Why does my dog wag her tail when she's being told off?

Question

Whenever my dalmatian does something bad and we scold her, she wags her tail. Why does she do this? Anyone elses dog do this?

She definately doesn't think that we are playing. It's like a guilty wag. She hangs her head aswell.

She definately doesn't think that we are playing. It's like a guilty wag. She hangs her head aswell.

Oh and for the first two answerers.... err she's a dog.... she wouldn't have the ability to think like that. And she definately doesn't ENJOY being told off..... sometimes she cried and she always hangs her head.

Nicky7372 - by 'scolding' I meant saying 'No!' and 'Bad dog!'

I do not agree with smacking or hurting animals.

Answer 1

Hi she does it because it is a submissive sign to you & by doing so she submitting to you as would a wolf in a pack that was way down the pecking order in the pack...

They do this to show they are not a threat to the more dominant animal..in this case*yourself* the holder of a higher possition in rank to her...

It is in their best interest to submit to the out ranking animal/person in aid to ensure that she doesn't get hurt...it's a bit like saying...**Ok Ok please don't hurt me cause give in,you win & I am no threat to you**
Just dog behaviour that rates back to the pack instincts...
Regards Jake..

Answer 2

Your dog knows that she is being scolded but she does not feel physically threatened so she continues to wag her tail. This is good. As a general rule, a dog wags its tail when it is confused or insecure. People assume that tail waging means happy. Under these conditions the tail waging just means that she is confused about some part of the scolding.

Answer 3

When a dog adopts a submissive posture it will lower its head and body and move its tail from side to side. The purpose of this body posture is to appease whoever or whatever is threatening the dog.

If this appeasement doesn't work the dog might roll over on to its back and expose its belly. Sometimes they urinate as well.

Your dog is saying to you as clearly as she is able 'Please stop yelling at me.'

You say you scold her whenever she does something 'bad'. Dogs have no concept of good and bad but they often do things that we don't want them to.

To avoid this I suggest that you train her using a positive, reward based method to behave in the way that you find acceptable.

On the occasions she does her so-called 'bad' behaviour you could try distracting her and giving her something different to do.

There are some very good books around about positive training and you could try contacting a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) through their website.

You might find that this takes time and patience but it is more acceptable than reducing a dog to crawling submission.

Answer 4

Dogs have strange ways of showing emotions... Do you scold her immedialtely - or is it some time after the event has occurred - I.E. you walk in find a chewed slipper in the room so go and find her and tell her off?... If this is the case she will have no idea why she is being told off - so she is adapting the "I am ok - I know you are the boss - please don't tell me off" kind of posture by lowering her head and low tail wagging...

It is pointless to say bad dog unless they are literally caught in the act.

If you are scolding her after she is caught - then it is the same - she is submitting to you... she knows she is being told off.

Make sure you reward he for being good more ofte#n than telling her off for being bad - then she will desperately try to do the good things for the reward!

Answer 5

Dogs don't wag their tail for pleasure or happiness, they wag their tail because they feel conflict.
Your dog likes attention, but feels conflict because this is not good attention. Wagging is 'appeasement behaviour'. So is hanging her head and ears.

Dogs don't feel guilt. That's just how their owners read that body language.She doesn't feel guilty for having done wrong.
If you gave her attention for limping she'd be lame at the drop of a hat.

You may want to learn more about dogs body language and behaviour.

Answer 6

You should never scold you dog.

You should use postivie reinforcement for its good behaviour and just simply say NO or BAD when the dog mis behaves.

How much scolding goes on? Because if its alot then the dog may be trying to get you to be her "friend" by wagging.

Answer 7

Basically because you are rewarding the dog with attention, any form of attention, negative or positive to a dog is a reward! Try ignoring your dog when they have done something naughty, the greatest punishment for a dog is to be ignored...thats what they learn when pups, if they get out of hand, they get ignored by the rest of the pack for unacceptable behaviour!! Good luck

Answer 8

My black Labrador does it I think its like a nervous thing they know they have done wrong. I came home one day and he was wagging his tail down the way not all happy and joyful, down and waggy so i knew he had done something wrong he had infact emptied my bin all over the floor which he new was a bad thing to do. Dogs know the difference between right and wrong

Answer 9

Because she's still getting attention. My dalmation mix dog did that too, she would be hanging her head and still wagging her tail. I wouldn't be concerned or anything.

Answer 10

canines are %. animals. they want company, it incredibly is needed to their being. the reality that she did no longer get the attention the she needs along with her previous proprietors has in all probability traumatized her. She gets some interest from you, so even no remember if it incredibly is yelling, she is happy. (An animal that does it incredibly is very own element is often noted as a cat....!)