aug 11, 2009 4:02 pm
filed under: Animal Communication, Behavior, Dogs, Pets, The Bark, , ,
Is Your Dog Happy?
20 comments

By Julia Kamysz Lane

The next time your dog greets you when you come home, closely watch his tail. Scientists have discovered that a happy dog will wag harder to the right and an anxious dog will wag harder to the left.

The study’s findings, “Asymmetric tail-wagging responses by dogs to different emotive stimuli,” was recently published in Current Biology. Co-authors include neuroscientist Giorgio Vallortigara of the University of Trieste in Italy, and veterinarians Angelo Quaranta and Marcello Siniscalchi, at the University of Bari in Italy.

In humans, it’s well documented that the brain is divided into two cerebral hemispheres–left and right–which serve different functions and control opposite sides of the body. Most animals also demonstrate a difference between “left brain” and “right brain” functions. It is believed that the left brain in animals specializes in “approach and energy enrichment,” such as finding food. The right brain specializes in “withdrawal and energy expenditure,” such as fleeing in response to fear. Because the dog’s tail is located along the body’s midline, researchers questioned whether or not the tail displayed emotional asymmetry.

Thirty mixed-breed dogs, family pets, served as the researchers’ subjects. Each dog was put in a cage specially fitted with cameras to capture the precise angle of the dog’s tail movement. The dog was then shown four separate stimuli–his owner; a stranger; a friendly cat; and an unfamiliar, intimidating dog–for one minute each.

Upon sight of their owners, all 30 dogs wagged their tails more strongly to the right side. After a 90-second rest period, the dogs viewed a stranger. The dogs’ tails still favored the right side, but the angle was more moderate in comparison to seeing their owner. The cat elicited a bias to the right side, but it was even more subtle than when they saw the stranger. The large, unknown dog caused all of the dogs to wag their tails to more to the left.

The authors concluded that when the dog felt positive, or curious (as in the case of the cat), the tail wagged right. If the dog felt negative or apprehensive, the tail wagged left. Since the left brain controls the right side of the body, the right muscles of the tail expressed those good feelings. The left muscles of the tail signaled caution or concern, which is controlled by the right brain.

It’s always a good idea to observe your dog’s body language, whether you’re relaxing at the dog park or waiting to see the vet. Now, thanks to your dog’s tail, you have another way to tell how he really feels.

The Bark is the award-winning magazine of modern dog culture—it speaks to the committed dog enthusiast—and is the indispensable guide to life with dogs, showing readers how to live smartly and rewardingly with their canine companions. Bark is the recognized expert on the social/cultural world of dogs in America, and what they mean to us. Click here for your FREE issue.

More on Animal Communication (29 articles available)
More from Megan, selected from The Bark (13 articles available)

20 comments

20 comments

add your comment »
20 comments add your comment
Suzanne K.

Not only does my Tango wag differently at times and yes she is a right sided wagger when happy, but she does smile when very happy! When she comes over to me in a very happy state, not excited, I can see a "smile". Her mouth/lip line is different when happy. Makes me smile more too!!!

dAlbert M.

Hello Teresa !
FROM SYMMETRY, ETERNAL SYMMETRY, HEAVENLY "CREATION" BEGUN_ OFCOURSE Teresa Dogs do have 2 brains, as DO HUMAN BEINGS, THAT IS WHY THEY DO SOMETIMES GET 'DOUBLE-STROKES' ! With the first stroke their SPEECH and LANGUAGE may still be preserved if it affects the 'RIGHT' side of the BRAIN when COMPUTATION and Arithmetic are gone ! When the 'LEFTY' side of the BRAIN gets affected by a second stroke, SPEECH also disappers and even 'Visual Agnosia'_BRAIN - BLINDNESS, may set it ! Nature NEVER ALLOWS EITHER A VACCUUM or an ASSYMMETRY in The Universe !
TAKE CARE Teresa
_d'Albert M

Teresa B.

It's true. Animals brains are two sided. When we train horses, we have to train each side individually. Very true.

