Is Spot Happy? Just Look At His Tail
Italian Researchers Say Wagging Right Indicates Bliss; A Leftward Wag Signals Less Enthusiasm
Italian researchers say if the angle of a dog's tail wag favors the right side, the dog likes what it's seeing. If it favors the left side, not so much. (CBS)
"When the dog is wagging its tail, the dog is saying a lot."
Dr. Stephen Zawistowski
(CBS) If you're a dog lover, how many times have you asked yourself, "what is he or she thinking about anyway?"
We fuss over our dogs, worry about them, spend more than $38 billion to keep them happy and healthy. But how do we know really what they are feeling?
It turns out that the tail tells the story, CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports.
A wagging tail doesn't always equal a happy dog. Italian researchers videotaped how 30 dogs wagged their tails after seeing different things.
They measured the angle of the wag and concluded if it the tail favors the dog's left side, he's not so pleased about what he sees. On the right side, he's happy.
"When the dog is wagging its tail, the dog is saying a lot," says Dr. Stephen Zawistowski. He's an expert in animal behavior and is excited by the new study. Schlesinger met him at The Wagging Tail, an aptly named doggie day care facility in New York.
"The nature of that wag, by parsing it very carefully, we're seeing that it's signaling some elements of intention or how the dog is interpreting the situation," Zawistowski says.
Schlesinger says he never thought his dog, Sally, had any trouble at all telling him how she feels.
"She's usually pretty happy. But that's just my opinion — it's not very scientific," he says.
The scientists slowed down the video tape for accurate measurement.
"They're taking a protractor looking at the deflection of the tail. Most of us are not going to be able to be that careful in reading something like that," Zawistowski says.
Most of us will rely on more old-fashioned ways of judging the happiness of our dogs — tried and true, although not particularly scientific.
Italian researchers say if the angle of a dog's tail wag favors the right side, the dog likes what it's seeing. If it favors the left side, not so much. (CBS)
"When the dog is wagging its tail, the dog is saying a lot."
Dr. Stephen Zawistowski
(CBS) If you're a dog lover, how many times have you asked yourself, "what is he or she thinking about anyway?"
We fuss over our dogs, worry about them, spend more than $38 billion to keep them happy and healthy. But how do we know really what they are feeling?
It turns out that the tail tells the story, CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports.
A wagging tail doesn't always equal a happy dog. Italian researchers videotaped how 30 dogs wagged their tails after seeing different things.
They measured the angle of the wag and concluded if it the tail favors the dog's left side, he's not so pleased about what he sees. On the right side, he's happy.
"When the dog is wagging its tail, the dog is saying a lot," says Dr. Stephen Zawistowski. He's an expert in animal behavior and is excited by the new study. Schlesinger met him at The Wagging Tail, an aptly named doggie day care facility in New York.
"The nature of that wag, by parsing it very carefully, we're seeing that it's signaling some elements of intention or how the dog is interpreting the situation," Zawistowski says.
Schlesinger says he never thought his dog, Sally, had any trouble at all telling him how she feels.
"She's usually pretty happy. But that's just my opinion — it's not very scientific," he says.
The scientists slowed down the video tape for accurate measurement.
"They're taking a protractor looking at the deflection of the tail. Most of us are not going to be able to be that careful in reading something like that," Zawistowski says.
Most of us will rely on more old-fashioned ways of judging the happiness of our dogs — tried and true, although not particularly scientific.
Comments
In addition to certifications acheieved, etc...now in my older years, I am a very small-time breeder now, having cut down on my kennel size, and I am ANAL when it comes to morals, ethics, education, and plain old common sense when it comes to any aspect of the canine species' world.
In all those years, I've had the opportuntiy to observe all kinds of breeds in training clases, alone, and I have a house full of a Labrador Retriever Pack who teach me more than any human ever could.
In all the PROVEN studies, by people who are much more educated than I am, I've NEVER come across ANY study that can verify what this tail-wag study is saying, or what the point of it is, really. I'd be delighted to read this study in its entirety. If anyone can provide it, I'd love to see it!
Bottom line though really, and there's no getting away from this... dogs wag their tails BACK & FORTH, not just to one side or another. So this premise makes NO sense to me! Further, I've seen more dogs than I can count who wag their tails in CIRCLES...I wonder what these people figure THAT means! Betting that they didn't even TRY to figure that one out.
Seriously though, as I'm always interested in new and VALID studies, I'd like to read this one. It must be relatively new, since nobody I know or have heard of or respect has anything to do with this, which leads again to the question...is it VALID? At first (expereinced) blush, I just find it incredibly hard to believe.
No offense Willa as you know. I enjoy reading new info you dig up, and some has been added to my huge library of behaviour and medical issues, genetics, etc.
Meanwhile, give Franklie and Willie their Grandma's love and tell them how proud I am of their working status!
Lori in NJ
LD
In addition to certifications acheieved, etc...now in my older years, I am still a very small-time breeder, having cut down on my kennel size, and I am ANAL when it comes to morals, ethics, education, and plain old common sense when it comes to any aspect of the canine species' world.
In all those years, I've had the opportuntiy to observe all kinds of breeds in training clases, and I have a house full of a Labrador Retriever Pack who teach me Mountains Of Information through observation.
In all the PROVEN studies, by people who are much more educated than I am, I've NEVER come across ANY study that can verify what this tail-wag study is saying, or what the point of it is, really. I'd be delighted to read this study in its entirety. If anyone can provide it, I'd love to see it!
Bottom line though really, and there's no getting away from this... dogs wag their tails BACK & FORTH, not just to one side or another. So this premise makes NO sense to me! Further, I've seen more dogs than I can count who wag their tails in CIRCLES...I wonder what these people figure THAT means! Betting that they didn't even TRY to figure that one out.
Seriously though, as I'm always interested in new and VALID studies, I'd like to read this one. It must be relatively new, since nobody I know or have heard of or respect has anything to do with is, which leads again to the question...is it VALID? At first (expereinced) blus, I judt don't believe so.
No offense Willa as you know...and give Franklie and Willie their Grandma's love!
LD
LD IN NJ