Dogs talk with their tails, so how do dogs without tails express themselves?

Normally, dogs wag their tails when they are happy. It’s the primary way man’s best friend expresses himself—but “what about those dogs with no tails?”

Not just those born with short tails like Boston Terriers, but those born with short tails because of Do pets that lack tails due to species genetics, accident, or plastic surgery have difficulty communicating with humans or other animals? To this question, dog expert Monique Udell gives the answer.

It definitely affects their ability to communicate," said Udell, founder of the Canine Cognition and Behavior Laboratory at the University of Florida in Gainesville. People who have docked tails or are born with short, curly tails Dogs like pugs don't have as many expressions as long-tailed dogs, Udell said, but fortunately, dogs can compensate for their emotional expressions through other parts of their bodies. Generally speaking, a dog curling its tail under its body indicates submission, which is an important signal to other dogs.

“The tail can also cover the entire reproductive area, so it has a wider range of capabilities. "Communication," she says. If a dog doesn't fully trust another of its kind, it will use its tail to cover its genitals. This is because dogs learn by sniffing the scent glands near the other's anus - So leaving that area exposed is a sign of trust. "Tucking your tail inward when another dog is sniffing the scent glands is like saying, 'I'm a little nervous...I really don't want to get involved with you.'" — similar to humans crossing their arms over their chest and turning away. ”

Let’s look at the tail wagging again.

“Tail wagging can mean more than one thing,” Udell said, and not all of it means friendly. The tail wagging repeatedly and enthusiastically and the state of the tail If it is relaxed and not stiff, it means friendly or naughty; if it is rocking slowly and in a controlled manner and the body is tense, it means it is unfriendly and is a "go away" signal to humans or other dogs.

Fortunately, there is an alternative for dogs with missing tails: scruff—the hard hair on the back that stretches from the neck to the tail.

Udell believes that these hairs are very informative. Hair on the scruff is often thought of as aggressive, but can actually convey a variety of emotions, including aggression, fear or excitement, she said: "When my dog ??was young, every time we brought him a new toy. The hair on the nape of his neck will stand up because he is too excited," Udell said.

However, the selective inheritance of appearance characteristics from generation to generation has seriously hindered the development of nape hair in some dogs. Function.

Poodles and Afghan hounds have their gorgeous hair enhanced during breeding, and although the hair on the nape of the neck can still stand up, it is likely to be covered by thick hair. This change is reflected in domesticated dogs and their appearance. It's common during modified breeding that "sometimes the signals they send out don't match the behavior they're showing," even confusing the humans they interact with.

Facial expressions are also how dogs communicate with each other. And different dogs have different expressions. Take exposed teeth, which usually indicate aggression. However, some dogs convey a more ambiguous message - pit bulls are famous for their crossbite. This means that their teeth are almost always exposed.

"Such dogs always look angry, probably because their lips cannot wrap around their teeth," which may affect other dogs. Of their perception, Udell said. But there's another way to express true anger—turning the ears back and out, she adds.

Because there are so many types of dogs, it's important to be familiar with your breed. It’s important to know the types of dogs and how they communicate. Dogs pay attention to their owners all day long, and these observations allow them to communicate with us more effectively, Dell said. “If we can do the same with dogs. Dogs can understand more interesting things. ”