Deloris Sechler

Barney my LlapsaTriever, shows his happiness by wagging his tail to the right but his butt goes that way to and his face looks happier. But when he is sad he just lays down and looks at me with sad eyes. When is on guard when we go out me in my wheel chair with him in front (he insists as my chair is a power one) he walks along with tail held high and a happy face. But if he sees anything that may cause harm to me his curled fluffy tail goes straight and his body becomes more tense. I have had several dogs as I am 57 but he has been the most expressive of them all and we bonded from the onset. I am able to read his every mood, including boredom. When I am down or in pain, Barney comes right over with his tail 'concerned', then he will give me his look of it is all right. I then feel better emotionally even if the pain is still there. We brighten each others lives. We are a true team. He also will allow a woman or kids he has never met pet him but that is only if he feels no threat from them. This usually brightens their day. Even ones from Hope House that live in our community he will go up to some and let them love on him to a certain degree. He enjoys making me and others happy.

Peta Love

Our dog, Bubba, does a beautiful big, open circle tail wag that's as if to say "I'm open to anything, feeling great and relaxed but happy".

dAlbert M.

Hello CAROL

I DO NOT KNOW CAROL ! HOW CAN YOU TELL THAT A DOG HAS NO TAIL ? IT WOULD BE A VERY CRUEL THING TO DO TO DEPRIVE A DOG OF ITS TAIL IF IT WAS BORN WITH ONE !!!! IT IS YET AN EXTRA IMPORTANT APPANDAGE IT USES FOR COMMUNICATING ! Even though mine is vestigial and tucked into my natal cleft, I often use it in situations that overwhelm me ! Walk away "BEATEN, WITH MY TAIL BETWEEN MY LEGS "!!! TRUE !!

TAKE CARE
_d'Albert M

Carol Hammons

How can you tell when the dog has no tail?

dAlbert M.

Thanks Paula !
My Super_K-9 Teddy is a 'Pure Breed' Pomeranian , an adorable little guy, whose , CALM, LAID-BACK, "Never to Let anything Get Up His Nose'" 'Personality' (or is it dogiality ?) I TRULY ENVY ! He only annoys me with his LOVE for FOOD and GREED ! He AGORES Visiotors, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH FEMININE VOICES !!! I Will send you a photo of him "SHAVEN" for the SUMMER, as it gets AWFULLY HOT where we live , and his ancestral home being 'POMERANIA' , on either side of the Oder River (Poland/Germany), he does ger extremely uncomfortable in his long fur - coat in the Summer !
Cheerio ! Take Good Care of your 'Puppy' ! Incidentally 'Teddy' is an adult male now (Celebrated his birthday on JULY 04, can you beat it ?) Sorry , unable to Upload his photo to you !
_d'Albert M and his Super_K-9 Teddy !

dAlbert M.

Thanks Paula !
My Super_K-9 Teddy is a 'Pure Breed' Pomeranian , an adorable little guy, whose , CALM, LAID-BACK, "Never to Let anything Get Up His Nose'" 'Personality' (or is it dogiality ?) I TRULY ENVY ! He only annoys me with his LOVE for FOOD and GREED ! He AGORES Visiotors, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH FEMININE VOICES !!! I Will send you a photo of him "SHAVEN" for the SUMMER, as it gets AWFULLY HOT where we live , and his ancestral home being 'POMERANIA' , on either side of the Oder River (Poland/Germany), he does ger extremely uncomfortable in his long fur - coat in the Summer !
Cheerio ! Take Good Care of your 'Puppy' ! Incidentally 'Teddy' is an adult male now (Celebrated his birthday on JULY 04, can you beat it ?)
_d'Albert M and his Super_K-9 Teddy !

dAlbert M.

Hello Laura
BOTH I am afraid ! You see Laura, we are BOTH AMBIDEXTROUS !!
TAKE CARE !
_d'Albert M

Please enter your comment.
Or, log in with your
Facebook account:
1500 characters remaining

who's talking about this story?

Trackback URL

Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

1012550

ads keep care2 free
ads keep care2 free
ads keep care2 free
Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved