I have a Scottish terrier (my first).  He is a a beautiful dog with a tail that curls.  When I went to get him clipped from a woman that shows them she said it is known as a gay tail and that some breeders and people that want to show scotties with this fault get a fix involving a metal rod being shoved up the underside of the tail to cause damage, which results in a straight tail.  ("Oh Get a Grip People!!!!!").  What then follows on from these stud dogs are more curly tails and so it goes on.

"Is this common?"

I doubt it.  The damage to the skin and fur would be permanent and obvious.

Rubbish. :-)  Although there may be the odd person who would go to that extreme it won't be very many. I know several Scottie exhibitors that would never.

What you will find is most gay tails are actually slightly low set tails causing the curl in the tail. If you look at the Skeleton of a dog and see where the tail is you can see how this happens.

In my own experience and from talking to others it is a very very hard thing to breed out. One of my first bitches had it and produced it in her puppies when mated to a beautiful dog so I scrapped the whole line.

EDITED TO ADD, anyone with genuine experience will spot a low set tail whether it is fixed or not.  Just like fluffy coats that are thinned instead of stripped etc etc .

I would be very happy for it to be rubbish.
http://www. www.dogstuff.info/price_glory_sharp.

your link doesn't work...

I would agree, that such a practice, should it exist,  is barbaric.    So I do wonder why you post a link - albeit one that does not work - to such a practice?

It only gives publicity credence to such things, and is totally unnecessary.

Margot

Was this link to such a thing?? surely not. I hadn't realised this when I asked.

As far as I am concerned anyone who would do such a thing just shows the lack of understanding on dogs , conformation and genetics that their activites demonstrate. People just kid themselves on.

Think people should read the link before getting worked up :)

http://www.dogstuff.info/price_glory_sharp.html

:rolleyes:I'm eating 'umble pie:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Sorry folks - I thought it was one of these "oh my gosh, this is soo bad, look at this" links.    I should have known better :(

Margot
(going down the garden to eat worms ;) )

:D :D

My comments were based on the possible practice of tail altering not whether someone posted a link :-) :-)  I won't get too worked up about that :-) I didn't even go on the link just the thought of the practise was enough.

That link is no evidence that cruel practices are used. Cheating is always cheating though.

The link makes no mention of the practice the OP describes of "shoving a metal rod" up the underside of the tail and causing damage.  The link appears to be talking about surgical alterations and is referring to America practice.  American vets appear far more willing to perform surgery such as debarking, nail bed removal etc than you would ever find with UK vets so it may be true of that continent but I remain unconvinced that the tale told to the OP is anymore that the sort of alarmist showground tittle tattle ones comes across from time to time.

Think the OP has himself/herself confused and us into the bargain :-D