Woman Discovers 'Sad Truth' Behind Why Other Dogs Bark at Her Rescue Pup Published Oct 08, 2024 at 11:32 AM EDT Updated Oct 09, 2024 at 4:46 AM EDT By Jack Beresford ...

As dogs get older, they may still chase their tails. This behavior can cause concern, however, if done incessantly, Alt says. There could be several explanations for your dog's tail-chasing habit ...

Dr. Nichol: Your big, elderly dog is not self-mutilating because she's bored. She incessantly licks and chews her tail because it's painful and possibly itchy.

Dogs have only very limited vocalizations— growls, whines and barks—so they communicate with body language, Dodman notes. In addition to their tail, dogs use other body parts to send signals.

Several studies have also observed that dogs wag their tails more than other canines, particularly compared with their closest relative, the wolf (C. lupus) — but scientists don’t yet know why.