Why doesn't my puppy wag his tail?

Question

he's 7 1/2 weeks old and I've had him since he was 4 weeks, i know that's way too young to have taken him but his mother was run over and the owners didn't know what to do with the pups. he plays with me, my husband, and everyone he meets just fine he's by no means a shy puppy but he never wags his tail. he follows me and my husband everywhere and likes to sleep with us, in fact most nights he'll cry until i let him up with us and as soon as i do he snuggles up next to me or my husband and goes right back to sleep. and in the morning he stands by either me or my husband l*****g our feet or ankles as we get ready at the mirror. im home all day, with the exception of me running errands, so he gets plenty of love and attention.

about a week ago i took him to my in laws house and they have a dog, well as soon as he saw her his tail started wagging and kept on l*****g her. this was the first time i ever saw him wag his tail. and he kept doing that any time he'd see her. she on the other hand wasn't too fond of him. but still, him seeing another dog has been the only reason why I've seen him wag his tail...does this mean he really doesn't like me or other people ?

Answer 1

I'm sure your puppy loves you.  They communicate in many different ways,  sometimes with their tail and they learn behaviors from other dogs.

Perhaps he didn't know he was supposed to wag until he met another creature with a tail.  Most male dogs don't know to lift their leg until they see another dog lift it.    I bet he's wondering why you don't ever wag your tail,  or where it is for that matter.

He will learn to wag for you too.  Praise him when he wags and let him know you like it.  Dogs are a lot like people.  We all have our little quirks. So do they.

Answer 2

That is bizarre. However, assuming your in laws dog is the first other dog he's had contact with, perhaps he didn't develop the tail wagging because he wasn't around other dogs? maybe he didn't realise that's what it's for until he saw someone else doing it?

I imagine being separated from his mummy so young might possibly be an explanation, they learn by body language and seeing as you don't have a tail,  he probably thought he was a person till he saw your inlaws dog.

Maybe. Perhaps up until this point his little muscles weren't strong enough to control the tail ?

Either way i wouldn't take it personally, he's still so young, and i would assume it's not a medical issue cause you have seen him do it. I would suggest taking him to puppy school at about 9 weeks so he gets used to other dogs and learns some other useful stuff.

Best of luck. :)

Answer 3

seems to me that he needs the company of another dog. At 4 weeks he would have been with his littermates and would soon learn socialization. Maybe seeing another dog assures him that everything is going to be alright. My dog will wag her tail every now and then and I know she's always happy she just don't show it through her tail for some odd reason. Anyways, contact a specialist and see what they think. Good luck.

Answer 4

Well one it was taken a little early but still this only means it will be more devoted and have more of a bond with you. Give it lots of praise and get it excited. Dogs can remember up to a 1000 words depending on the breed and how smart that breed is. so talk to it. tone of voice is very important. Give it pride. I am a big man with a little dog but this dog is the happiest dog you will ever see. my mom has 2 dogs but mine is the one that is WAY happier for I talk and praise her non-stop. Even when she is in trouble she wags her tail just slower haha I let her see what I am doing and smell the things I have and she gets so excited to just be involved and I always tell her how good she is.

Don't hit it a strong voice and different discipline works better, for dogs are emotional animals. I hit my dog of 4 years once. She acted different to me for days, I smashed her trust in me.  

Answer 5

That is really odd. I've never heard of such a thing.  I think if it were me I'd contact a dog behaviourist.

Answer 6

I don't think he wouldn't like you, however it is kinda weird that he doesn't wag his tail that often. I had a lhasa apso who didn't wag his tail that often, however he was a rather cagey dog and was extremely fussy of who he liked and who he didn't like. He also had fear aggression.

Since your pup seems so friendly, I wouldn't worry too much. The reason he probably wagged his tail at another dog seems to me that he probably misses the 'doggy attention' which he didn't have enough of as a really tiny pup.

You may be spoiling him a little too much as well... He may not wag because he gets everything he needs! No offense, just trying to put out some answers for you.

All the best, but it sounds as though he's just who he is! I'm sure he'll be fine :)

Answer 7

Clearly, he hates you.

Answer 8

yeah, poppy1's right ... when your pup saw your inl aws dog, he identified her with his mom, coz his mom wouldve been the dog he was with the most time for since he was born. meanwhile you dont have to worry about your pup not liking you or anything. if he wags his tail seeing you, he loves you too.

Answer 9

my puppy does the same thing,he is a new puppy since i got him tonight,but he doesn't wag his tail either...i find it odd tho,it's strange Bcuz he's happy and he doesn't wag his tail. your dog isn't the only one.

Answer 10

Hi Kitty,

  Your pup loves you and your husband.He was taken from his mom to early(which in this case you had to)and has missed out playing and learning things from his brothers and sister and especially mom.

  Take him on walks and to a pet park if you have one.He really needs to have some fun and play with other dogs.He will love you even more if you do this for him.He sounds like a very good pup and i think it's real cute he sleeps with you and your husband My Friend.Just love him and keep his shots up to date.

Your Friend,

poppy1