Do Australian Shepherds Have Tails?
Have you ever looked at your Australian Shepherd and thought, Are Australian shepherds naturally tailless? Not every Australian Shepherd is naturally tailless. Australian Shepherds are known to be tailless, which means only 1 out of 5 Australian shepherds are born with a naturally bobbed tail. To satisfy your curiosity, let me tell you the truth. Australian Shepherds are born with tails, but it's all about their being visible or not. This article will talk about the Australian shepherds tail, Australian shepherd tail types and the difference between normal and docked tails.
Are Australian Shepherds born
without tails?
You might be the one
with a misconception about Australian shepherds being tailless, but in reality,
Australian shepherds have tails. Australian Shepherds have a natural shortened
tail that appears as tailless. Around 20% of Australian Shepherds are
born with a natural bobtail, and this unique trait results from genetic
mutation of the T gene. You will normally see Australian shepherds with either docked
or naturally bobbed tails. The tail length of purebred Aussie will not exceed 4
inches. Australian shepherds with tailless looks share a resemblance with cute
little bears. Most dog owners dock their Australian shepherds' tails at birth
if they are born without this trait.
What is the difference between an
Australian Shepherd normal tail and bobbed tail?
If you are still confused about Australian Shepherd tails, you must know that you can easily distinguish between them by looking at their length. So, Aussies with bobtails appear as if they have no tail. Australian shepherds with normal tail lengths commonly undergo docking because this procedure will prevent Aussies from rabies, injuries caused during fights, strengthens the back of a dog, and also increases the speed of an animal. A normal Australian Shepherd will have a tapering effect on its tail, making it smaller in length. However, Aussies with a bobtail will not have tapering making the tail blunt.
Different types of Aussie's
tails:
You will find two
different Aussie tails; bobbed tail and docked tail. Australian Shepherd
puppies naturally have a bobtail resulting from a recessive gene. Australian
shepherds with bobtails have missing vertebrae making their tails blunt or
curved at the end. Normal Australian Shepherd puppies have a tapered tail, which
means the vertebrae decrease as you reach the end. So, Australian shepherds get
their tails docked because it is very weak or crooked. When the tail is allowed
to grow completely, it will have the same thick fur as on the Australian
Shepherd's body.
Tail
docking is not allowed in a few countries other than the US, where breeders,
clubs, and judges are unsure about selecting one particular tail. However, the
tail positions may vary in response to the social interaction of Australian
shepherds with other dogs or people. A survey conducted from August 2019 to
August 2010 reported the following types of Aussie tails.
Very short tail or absent tail:
The
natural bobtailed Aussies born with a significantly shorter tail length appear
to have no tails. In that case, tail docking is not necessary to meet the
traditional tail length standards.
Naturally bobbed tail:
The
natural Australian
shepherds bobtail is because of the incomplete dominant gene
irrespective of the length of the tail, where NBTs can vary in their tail
length.
Long tail:
Some
Australian shepherds have longer tail lengths than the usual bobtail length
with missing vertebrae considerably.
Straight tail:
Australian
shepherds with a natural bobtail or docked have straight tails when they don't
exceed 4 inches.
Kinked tail:
Among
the Australian shepherds, some had a slight curve in their tails called the
kinked tail, making it undesirable for dog owners.
Slightly curved tail:
Aussies
born with a natural bobtail have straight tails or a slight arc. Australian
shepherds with a slightly curved tail are considered a genetic failure.
History of tail docking in Australian
shepherd puppies:
Ancient Romans believed tail docking
for newborn puppies was essential to prevent diseases such as rabies because
their tail muscles were responsible for spreading diseases. According to them, tail
docking made them better hunting dogs. By the end of the 17 century, new tax
law on dogs was introduced to assist funds in French wars. This law did not
apply to working dogs. That's why working dogs were docked to indicate their status.
What is tail docking in dogs?
