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Yes, the shape, size and thickness of a dog's tail can offer clues to the heritage, as can other parts of your dogs body - however, why not just have a simple DNA test to determine your mixed breed's actual heritage, and find out more about them - we now have over 350 breeds worldwide. Simple to do and in the comfort of your home. Do have a look at our website for more information, and contact us if any questions. www.muttmix.co.za
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Exactly what do you know about dog's tails?
www.friendsofthedog.co.za
www.friendsofthedog.co.za
In addition to finding out some facts about dog's tail that you may not have known, it is always a good idea to really observe your own dogs tails in various situations - by doing this you can easily pick up if your dog is nervous or over excited about various situations, and help to build the bond between you - you will be learning to 'speak dog'!
Here are a few things you may not know about dogs tails!
1. Did you know that the left brain controls the right side of the body, and the right brain the left side? What this means where dogs are concerned is that if the dog tends to wag more to the right, it is feeling positive, but if wagging more to the left, that the dog may be feeling unsure. Do try this out on your own dog, it will give you a deeper understanding of how they are feeling about various situations.
2. Dogs make use of body language to signal to other dogs their intentions. However, you cannot just look at the tail, the rest of the body has to be looked at as well - the tail, will give you a good idea of the dogs frame of mind. '
We all know the happy wagging tails which is also associated with a soft body, and soft eyes and mouth, however, if a dog is holding its tail tucked under hindquarters, this could indicate that the dog is nervous or fearful. A slow wagging tail which is held at half mast, so to speak, is a dog that is showing you it is a bit nervous/hesitant of the situation. If the dog has a tail standing upwards, and it could either be still or moving slightly side to side pretty fast, is a dog that may well be reactive.
A tail that seems to be going around and around in a circle is a very happy dog that is telling you how happy it is to see you!
Apart from being cruel, tails docking puts dogs at a distinct disadvantage as they cannot use their tails to communicate their intentions to other dogs, and other dogs will not read their behaviour as easily - this is especially pertinent with strange dogs, may not be seen as much in the home environment is the pup was brought into the home already docked.
3. Did you know that tail wagging is a learned behaviour? This is a skill the pup learns as it grows and is normally seem ab about 4-5 weeks of age. They practice and learn these skills with mom and litter mates, as well as what behaviours work and which dont - this is one of the main reasons why a pup should never be taken away from mom until 8 weeks of age - they are learning critical social skills.
4. A dog's tails helps to balance its body. An easy way to observe this, is to get your dog to walk along a narrow surface, slightly off the ground. The balance is maintained by the dog putting the weight on the opposite side of the way the body is tilting - a bit like a tightrope walker! Other ways you may see the tail hard at work, is when your dog is going over uneven ground or climbing up and dog rocks and other objects.
5. Calm the tail and you calm the dog! Simply by gently running your hand along your dogs back and gently clasping the tail to the dogs body, you can help to settle an excited dog.
6. Tails help to disperse pheromones. When a dog wags its tail, the muscles around the anal area contract and this puts pressure on the glands and triggers the release of pheromones. Just think of how often a dog will finish eliminating, and then scratch the ground and lift its tail up high, often with a quick wag.
If the dog is fearful, in addition to tucking its tail under its hindquarters to show it is nervous/fearful, the dog is also covering the scent gland which prevents the release of pheromones.
7. Did you realize that the tail is actually and extension of the dogs spine? The bones of the tail are bigger at the base and gradually get smaller towards the tip of the tail. The tail is a complex structure of bone, muscle, nerves, blood vessels etc, and can be easily injured - you should never pull a dogs tail.
8. If you have a cross breed, the shape, length, and thickness of a dog's tail offer quite a bit of information about its lineage - just compare your dogs tail with the tails of the purebreds - you can also look at the shape of the muzzle, the ears, the texture and colour of the coat for more clues.
Happy Tail Syndrome
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Rat Tail
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Cold Tail
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9.Were you aware that there is a condition called Cold Tail or Limber Tail? This commonly affects large and working dogs when out in the fields and exposed to cold weather and water. and can be extremely painful. Pain is found at the base of the tails which is normally sensitive to touch, with the rest of the tail appearing limp.
10. Another condition you may not know is that of Happy Tail Injury. The name is rather misleading, as if your dog has this, it is definitely not a happy dog, it is in pain! The name comes from dogs that seem to have a constantly (excessively)wagging tail, which tends to be knocked against cupboards, tables, chair legs and even walls. Ulcers tend to result which are very hard to heal as the dog keeps on wagging its tail.
11. Dogs do not wag their tails when they are alone, unless they are in the middle of a wonderful dream!
12. When it comes to chasing tails, some breeds are more prone to this than other breeds. On average if the dog is excessivelly engaging in this behaviour, it normally indicates that there is not sufficient mental/physical/social stimulation and the dog may be engaging in this activity to entertain itself. Interestingly enough, the more the owner may shout at the dog to change the behaviour, the more the behaviour will be reinforced - to a dog like this, attention is attention, whether negative or positive. If you do have a dog that is excessively chasing its tail, do get professional assistance, as this behaviour can become obsessive - the longer it is in place, the longer, and harder it becomes to change it.
13. If you come across a dog where it looks like the dog has a Rat Tail, this is a classical sign of hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) in dogs. The tail presents a bit like a Rats Tail, showing signs of hair loss at the last few inches of the tail.
14. The saying 'the hair of the dog' came about from author and naturalist Pliny the Elder, vorn 23AD, who believed that the way to get rid of rabies was to put ashes into the wound, which had come from the tail hair of a biting dog!
A quote we came across that we really like, and are sure that many owners of dogs will appreciate is; - "I have always put my own money into Tails of Joy. For years, every time a dog walked by, my husband would say 'There goes our beach house" - Elayne Booster
10. Another condition you may not know is that of Happy Tail Injury. The name is rather misleading, as if your dog has this, it is definitely not a happy dog, it is in pain! The name comes from dogs that seem to have a constantly (excessively)wagging tail, which tends to be knocked against cupboards, tables, chair legs and even walls. Ulcers tend to result which are very hard to heal as the dog keeps on wagging its tail.
11. Dogs do not wag their tails when they are alone, unless they are in the middle of a wonderful dream!
12. When it comes to chasing tails, some breeds are more prone to this than other breeds. On average if the dog is excessivelly engaging in this behaviour, it normally indicates that there is not sufficient mental/physical/social stimulation and the dog may be engaging in this activity to entertain itself. Interestingly enough, the more the owner may shout at the dog to change the behaviour, the more the behaviour will be reinforced - to a dog like this, attention is attention, whether negative or positive. If you do have a dog that is excessively chasing its tail, do get professional assistance, as this behaviour can become obsessive - the longer it is in place, the longer, and harder it becomes to change it.
13. If you come across a dog where it looks like the dog has a Rat Tail, this is a classical sign of hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) in dogs. The tail presents a bit like a Rats Tail, showing signs of hair loss at the last few inches of the tail.
14. The saying 'the hair of the dog' came about from author and naturalist Pliny the Elder, vorn 23AD, who believed that the way to get rid of rabies was to put ashes into the wound, which had come from the tail hair of a biting dog!
A quote we came across that we really like, and are sure that many owners of dogs will appreciate is; - "I have always put my own money into Tails of Joy. For years, every time a dog walked by, my husband would say 'There goes our beach house" - Elayne Booster
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