Here's an unusual story that appeared in the Daily Mail online over the weekend; researchers at the University of Victoria, Canada claim to have found evidence that if a dog wags its tail predominantly to the left, it might be more confident in that situation than one wagging to the right.
The team used a robot dog-like model and tracked the behaviour of over 500 random dogs approaching the robot in a public park. Over half (56%) of those who wagged to the left approached the robot without hesitation, whereas only a fifth (21%) of those wagging to the right did the same. When they removed incidences where the owners might have influenced behaviour, the numbers changed to 41% and 28%, but still showed a marked difference.
Although the team stopped short of concluding whether it was an experience-driven or inherited trait, it did suggest some interesting consequences for training and communication with a dog. You can read more about that in the original article.
That got me wondering... have you ever noticed if your dog wags in a particular direction? Do they wag more in one direction than another in different situations? Obviously a really nervous dog won't wag at all, but do they change the direction of their wag if they're happy but a little hesitant? Having read the article I'm fascinated to know what dog owners think from watching their own four-legged friends interact with the world!
Since I have only cats at home, I can't observe for myself (reading a cat's tail is a whole other - equally complex and contentious - science I can tell you!).
10 comments:
My dog`s tail goes round in circles sometimes and side to side at other times. Work that one out !!
Carole and Tasha dog.
Well, that's what I wondered... what if they seem to favour both sides equally?!
Thanks for commenting. :)
my dog's tail also predominantly wags in a big perfect circle! And she's such a nervous pooch...so not very confident, never mind approach the robot dog, she'd run away from it!
Just dropping in to say: Hope you have an awesome week.
Hugs,
andrea
Yes my dogs tail goes in a perfect circle sometimes but now I will pay more attention to both their tails wagging !Interesting idea though.
My dog wags her tail equally on both sides - she's always wagging when she's walking - it just fits into the rhythm of her body movements as she goes along.
My dogs tail favours both sides equally - as she's walking along it just fits with they rhythm of her body, when she meets and greets it still favours both sides.
Never noticed my dog wagging one way or the other. He is a cross breed and his tail seems to have a life of its own and can't decided if it want to be straight or curly or curved so its always doing its own thing.
all my dogs tails wag from side to side not anymore to ruight or left just side to side. i think it would be cute to see them wag in circles though. but they are just side to side. i say just let them be 4 legged kids and have fun we all know our 4 legged kids they read my mind... even before i say cookie or bath or bye car they are ready. and just seem to know before the words come out test this if studies want to be done as pet owner's we all know how our pets act and what they mean. even with cats. pet's are very smart. just enjoy and love 'em. we all know they love us without anyone telling us.and we all have the smartest dog or cat,huh. and that is the way it should be... we all have the best of best pet.
My dog is a Chocolate Lab and she gets very excited wagging her tail on one side then on the other. She then goes back to both sides and after will revert to one side then the other again. Its very random, but she seems very happy to do so. Vienne and Millebelle
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