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Assists in Movement
When your dog is simply walking around, he doesn’t really need his tail to help with movement. However, when your dog is moving quickly or changing direction suddenly, the tail is very useful as a counterbalance.
Helps with Balance
Besides acting as a counterbalance when your dog is moving at high speed, a tail is also useful for balancing on tricky surfaces.
Shows Mood and Emotional State
Just like humans rely on facial expressions to convey emotions, dogs use their tails to show us and other dogs how they are feeling.
Communication
Indicating their emotional state with their tail is part of a dog’s communication.
Spreads Their Scent
A dog’s tail-wagging behavior also serves the purpose of spreading its scent. There are two sacs, called anal glands, located underneath a dog’s tail.