Is my doodle's tail broke?

[Jodi and Stella]

Stella doesn't wag her tail much. I know she is a happy girl and she wags it when she's playing and when we come home but not much other than that. She is pretty laid back most of the time, maybe it's just not her "style". Is anyone else's dog not a "wagger"?

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I never thought too much about this until now.  But now that you mention it, Rosey has a total thumper tail, she is a wag-a-lot kind of dog.  Bandit doesn't wag as much, when I come home, sometimes at care but not really while he is playing.  I just watched a special on dog intelligence and the direction actually has meaning -

 

Tails wag to the right when dogs are happy and see something they want to approach, and to the left when they are frightened and confronted with something they want to run away from, claim the researchers.

According to Giorgio Vallortigara of the University of Trieste, Angelo Quaranta and Marcello Siniscalchi of Bari University, these "striking asymmetries in the control of tail movements" are another example of how the right and left halves of the brain control different emotions. They published their findings in a recent issue of the journal, Current Biology."

You can read the entire article here.

[GBK]

I read that article some time ago too Suzann.  It is definitely true for Buddy.  As I watch him love on his dad his tail is always swinging to the right!

[Jodi and Stella]

Interesting Suzann, I will have to pay attention next time she does wag.

[shelly]

Ummmm... dumb question... to the right when you're looking at the dog - or to THEIR right (when yo stand behind the dog)?????  I think I am now going to become an intense wag observer!  I also heard to be wary of a 'circle wagger' - I'm off to read that article!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Ha Ha Shelly!! no dumb questions here!! LOL!  I saw the show and it is to the DOG'S right or left.  I have been watching Rosey and it seems to be very spot on...  I need to read on the circle wagger... Rosey does that too (I think:)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think it's an individual thing. Calla, full time tail wagger, if you just walk by her kind of gal. Luca much less so. I think he's reasonably happy though, just more "contemplative".

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree - some just don't wag their tales a lot.  Taquito the chihuahua NEVER does.  Peri does all the time, she shakes her booty and spins the tail around!  I have seen other doodles that don't wag so much...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Neither of my doodles are big tail waggers, but I think they are happy :)

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

It definitely depends on the doodle.  Penny has never been a big tail wagger but is a very happy dog.  Biscuit never stops wagging hers!

[Adina P]

I think that unless it is limp and seems to not move and hangs straight down it's probably fine.  Especially if she hasn't had any rough play or falls that you know of.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Charli's tail is not one to be in the proverbial china shop. Samantha only gives big wags when she sees my daughters and son in law.

[GBK]

My Kona is not the biggest tail wagger either :)  She has a more lab set tail and it hangs down more than stands up.  Buddy however loves to wag his tail, even when he is sitting down.  If he sees hubby or me enter a room, it thumps the floor if he is laying or sitting.  When he is standing it is constantly in motion!