We all know what a dog means when it wags its tail – it means they’re happy, right? Well, maybe not according to leading animal psychologists who analyse what a dog may be or may not be feeling. There may be more of a tale in the movements of a dog’s tail than most of us think.
我們都知道狗搖尾巴意味著什么——這意味著它們很高興，對(duì)吧？好吧，也許不是根據(jù)分析狗可能是或可能不是感覺的主要?jiǎng)游镄睦韺W(xué)家的說法。狗尾巴的運(yùn)動(dòng)可能比我們大多數(shù)人想象的更多。
Most of us agree that it would probably make life whole lot easier and fun if dogs could actually converse rather than bark with us, but sadly they have not yet evolved to develop that skill. There are some obvious signs of what your pooch is thinking. For example, growling could show aggression, scratching at the door could mean a call of nature, and rolling on their backs could show submission.
我們大多數(shù)人都同意，如果狗真的可以和我們交談而不是吠叫，它可能會(huì)讓生活變得更加輕松和有趣，但遺憾的是它們還沒有進(jìn)化到發(fā)展這種技能。有一些明顯的跡象表明你的狗在想什么。例如，咆哮可能表示攻擊性，抓門可能意味著自然的呼喚，而在他們的背上滾動(dòng)可能表示屈服。
However, in the opinions of experts like Stanley Coren, professor of psychology at the University of British Colombia, your canine companion may be trying to tell you much more with the movements and position of their tails. For example, a broad wag is a friendly sign and can mean that the dog is pleased.
然而，在不列顛哥倫比亞大學(xué)心理學(xué)教授 Stanley Coren 等專家的意見中，您的犬類伴侶可能試圖通過尾巴的運(yùn)動(dòng)和位置告訴您更多信息。例如，大搖擺是一個(gè)友好的標(biāo)志，可能意味著狗很高興。
If you see the tail drooping,it may be a sign that the animal is in a state of stress and anxiety. That’s according to Josie F. Turner, a journalist specialised in animal welfare. This is especially obvious if there are whines coming from them, or they are trying to hide. It may be time to get them on the leash and take them for that precious ‘w-word’ – walkies. Most dog owners know never to say that word in the vicinity of their four-legged friend, or they will get overly excited forcing you to take them out.
如果你看到尾巴下垂，這可能表明動(dòng)物處于壓力和焦慮狀態(tài)。這是專門研究動(dòng)物福利的記者喬西·特納 (Josie F. Turner) 所說的。如果他們發(fā)出抱怨，或者他們?cè)噲D隱藏，這一點(diǎn)尤其明顯?；蛟S是時(shí)候讓他們系好安全帶，把他們帶到那個(gè)珍貴的“w-word”——隨身聽了。大多數(shù)狗主人都知道永遠(yuǎn)不要在他們的四足朋友附近說這個(gè)詞，否則他們會(huì)過度興奮，迫使你把它們帶出去。
A horizontal tail with slight movements may be a sign that your canine is nervous or uncomfortable. And the more ample the movements, the more nervous your pooch may be. Finally, an erect tail accompanied by a swagger in the hips and lots of movement is a sign that your dog is as happy as can be – and very alert. However, if the tail is straight up in the air with no movement, it could be a sign that your dog is alert and trying to exert dominance.
帶有輕微運(yùn)動(dòng)的水平尾巴可能表明您的犬科動(dòng)物緊張或不舒服。而且動(dòng)作越充分，你的狗可能越緊張。最后，一條直立的尾巴伴隨著臀部的招搖和大量的運(yùn)動(dòng)，這表明你的狗已經(jīng)盡可能快樂了——而且非常警覺。但是，如果尾巴筆直地懸在空中，沒有任何動(dòng)作，這可能表明您的狗很警覺并試圖發(fā)揮支配地位。
So, the next time you’re greeted by a dog, make sure to have a look and see what their tail is doing. In their own way, they’re trying to tell you if they’re sad, nervous or happy. Many of us would like to know exactly what they’re thinking. Maybe we should just be grateful their tails are wagging and they’re not plotting our demise.
所以，下次你被狗打招呼時(shí)，一定要看看它們的尾巴在做什么。他們以自己的方式試圖告訴你他們是悲傷、緊張還是快樂。我們中的許多人都想確切地知道他們?cè)谙胧裁础Ｒ苍S我們應(yīng)該感謝他們的尾巴在搖擺，他們沒有在策劃我們的死亡。
詞匯表
wag 擺動(dòng)
converse 對(duì)話，和……交談
bark 狗叫
evolve 進(jìn)化
pooch 狗
growl （狗）發(fā)出低沉的吼叫
scratch （動(dòng)物）用爪子抓
call of nature 上廁所
submission 屈服，順從
canine companion 狗狗伙伴
droop 下垂
whine 發(fā)出哀叫
walkies （喚狗用語）該去散步了
four-legged friend 四條腿的朋友，狗
horizontal 水平的
ample 大量的
erect 豎直的
swagger 大搖大擺
