Why Does a Dog Tuck Its Tail Between Its Legs?

Most children learn at a young age that a dog wagging its tail is in a friendly and playful mood, but it can also be a sign of aggression or alertness. A dog's tail, combined with other, secondary bodily signals, is highly expressive of its complex emotional range. If your dog tucks its tail, it is most likely feeling scared or submissive, but other bodily signals could indicate it is actually feeling aggressive.

  1. Fear

    • Dogs tuck their tails between their legs when they are afraid. The threat could be real or imagined, but the intention is the same: to make the dog appear smaller. Usually, the tucked tail is combined with a crouch or lowered haunches to decrease the dog's size. When your dog adopts this position, its message is that it is afraid of something in its surroundings, which could be a new person, dog or the surroundings themselves.

    Submission

    • Dogs are natural pack animals and recognize a leader; as a result, they have ways of showing their submission to that leader or dominance over the pack. One sign of submission is to tuck its tail between its legs. This action, as with its expression of fear, is designed to make the dog appear smaller. If your dog adopts submissive behavior or posture, it is acknowledging your dominance and making itself look smaller to show that it is not a threat to you or your position over it.

    Aggression

    • In some cases, a dog with a tucked tail may be feeling aggressive. It may tuck its tail between its legs and lower its haunches into a crouch as it gets ready to pounce. When your dog adopts this position, take into account its other features. If it is snarling or baring its teeth or the whites of its eyes, it may be aggressive. If it is merely afraid, it will look down or away from you.

    Reacting to Tucked Tails

    • Do not approach your dog when its tail is tucked, especially when it is exhibiting other signs of aggression. Your dog has tucked its tail because of some stressor in the immediate environment. The best thing you can do to relax it is to show it that you are relaxed and there is nothing to be afraid of. Sit down and do not stare at your dog; staring will further intimidate it. Offering it a treat will show it that you are friendly and mean well. When you show your dog that everything is okay, it will eventually relax and approach you again.