Why won't some dogs let you touch their tail and butt?

Answer 1

There are several situations that could trigger this response. The dog could be shy or fearful; it may have been abused or neglected, and is therefore distrustful of human touch. It may have lived with very young children, who unwittingly injured the dog by pulling its tail. Perhaps the animal has hip dysplasia or some other painful condition, and thus is guarding its hindquarters. Parasites, such as worms, or a hidden injury to the tail, hips or genitals could be responsible for this guarded behavior. The dog may have some difficulty with its bowels or bladder, making defecation and urination uncomfortable, which could cause it to protect its hind end. A dog with this reaction should be taken to a vet to assess its health; if the dog has no physical problems, training with a professional dog trainer who uses positive methods only may help reduce the behavior.

Answer 2

First, dogs are not all the same-- some are friendly, some are skittish, some are shy, etc. Some dogs like human contact and don't mind being touched. But if the dog is one that isn't accustomed to being petted or handled, it might react negatively about your touching its tail or its hind end, as it might see such gestures as threats. Or, the dog may be in pain and humans touching that area might be making it worse. If it's your pet, you may want a veterinarian to examine the dog to make sure there are no health issues. If it's not your pet but it's just a dog you know, avoid touching it in places that seem upsetting for the animal.