What does a stiff, high body with slow wagging indicate in a dog's greeting?

What does a stiff, high body with slow wagging indicate in a dog's greeting?

• A. Uncertainty
• B. Aggression
• C. Confidence
• D. Fear

Answer: (A)

In this kind of greeting, the dog is signaling uncertainty about the situation. A stiff, high body shows tension and arousal—there’s a readiness to react, but not calm confidence. The slow wag adds hesitant communication rather than an inviting, friendly approach, meaning the dog isn’t sure how to feel about the other dog or person and is weighing whether to approach. This isn’t a relaxed or confident greeting, and it’s not a clear aggression cue. If the dog were truly fearful, you’d often see more avoidance signals like backing away or a tucked tail; if it were confident, the body would be looser with a more eager, quick wag. So, the combination described points to uncertainty rather than the other states.

In this kind of greeting, the dog is signaling uncertainty about the situation. A stiff, high body shows tension and arousal—there’s a readiness to react, but not calm confidence. The slow wag adds hesitant communication rather than an inviting, friendly approach, meaning the dog isn’t sure how to feel about the other dog or person and is weighing whether to approach. This isn’t a relaxed or confident greeting, and it’s not a clear aggression cue. If the dog were truly fearful, you’d often see more avoidance signals like backing away or a tucked tail; if it were confident, the body would be looser with a more eager, quick wag. So, the combination described points to uncertainty rather than the other states.