# wag **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 27, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wag/23709 "2000-06-27T07:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wag/23709/1 "2000-06-27T07:21:56Z")
What purpose do tails in animals serve? Balance? Emotional indicator? ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wag/23709/2 "2000-06-27T07:23:44Z")
Potential non-fatal food source? Something for them to chase when they have nothing else to do? ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wag/23709/3 "2000-06-27T07:24:59Z")
Convenient handle? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wag/23709/4 "2000-06-27T09:35:44Z")
In dogs, sort of a “sniff here” signpost? ---
**Author:** ![\_oo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/e9a140/32.png) [@\_oo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_oo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wag/23709/5 "2000-06-27T10:24:01Z")
To express themselves more clearly?? Probably that’s why dogs without their tails look so … inexpressive.