Body language meaning

[carrie_02]

Hello. When I take my new dog for a walk, rather than wagging her tail, it hangs down and then sticks out backwards. Full description: it sticks out a tiny bit from her body, then hangs downwards, so most of her tail is pointing down, and then the end of her tail points outward again, pretty much parallel to the ground. It is kind of like an s-shape.
I was going to include a picture off my phone but I couldn't figure out how.
My dog has done this every time I've taken her for a walk, pretty much the whole time. What do you think this tail shape means? Does she sound anxious? Thanks!

[Erica]

It really depends on the kind of dog - that shape would be normal for, say, a greyhound, but in a husky might indicate anxiety or unease. Body language is difficult to discern from one feature on its own - the whole picture is important.

Does she walk stiffly? That might be a sign of unease. If, however, she walks with a loose, free stride she probably feels pretty good.
Is her face tense? Could indicate unease. A relaxed face is a good indicator of a fairly relaxed dog.

There are many many factors. Do you feel like she is uneasy or is it just the tail that is concerning?

[JudyN]

Does she hold it differently when she's moving around the house?

[carrie_02]

Thank you for your replies, Judy and Erica!
Yes, when she is around the house it is usually higher up, at least level with her body, sometimes wagging.
And she is a dachshund.

[Nettle]

Sounds normal for a dachshund

[carrie_02]

Sounds normal for a dachshund

Thank you. Makes me feel better. Maybe she is concentrating on walking because we usually go quickly unless we're in my yard or a friend's yard which is fenced in and she can walk free.

[JudyN]

My dog doesn't generally wag his tail on walks - he does if he meets someone he knows or likes, or occasionally as a communication to me (sort of a 'please' or a 'thank you' I think), but not otherwise. I've noticed some breeds do tend to wag a lot more - gundogs, now I come to think about it.

[Fundog]

My dog doesn't generally wag his tail on walks - he does if he meets someone he knows or likes, or occasionally as a communication to me (sort of a 'please' or a 'thank you' I think), but not otherwise. I've noticed some breeds do tend to wag a lot more - gundogs, now I come to think about it.

Lol, yep. My girls hold tails up high, swishing non-stop on walks.

[Nettle]

Dachshunds find it difficult to balance because they have been bred to the point of a really unnatural shape (working dachsies are much shorter in the back and longer in the leg). So she has to hold her tail like that or she'll fall over.

[carrie_02]

Dachshunds find it difficult to balance because they have been bred to the point of a really unnatural shape (working dachsies are much shorter in the back and longer in the leg). So she has to hold her tail like that or she'll fall over.

Interesting (and kind of sad)!