What does a dog tucking its tail mean?

A dog tucking its tail can express several meanings. First, when a dog feels afraid or low, it usually tucks its tail. For example, facing a new environment or new things, a dog may feel uneasy or afraid and tuck its tail. If the dog tucks its tail and tries to hide the scent of its anal area, this is usually a sign of weakness or submission; lower-rank dogs may show this toward higher-rank ones.