• Question: why do dogs wag their tails when they are happy?

    Asked by sneezemonkey to Charlotte, Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 13 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 13 Jun 2012:

      It all has to do with their ancestry!

      Since the ancestors of today’s domesticated dogs (which would be close to modern wolves) ran in packs, being able to communicate to others in the pack and outside it – whether by barking, growling, or wagging tails – was essential.

      For the most part, the wagging tail was a friendly gesture, which was a way for them to show they were not going to attack, modern domesticated dogs have kept this form of communciation!

    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 22 Jun 2012:

      It is a form of communication, dogs communicate with each other in this way and they see us as part of their pack so they communicate with us in this way too

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