Hi,

I do not wish to start an argument with this, it is just a question...... :)
Please can someone tell me why Australian Shepherds have their tails docked/bobbed? Am I right in thinking that if it was left it would be like a Border Collie's?

Thanks
Nicola

Some Aussies are born with bob-tails. Don't know what percentage tho' - perhaps someone else will know. I have heard that in the States there was a tax on dogs at one time, but working dogs were exempt and so their tails were docked to show that they weren't pets. However, working dogs also have their tails docked to prevent them being caught/damaged in undergrowth etc.

Daisy

I understand that there can be quite a lot of discrepancies between the tails as well - some are born with long tails, others with half, quarter or bobtails. At the moment the breed standard is for bob/docked tail. It will be interesting to see how we have to look at the tails of our dogs when breeding if it becomes illegal over here. At the moment in the UK it is only legal for vets to dock tails.

Hi Nicola,
I've seen a few Aussies with tails - and the ones I've seen do look like border collie tails. There was a blue merle at Crufts with a tail, over from Holland - did anyone see it? Having a tail is not a disqualifying fault, but the owner said that sometimes she feels the dog isn't placed because of it and one judge did actually try and disqualify. I'm neither for or against docking, but I do think Aussies wouldn't look the same without their 'wiggly bottoms'!!
Hilda

Hehe - our Aussie pup's nickname is 'wigglebum' :)

Daisy

Thanks for all your replies! I just got a surprise at crufts, seeing the big BC-like dog, and then it turned round and didn't have a tail! They are lovely - Daisy do you have any photos of your pup? :)

Have quite a lot of photos, but not sure where I can put them for you to see. Will consult with daughter when she gets home from school and see if she can set up a web-site for me :)

Daisy

I just can't imagine my aussies with tails at all. Funny what you get used to. There is a breed standard now I think, for aussies with tails, as more European dogs are coming into the country to show.
My two have proper ''wiggle butts'', just don't see them with a tail at all, although a lot of people asked on Discover Dogs on Friday about leaving tails on. Don't really know if many breeders would do though, I suppose it depends on the individual....
Gabrielle x

I do so agree- Gabrielle - even the pups are developing "velcro bums"! I did have one family enquiring about an aussie puppy, I sent them my questionnare, etc, etc, was satisfied that they would be a lovely home for a puppy, which they then booked, but when they came to see it, to take it home, they were broken-hearted to find that aussies didn't have tails - and so went home without it!!! To me, it is so obvious that Aussies didn't have tails, I didn't talk about this - but since that weekend, I now say to everyone enquiring about them "you do know that Aussies don't have tails, don't you?" I've had two or three people who have made initial enquiries say no, we didn't know!!

My hubby was not too keen on the idea of having a dog without a tail - our older dog's tail is beautiful - but when we first went to visit a breeder to look at her Aussies (not our pup's breeder) he fell in love with them even without the tail :)

Daisy

HI All

The Aussie that was at Crufts with the tail was staying with me his name was Beetle and he has a beautiful full tail. Our standard does now include a standard for the tail although it has been referred back to the KC for an ammendment to include the bob tail which can be a quarter , half or three quarter tail, we have many variations , we also get tails that are too long , the docking ban will cause initial problems as it will take quite a while for the tails to standardise.

My first litter sired by Am Ch Thornapples Diamond Rio had lots of natural bobtails in, there were half , quarter and three quarter tails as well as 3 full tails out of a litter of 12. The litter I had this year sired by his half brother T Climate Controlled had no bobtails in it.

I went to the world show last year in Amsterdam and saw many aussies with tails personally I didn't like them with tails and I think that their rear movement alters when a tail is added, I prefer my beautiful wiggly butts.

As with all working dogs tails were docked to prevent tail damage in the line of duty, I think that we should all be entitled to a freedom of choice so that people who want tails can leave them on those who don't can dock.

As a breeder I will leave a tail on a puppy but I take the money upfront for the puppy and if they are asking for a show puppy tell them I cannot guarantee that at 2-3 days old I am picking the best quality show puppy for them.