This site is developed by the Large Animal Department of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia Comments or questions about this website click here . Four examples of puzzling behavior by dogs and what they mean.
Dogs sometimes send mixed signals.
It is not uncommon to see a dog wagging its tail while simultaneously growling fearsomely. Take the example of Millie at right. She has her ears pulled back. She is scared and upset, and may bite you if you reach to pet her. The best thing to do is to calmly and quietly walk away and leave her alone.