Argon doesn't Wag his Tail

[StillandSilent]

This may be nothing more than a little behavior quirk. He wags his tail when he is interested, or when he sees me after we have been seperated (30 seconds or a few hours, he doesn't care ), but when I pet him, the wagging stops. I've never seen his tail wag when I am touching him in the 8 months I have had him.
He does other things to let me know he wants to be touched, he nuzzles my hand and leans against me, but the tail never wags. Any ideas why he might do this?

 

[umterps97]

Maya is similar....her tail wags when we first come home, when we have a treat for her, and usually whenever she is outside. If we pet her, she may wag the end of her tail for a few seconds, but soon stops. I like to think of it as her "I'm so relaxed I can't even be bothered to wag my tail right now!"

 

[Maxy24]

Max would do the same thing, he'd beg for attention with his tail wagging a mile a minute and as soon as you started to pet (which he loved, he'd get the glazed dopey eyes and he'd lean) his tail stopped wagging. If you stopped he'd start wagging again and shove his head under your hand for more and might start whining because you stopped. I don't think humans fully understand wagging yet. It's probably being used in this case as a signal to us that he is approaching in a friendly, non-combative manner and is therefore very open to touching. Once you get the message he feels he can stop trying to communicate this with you.

 

[Cessena]

Vlad really only wags his tail before we pet him, or when we're sweet talking him.

 

[bubbatd]

I must check Ollie's tail !!

 

[lizzybeth727]

I'm working with a dog who does the same thing. An outsider who didn't know him would probably look at him and think that he is a little annoyed by the petting. But he does get droopy-eyed and relaxed, and nuzzles when you stop, so he must like it.

The above posters had some good insights, I won't repeat them.

 

[smkie]

Maybe that's because he is absorbing your touch with every bit of his being. IF he wagged it would take away from that.

 

[Sweet72947]

Its relaxation. (IMO)

 

[oc_spirit]

OC hardly ever wags his tail. He communicates through other body language. He really only ever wags his tail when he is in predator mode or super excited/antsy about something (like just before we head out the door for a ride in the truck because it always means we are going somewhere exciting). The few times he does wag his tail its not a hard thump, thump, thump against the wall or something its a very gentle sway back and forth with his tail curled over his back. Mind you, this is also the dog that doesn't bark so it doesnt surprise me that he lacks in other common doggy behaviours LOL

 

[Dekka]

Kaiden generally only wags his tail when he is hunting things that 'hop' like frogs and grasshoppers. He pounces and his tail goes rapidly. He doesn't wag his tail much that I have noticed at any other time.

Snip's tail goes all the time, but slows down when you pet him. Dekka stops wagging her tail when petted.

 

[StillandSilent]

Well, I'm happy to hear that other peoples dogs do the same thing. Lilly always wagged her tail, and Radar's tail was docked wrong (we think), and he has trouble wagging it at all.