# Why do dogs wag their tails?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-wag-their-tails/425771>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 9, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-wag-their-tails/425771 "2007-11-09T13:27:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-wag-their-tails/425771/1 "2007-11-09T13:27:57Z")

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I realize, of course, that it’s a reflection of their mood. But why is their mood attached to their tail? Is it a conscious decision, or an involuntary reflex? Is it a form of communication with other dogs/animals?

I once heard a comedian say that the concept of dogs playing poker made no sense, because if a dog got a good hand, his tale would wag. Is this true (not literally, of course)? In other words, could a dog be happy and not wag his tale? Could a dog wag his tale “sarcastically”?

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-wag-their-tails/425771/2 "2007-11-09T13:32:26Z")

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[Why Do … Dogs Wag Their Tails?](http://www.naturaldogtraining.com/wag.html)