Why Does My Dog Tuck Her Tail When She Eats? [Reasons & Possibilities]

Whenever you find your dog tucking its tail between its legs, it shows that the dog is apprehensive. The dog crouches itself to show that it wants to disappear. 

This act by the dog means, “I am no harm to you. Please ignore me.” The dog even shrinks its size to show that he is submissive and shy. 

The dog might even tuck their tails between their legs even while they are eating. We will look at the possible reasons for this act. Keep reading to know more! 

Why Do Dogs Tuck Their Tails While Eating? 

The reason why a dog tucks its tail between its legs while eating food is that the dog doesn’t feel threatened and does not want to be seen. 

A dog raises its tail to get the attention of the fellow humans around it. But, while having food, the dog treats this as a moment of respite. 

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Dogs who tuck their tails between their legs while eating wish to create a low profile and don’t want to be looked at. Hence they tuck their tails. 

How to Stop My Dog From Tucking Its Tail? 

Whenever I spotted a dog that had its tail tucked between its legs, I knew that the dog felt threatened by something. I know this because of my past experiences. 

The dog feels apprehensive or scared due to some person or object, and hence it reacts by tucking its tail between its legs. 

A dog covers its genital area with the help of the tail, and the dog does so to protect itself from any kind of external threat. 

You can stop your dog from tucking its tail by assuring the dog that he shouldn’t be afraid of anything. It would be best to try to make it comfortable in your presence. 

Make the Dog Comfortable

One way you can stop your dog from tucking its tail is by making it feel comfortable. Try to respect the dog’s space. 

If you are a stranger to the dog, then stand away from the animal until it permits you to approach it. 

Get On Their Level 

Whenever you approach an apprehended dog, make sure that you come at him from the side instead of the front. Kneel and get on the animal’s level. 

Do not make eye contact until the dog looks up at you. Hold your hand down in a fist, and if a dog holds it, you’re good to go. 

Pat Them on the Back 

After making the dog comfortable with your presence, try to pat his back to calm it down. 

The dog is probably scared of something and cannot express its feelings freely, so try to observe their movements and make them feel fearless. 

What Is Holding the Dog’s Tail Down? 

By the movement of the tails and other parts of a dog’s body, the dog owner gets to know about the dog’s state. 

A dog’s tail functions as a way dogs communicate with humans. Since the dogs cannot speak, they use their body parts to express various feelings. 

One should pay heed to the height of a dog’s tail. If the tail is held high, the dog is excited. 

But, if the tail is tucked between the dog’s legs or is slightly close to its body, it means that it is scared of something. 

Why Do Dogs Hold Down Their Tails? 

There could be many reasons behind dogs holding down its tail or tucking their tail between their legs. There could be multiple causes for the same:

1. Overexertion

If you take your dog for a walk/jog after a long time, it is likely to exert itself. The dog may even show signs of a muscle injury. 

The tail might become very loose, and it could also lose its ability to wag properly. These signs are accompanied by swelling of the tail. This is very painful for your fluffy partners. 

2. Prolonged Captivity

Keeping your dog in a crate that is too small can cause injuries to its tail. This happens because the tail remains in the same position for a very long time. 

This is very similar to how our limbs fall asleep when they are left in a particular position for a long time. 

3. Exposure to Water or Cold Weather

If your dog is sensitive to some specific temperatures, like the cold weather or cold water, then that can cause its tail to limp. Dogs like Retrievers are prone to this. 

What Does My Dog’s Tail Say? 

A dog’s tail is a medium for them to communicate with humans. They express different types of emotions by wagging their tails in various forms. 

We will be looking at some of the forms of a dog wagging its tail. This way, we will identify what a dog wishes to convey. 

1. The Speed of the Wag

If a dog is wagging his tail at high speed, then it means that the dog is excited. But if the dog wags its tail at a slow pace, it shows that it is insecure. 

However, a dog can also wag its tail very quickly. This should be an alert alarm for a human because the dog can turn aggressive when it wags its tail at a quick pace. 

2. Dog Doesn’t Wag Its Tail When Alone

A dog uses its tail as a mode of communication, and when no one is around, they tend to not move from its tail. 

A psychologist stated that a dog does not wag its tail when no one is surrounding it, just like a human who does not talk to the walls when alone. 

3. A Slow Wag 

A slow wag by a dog might indicate that it isn’t friendly, and you should stay cautious while moving toward it. If you spot an unknown dog doing this, do not interact with it. 

Take care of the environment you are in. After considering the entire environment and the dog’s personality, move ahead. 

4. A High and Stiff Tail

If a pup has his tail held high and stiff with a fast wagging tip, then this implies that the dog is aroused and vigilant. It means that the doggie is confident. 

But if a pup has his tail held high when other dogs are standing near him, then this could mean that the dog is trying to be dominative. 

If you can see the dog’s teeth, its open mouth, a wrinkled nose, and raised hackles, then this is an indicator to back off. It would help if you moved away so that the dog is at ease. 

Final Thoughts

A dog tucks its tail between its legs when it feels scared or apprehensive. If a dog does this while eating, the dog does not want to be seen. 

You should make sure that the dog feels comfortable with you. If you spot a dog with its tail between its legs, you should pat it and give it time to come to ease. 

We hope that this article guided you to know better about your dog. 

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