What are people's thoughts of breeding from a dog with a kink in tail. The tail is a continuation of the spine. What would you do if one pup had already been born with kink. To nueter or breed on from.

Coming from a cat breeding background (where a tail kink is considered a very serious fault indeed when showing), I would never breed from a dog with a kinked tail as it so often is genetic and can end up with worse problems down the line. Yes some kinks can have other cases but I would not take the risk.

Are crooked tails of any interest to breeders or judges?

by J.H.C. Brooijmans-Schallenberg, veterinary and judge

The tail vertebrae belong to the spinal column and the spine is again a part of the skeleton. The formation of the skeleton starts in a rather early stage of the embryonic development, to be precise in the mesoderm. Also in this mesoderm begins the development of the vascular system, including the heart, the muscular system and the urinary/genital systems.

The complete development of the impregnated ovum to a newborn pup and the later growth of the animal is determined by hereditary factors. By studying the development of the vertebral column of a mouse, it is observed that approximately 20 hereditary factors are responsible. It is a rather complicated process, so it is obvious that something can easily go wrong.

Mutations are not uncommon. That is why defects occur in the genome. If it happens in the genes and the defects are then transmitted to the offspring. Gene defects don't always show in phenotype. The causes are many. The way of inheriting (recessive or dominant) is one of them, but also the interaction between the different kind of inherited factors. Important is the number of heterogenesis i.e. the variability in the genotype.

Deformities of the tail vertebrae are part of skeletal defects. They can be various in shape, and depend on the defect in the genotype. The tail can be completely gone, or be too short with a rather blunt end or a bobtail. The tail can have one or more bends (kinks) in different variations, hooks and crooks. Sometimes there are too few or too many vertebrae, even sometimes double. We have seen defects in mid spinal articulations as well. Crooked tails can show a few weeks after birth.

When the deformity is limited to the tail then it has no influence on the dog's life, he can be a happy dog. But when that happy dog is used, as a stud his "little defect" can become much more serious for his offspring. Not only to the tails but also in other parts of the spinal column. There are dogs born with deformed vertebrae of the neck, breasts, back and loin. There are also examples of puppies with a split palate, hydrocephalus, wry jaws, deformed ribs, too many or too few toes, too short legs (from knee to foot).

As a result of the interactions between different hereditary factors there can arise defects in other organ systems which are developed in the mesoderm. Examples are persistent embryonic blood vessels, septum defects, ectopic ureter, the absence of an anus and cloaca formation. These defects are mostly categorised as birth defects not heritable. Possibly, but when it is not proven to be a non-heritable defect we must play safe and assume that hereditary components play a part in the matter. The reverse opinion " show me that it is inheritable" can be quite dangerous for the breed.

The link between the named deformities in the organ systems and the crooked tails found in parents or relatives of both parents is proven in quite a few cases. These deformities are also seen in other species namely pigs and mice. In mice scientific research has proven the above.

It is always highly irresponsible to breed dogs with a crooked tail that means a tail where the vertebrae are not in a straight line but crooked and deformed. It goes without saying that the same thing applies for bent backs, deformities of the ribs, crooked jaws, short legs and too many or to few toes.

Judges have a duty to examine the dog they judge very carefully and that must include the tail. Skeletal defects and also other problems to health and well-being of the dog or its offspring must always be noted for further information to breeders and owners. For that matter these dogs should never be evaluated as top quality. It is in fact a devation of the correct image of the dog.

Breeders especially the ones interested in breeds which tails are docked must be very alert to the tails of the newborn puppies. They (the breeders) should keep a record and they must inform the future owner. The request of a "non-breeding" restriction on the pedigree is recommendable.

When all of us accept our responsibility, it will mean that we are concerned about the health and well-being of our dogs now and in the future.
Found this article interesting

I'd never consider breeding from a dog with a kink tail as unless it's had an accident as 99% of the time it's down to a problem between the vertebrae of the spine.

so how does that relate to breeds like Frenchies and Bulldogs which have tails which are naturally kinked and shortened? i am sure they have some spinal problems in the breed but the majority of the dogs must be healthy or the breeds would have died out.

my own foundation bitch had a very slight kink in the tip of her tail which her breeder said had been there when she was born. it was not visible once the hair grew on her tail and never stopped her being successful at shows. I dont think a judge ever even noticed it. I had 2 litters from her to different sires and only one puppy inherited the kink. all the others  were fine healthy dogs. the pup with the kink went to a  show home as she was otherwise excellent and had a litter with no kinky ( :) ) puppies. I now have the fourth generation from my bitch and have not seen a recurrence of the kink in her grand children or great grandchildren

I do think in our quest to breed the perfect dog we are in danger of reducing the gene pools to far by discarding dogs from breeding for the tiniest flaw. Obviously I would not breed from a dog that had a severe or noticeable kink but I think it is extreme to discard something like my bitch with a small one.

>so how does that relate to breeds like Frenchies and Bulldogs which have tails which are naturally kinked

You have hit the nail on the head, by allowing (through past ignorance of the possible effect) these the breeds has bred in the problem of hemivertebrae, and why people in the breed who know what they are doing are trying to breed out screwtails, and breed for normal ones.

Of course breeds that have curly tails like my own breed do not have a spinal abnormality, as the puppies are born with completely straight tails, the curl forms later..

This is the same with pugs, born straight and are straight during relaxation and fearful, but then we know that pugs suffer with HV, yet the most common site of HV is behind the shoulder blades between t2 l1 but concentrated on t7-9. Its a difficult thing but i think more emphasis on screening than just breeding for a straight tail. However in frenchies they have very little if any so much better to screen for. Think always better to have the bulldogs straight tail as they tend to have more of it, so you dont get that pocket under the tail, 1 of my frenchies can wag hers, but shes too long for the ring, balance is suppose, not done xrays yet.

Coming from a cat breeding background (where a tail kink is considered a very serious fault indeed when showing), I would never breed from a dog with a kinked tail as it so often is genetic and can end up with worse problems down the line. Yes some kinks can have other cases but I would not take the risk.

We see this occasionally in Bassets and I'd have to agree that I'd not use a dog who'd had a kinky tail (it can be corrected) because as the extension of the spine, it could indicate a problem, usually genetic.   Sometimes a puppy in a big litter can suffer an 'injury' because of lack of space but I'd suggest this isn't that common?

Surely a 'kink' is different to a naturally curly tail, seen in some breeds?