Dogs' Tail-Wagging Trait May Have Been Directly 'Selected' By Humans, Say Scientists

Tail wagging could have arisen as a by-product of selection for other traits in dogs, such as docility and tameness, or could have been directly selected by humans.

The heart of every dog lover melts when they see these furry canids wagging their tails. It is believed that dogs wag their tails in front of someone as a sign of love and gratitude. However, this is not always true, for left-biased wagging can be shown by an unfamiliar or aggressive dog ( Image Source :Getty/ABP Live )

The heart of every dog lover melts when they see these furry canids wagging their tails. It is believed that dogs wag their tails in front of someone as a sign of love and gratitude. However, this is not always true, for left-biased wagging can be shown by an unfamiliar, aggressive or dominant dog. What started the tail-wagging behaviour in dogs in terms of evolution was not known clearly, until now. The enhanced rhythmic tail wagging trait shown by dogs could have arisen during the