Why does my dog wag its tail when it’s happy to see me?

Dogs wag their tails to signal that they are joyful. The most likely reason your dog wags its tail when it sees you is because it is happy to see you. This would be especially likely if it did it after having been fed and exercised. Another reason your dog may do it is to see what you are doing. This is more likely if your dog wags its tail more when you get home and less when you leave.

Another possibility is that your dog anticipates receiving treats from you. This is more likely if your dog does it after it has been eaten and before it has been exercised. Its separation anxiety might possibly be a contributing factor. This is more likely if your dog becomes uneasy when you leave it and does things like pace or cry when you leave. If your dog did not always wag its tail when it saw you, think about what happened when it first started doing so. If you have not owned your dog for long, it could actually be a sign that it has become more comfortable around you.

A dog with a loosely waving tail is typically "expressing" that he is friendly or eager, according to researchers. A wagging tail, however, is not necessarily a sign of friendliness: an aggressive dog may lift its tail high and wag only the tip, whereas a meek or fearful dog may keep its tail low and wag stiffly. Look for these signs in your dog. Before approaching anybody else's pet, ask the owner for permission to pet the animal.