Is Spot Happy? Just Look At His Tail

Italian Researchers Say Wagging Right Indicates Bliss; A Leftward Wag Signals Less Enthusiasm

(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.

[boston1954]

I'm not much of a dog person myself but did find this story interesting.
Good question what if a dog is "left-pawed"? Being a lefty myself I always do things the opposite!

I also agree with another poster Sally is adorable!!
Posted by KP74 at 06:36 AM : Apr 25, 2007

I had not thought of that!!!! AND I am left-handed. Incidentally Richard Schlesinger is too.

[boston1954]

To those of you who think understanding animals is not important, people research body language of dogs, horses and other animals so that we can know when they are more than just happy or sad. It can tell us when they are not in good health. Whether they are pets or working animals, this is crucial to our interaction with them.

[juliemd]

Well, we sure know what it means when the tail is between the legs!

[generey]

My girlfriend always knows when I am happy by the angle of my dangle
Posted by ncolsens at 03:58 PM : Apr 25, 2007

Thats good! LMAO! BUT; if it's 'a dangling, it aint happy! :)

[bud452]

Most interesting.....Canine Psychology as indicated by Physiology....Has he considered, I wonder, that those physiological clues (stance, hip health, muscle health side to side etc.)... probably vary considerably dog to dog? If not, then his conclusion cannot be considered applicable to every dog even though it is presented as such.

[tibu987]

Uh, where do you get a job like that, measuring the movements of a dogs tails?

[chrismkey]

I feel stupider for having read that.

[wiccantexan]

"why does our money have to go to silly research projects like why a dog is happy..."

Because being able to read a family pet better could save your child's life if they want to pet the "nice doggie" and doggie isn't feeling very sociable.

[ettenna136]

Hmmmm... I can't wait to get home and check this out. But when my little girl is very happy, she SMILES!!

[phoenix1218]

I like animals but COME ON people...why does our money have to go to silly research projects like why a dog is happy when it would be better spent on how to solve a disease?

[rf35]

What if it wags front to back, wonder what that means????????????

It is the canine equivalent of giving you the finger.

[jetlizhan]

how adorable - can't wait to get home and see how my 'girls' tails wag - left or right?! i love any story about our precious canines.

lizardbate - you're a jerk and your post name fits you to a tee.

[indigenous17]

My female pointer wags to both sides (left-right) very quickly and often thus "whips" poor male dogs of mine sitting next to her.
Her tale looks like a windmill's wing, then...
The males suffer it patiently as they also do when she steps on their ears or nose, whatever.
No question of course that any of the males did same to the other one, it would be for sure "casus belli".
She is happy when she sees me happy, that I know well, same is valid for the males.
But I'll try to notice henceforward this left-sided wag and see if I can understand anything new about dog happiness...

[mswolfestock]

Well, this is pretty interesting, but what about all of the dogs with no tails to wag?

[briannorwood]

I know when my dog is happy... when his bowl is full.

[kp74]

I'm not much of a dog person myself but did find this story interesting.
Good question what if a dog is "left-pawed"? Being a lefty myself I always do things the opposite!

I also agree with another poster Sally is adorable!!

[samthetvcat]

"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."

What if your doggie is left-pawed . . . I'm worried somebody in this group might be not be unhappy, just left-pawed and misunderstood . . .

[boston1954]

I found this story fascinating!! It was well done and, I loved seeing Richard's own dog. She is adorable. I only have one little question. How do I tell with my own dog? He is a Rottweiler. (no tail) Oh, well. I guess I will have to hold up a dog biscuit and watch his reaction.

[lizardbate]

Is Spot a happy dog???????????? I'm speechless that someone has time to study the tail "wag" of a dog??? And I thought I got paid for doing nothing!!!!! Now, lets see, happy tail wag to left, or was that happy tail wag to right??????? What if it wags front to back, wonder what that means???????????? I think we need to get Andy Rooney on this one!! You can bet when I get home I'm going to watch my dog wag to see if I can determine the key to the tail wag!!!!!!!