Pies: Upright, stiff, rapid tail movement is not wagging or "friendly" but indicates a dog who's rather excited and focused

Evidence: 64 • authority: 62

A raised tail that is also moving is not a friendly wag. Fast, small, stiff movement of a high tail reports arousal rather than welcome, and it is frequently mistaken for friendliness. T2 overall2013 T2 shepherd2009 Not necessarily. Height and stiffness matter more than movement. A tail held above the dog's normal line and vibrating in short, fast strokes usually accompanies arousal that could tip either way, and it often precedes a growl or a snap. A friendly greeting tends to look looser and lower, and involves the whole rear end. A high, stiff, flagged tail held above the back on an upright, aroused body. A stylised illustration, not a photograph. What it often means

Evidence: 51 • authority: 62

The simple answer is that a wagging tail doesn’t mean a dog is happy. Dogs wag their tails to express a variety of emotions, including stress, anxiety, and defensiveness, not just happiness. A happy dog may have its tail in a neutral or slightly upright position. The tail will be relaxed, swaying broadly and moderately quickly. As the dog grows more excited, the tail wag may quicken. A slow tail that’s held upright shows that the dog is uncertain about the situation. As the tail’s speed increases, it could reflect defensiveness and a warning not to get closer. A highly aroused and alert dog may wag its tail so fast that it looks like it’s vibrating.

Evidence: 51 • authority: 91

When observing a dog’s body language to determine what is being communicated, it is crucial to observe the entire dog, as well as the situation/context, in order to accurately determine what is being conveyed. For example, a wagging tail does not necessarily mean a friendly dog. A moving tail, as a part of the dog’s body language that is readily identifiable, is often noticed first. However, if the dog’s body is stiff, the ears are back and the dog is in a crouching position, these other features of body language are telling you that this is not a happy dog. Some common behaviors observed in aroused/excited dogs are jumping, mounting, and mouthing. Mouthing can be soft (teeth contact but no pressure or pain) or hard (teeth contact causing pain and discomfort) or biting of leash or clothing. When a dog is aroused or excited, its fur can be pilo-erect (standing up), its ears are generally forward or at attention, and its body stance is upward and erect. The tail is often up and wagging stiffly, and the eyes are open wide and very focused. The dog may also be barking and/or lunging. Often in shelters we observe dogs that demonstrate high arousal or excitement behaviors. The arousal or excitement can be due to many factors including age (adolescent dogs), confinement, lack of physical and mental outlets, and personality. Arousal/excitement is often a response to a stimulus the dog likes: such as a person, dog, or toy. For example, a dog with soft, relaxed body, eyes, mouth and a wagging tail that jumps up for your attention is a dog that is seeing a favorable stimulus (person). He may also play-bow: rear end in the air, front end lower if he is excited about a favorable stimulus (person or toy). However, arousal behaviors can also be due to unfavorable stimulus: such as an unwanted person, dog, or situation. Arousal signals in response to an unfavorable stimulus may be coupled with fear signals , such as trembling or a low/tucked tail. Arousal signals may also be paired with aggressive signals such as barking or lunging, or with anxious signals such as pacing or spinning.

Evidence: 51 • authority: 88

The tail is wagging the dog. The rules and regulations regarding the classification process through which athletes must be vetted to determine eligibility for Paralympic competition have been transformed drastically over the last two decades. A complex classification system initially developed by the International Organizations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSD) has been the distinctive feature of the Paralympic movement over this period. Key consideration must be given to the equitable nature of any classification system imposed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in order to comply with the ideology of Paralympism. Paralympism is manifest in the dictum of the Paralympic movement…

Evidence: 51 • authority: 92

Tail-rattling in rodents: more than a threat display.. One of the most peculiar behaviors of rodents is tail-rattling, a rapid vibration of the tail which can produce a rattling sound when performed against a hard surface. Tail-rattling is widespread across rodents, having been observed in 32 species from 19 genera, including Mus and Rattus. Rodent tail-rattling has been known from the eighteenth century, when it was described as part of the defensive behavior of the crested porcupine. From the 1940s, comparative psychologist John Scott systematically studied tail-rattling in laboratory mice, making it widely popular among laboratory researchers as one of the main components of the mouse ag…

Evidence: 44 • authority: 62

Tail wags are complicated and complex; not all tail wags are alike. The rate at which a tail moves contributes to the dog’s communication, as does the position of the tail while wagging. As a dog’s arousal increases, his tail may wag more quickly regardless of the nature of arousal. It is important to recognize that a dog with a wagging tail does not necessarily mean they want to interact or continue an interaction. A tail may begin to wag tentatively during an interaction — the message here is “pause”. When your dog wags their tail, are they telling you that they are happy? Not necessarily. Canines demonstrate many variations of the “tail wag” and different wags mean different things. In fact, a wag of the tail is one of the best methods of communication in the canine kingdom.

Evidence: 38 • authority: 72

The dog (Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated descendant of wolves. Also called the domestic dog, it was selectively bred during the Late Pleistocene by hunter-gatherers. Dogs and the modern gray wolf share a common ancestor. Dogs were the first species to be domesticated over 14,000 years ago, before the development of agriculture, though genetic studies suggest the domestication process may have begun over 25,000 years ago. Due to their long association with humans, dogs have gained the ability to thrive on a starch-rich diet that would be inadequate for other canids. Dogs have been bred for specific behaviors, sensory abilities, and physical traits. Dog breeds va…

Evidence: 38 • authority: 88

The Tail Wagging the Dog: When Overzealous Risk Management Stifles Business. Modern business operates within an increasingly complex web of legal, ethical, and operational risks.  While robust risk management is universally acknowledged as essential for corporate survival, this paper argues that an overzealous, overly bureaucratic, and compliance-driven approach poses a significant counter-risk – that of stifling innovation, hindering strategic agility, and paradoxically failing to address the most critical threats.  This phenomenon, often termed "the tail wagging the dog" is critically analyzed through a legal and practical lens, particularly highlighting the pitfalls of rigid me…

Evidence: 38 • authority: 80

Is the biodiversity tail wagging the zoological dog? A personal review of biodiversity and the issues raised by the debate in the symposium

Evidence: 0 • authority: 94

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Evidence: — • authority: 38