Washington State University
Dr. Universe: Why do dogs have tails? – Bailey, 7, Ohio
Dear Bailey,
My friend is a golden retriever. When I get home, she welcomes me with a silly smile and a huge wag of her fluffy tail.
I spoke about why she has a tail with my friend Jillian Haines. She’s a vet at Washington State University.
She informed me dogs utilize their tails for great deals of things. Tails help dogs balance while running, leaping or swimming. Tails help dogs interact with each other and other animals. Some dogs in the Arctic–like sled dogs–utilize their tails to remain warm. They huddle and cover their noses with their fluffy tails.
When a dog is moving, its tail serves as a counterbalance. When you require to stabilize yourself, you most likely protrude your arms. That’s what a dog’s tail does, too. If the dog begins tipping one method, it can stick its tail the other method to remain well balanced.
“It is also used for making sharp turns,” Haines said. “Breeds like greyhounds that are fast runners, have a whip-shaped tail. They can use it to make a quick turn. It also balances them when they’re jumping.”
Some dogs are good swimmers. They utilize their tails for balance and steering in the water. It works like a boat’s rudder.
Tails are likewise crucial for interaction.
“It’s how dogs talk to each other–and it’s part of how they talk to us,” Haines said. “Depending on how that tail is held, it can tell us the dog is feeling happy or excited. It can tell us the dog is scared. It can say they’re ready to play. Or it can say to stay away.”
Not all tail wags are the very same. A happy dog normally holds its tail gently and wags it in a chill method. An mad dog may wag its tail, too. That dog may hold its tail high and stiff. It might wag its tail really quick.
The instructions of the tail wag sends out a message, too. Dogs normally wag their tails to the right when they see something they like–such as their human. They normally wag their tails to the left when they wish to keep away from something–like another aggressive dog.
But some dogs are born without long tails. These consist of corgis, Boston terriers, bulldogs, and some Australian shepherds and spaniels.
“For those dogs, having a tail can make it harder for them to do their jobs or can be a source of injury,” Haines said. “A low-to-the-ground herding dog could get their tail stepped on by a cow. A tail can get stuck when squeezing through obstacles or tight areas.”
So, human beings have actually reproduced some dogs to have a bobtail rather of a long tail. These dogs can still wag.
“That little wagging nubbin is just as cute and rewarding to see as a big fluffy tail,” Haines said.
Just don’t inform that to my bestie.
Sincerely,
Dr. Universe
Adults can help kids send a concern at askdruniverse.wsu.edu/ask.
