Charlie keeps his tail low 90% of the time – it’s a coyote thing. It’s actually a significant differentiation between coyotes and wolves other than their size – coyotes hold their tails low, wolves hold theirs out. Charlie raises his tail in plane with his back when he’s going after prey, either in ernest or in play, otherwise it’s low and nonchalant, and floats in the air as he moves like a plume.

Eli always has his tail up, but the very tip does change expression. It goes from totally straight (when he’s surprised or “on”), to a slight one-inch curve at the tip (normal), to the whole thing shaping into a shepherd’s crook (when he’s running fast).