Dogs are one of the tailed members of the animal kingdom. Bushy, long, thin or short stubs – these types of tails are delicate extensions of the spine that is used by the dog in a lot of ways. Dog tails are commonly viewed as an appendage that enhances the appearance of our canine friends. A long, curved and well feathered tail is certainly the pride of a Japanese Spitz and an American Eskimo Dog. A beautiful tail certainly enhances the appearance of the dog but the tail is used by the dog in many other ways as well.
One of the important uses of a tail is to be the dog’s balancing device. Hunting breeds of dogs are very fast runners. Agility is an important quality that enables hunting dog to catch their prey. Similar to tightrope walkers that uses bars to maintain balance, dogs make use of the tail as a counter balance when scaling cliffs to follow prey. The tail serves as a counter balance that prevents the dog from toppling over when they need to make a sharp turn. Water retrievers make use of the tail as a rudder that makes swimming easier.
In spite of the inability to talk, dogs can communicate effectively by using the tail. By using the tail, dogs can efficiently communicate with humans and with other animals. It is a common knowledge that a loosely wagging tail is a sign that the dog is friendly. A tense dog with bared teeth and stiff tail held aloft is aggressive.
The tail is an important body part that allows dogs to understand each other. Additionally, the tail is the dogs’ one of a kind ID system. By raising the tail, the anal gland is stimulated to secrete. Dogs use this unique scent to identify each other. Dogs are pack animals and the tail is an efficient tool in recognizing the rank of the dog. The leader of the pack is one whose tail is held high and stiffly wagged. A tail held lower and wagged slowly signifies that the dog is lower in rank.
The tail has another purpose – for comfort. Similar to a cow’s tail, a dog’s tail is used as a swatter that will drive pesky flies and other insects away. A tail is the dog’s very own muffler that is used as protection against extremely cold temperature. Northern dogs that sleep outdoors uses the tail to protect the face, especially the nose from cold.