A dog with a naturally lengthy tail has to go through a surgical procedure to shorten its tail. This procedure is called tail docking. Apart from Australian Shepherds, any other dog or animal processing long tail has to undergo this procedure. This procedure is performed too early in a puppy's life, roughly 3 days after birth.
Tail docking is
performed with two methods, and that is your choice to go for the desired
method for tail docking. Let's talk about both of these methods one by one.
Surgery:
The reputable breeders
and veterinarians go for a surgical procedure for tail docking of Aussies. In
this method, the tail of your Aussie is cut with surgical scissors. Tail
docking does not cause any pain, but your puppy may feel uncomfortable. Puppies
with a natural bobtail do not require tail docking because they naturally have
a short tail by birth.
Banding:
Apart from surgery,
dog owners can also go for the banding technique. It is a procedure that uses
an orthodontic band that cuts off the blood supply at the end of an Aussie’s
tail. As a result, the growth of the tail is constricted.
What are the reasons behind
Australian Shepherd tail docking?
You will find great
variety in the lengths and shapes of bobbed tails. There are different reasons
behind tail docking in Australian Shepherds. Australian shepherds with natural
curved or very blunt tails look undesirable. That's why dog owners dock the
tails of their puppies soon after their birth. Tail docking is a historical practice
for Australian Shepherds, and it is done for the following reasons.
- Australian shepherds with long tails have
a greater risk of injury or infection.
- Tail docking has become popular because
it gives a symmetrical appearance to your dog.
- Tail docking reduces the risk of
transmission of diseases such as rabies, and also it strengthens the back
of a dog.
Is tail docking bad for a dog?
Tail docking is a very
complicated surgical procedure in which docking can cause excessive bleeding,
inflammation, infection or necrosis. Tail docking can cause neuroma or a
pinched nerve, which is extremely painful. Tail docking makes dogs more
aggressive than natural dogs. To avoid aggressive behavior, make sure you go
for tail docking when the puppy is 3-5 days old. Tail docking is necessary for
your dog's safety to prevent it from being damaged by outdoor dangers. Make
sure this procedure is done correctly without leaving any terrible experience
on the memory of your puppy.
Is tail docking painful to
puppies?
Tail docking is an
uncomfortable or slightly hurting procedure for puppies. Puppies can feel the
pain while docking; that's why most breeders go for anesthesia or sedation to
keep puppies under control. Tail docking may result in aggression in puppies.
After the tail is cut, a puppy will face difficulty expressing his feelings.
When a dog becomes an adult, then this procedure becomes more painful. Although
tail docking is a controversial issue, breeders present worldwide accept this
procedure.
What is the ideal age for tail
docking in puppies?
It is
advised to go for tail docking when your puppy is 3-5 days old. The nervous system is not fully
developed during this time, and anesthesia becomes unnecessary. However, adult
Australian Shepherds make tail docking difficult, giving you a tough time.
How much does tail docking cost?
Tail docking is an
affordable procedure for dog owners. It costs around $10 to $20 per dog, and it
can include other charges like the puppies first checkup. However, the cost may
vary depending upon the surgical procedure performed. For older dogs, tail
docking can be much more costly, up to $500, including an anesthesia fee.
How long does it take to recover
from tail docking?
You must provide a clean
and urine-free environment to your tail docked puppy for quick healing. The
vets recommend removing the bandages 2-3 days after tail docking. Usually, tail
docked puppies heal within 7 days, but it may take longer depending upon the
condition of your dog.
Should I get my Aussies tail
docked?
When you decide to bring
an Australian Shepherd puppy to your home, avoid going for tail docking. It is
advised to perform a tail docking procedure at an early age of 3 to 5 days. For
an adult Aussie, tail docking will be a painful experience. But tail docking
will be useless if you adopt an Australian Shepherd to be your family pet. At
the time of adoption, you can have a choice to adopt a docked tail puppy.
How to take care of a docked
tail?
Ensure that you take
care of your dog's hygiene to avoid the spread of infections after the tail
docking procedure. Being a responsible dog owner, daily monitor the surgical
site and look for any signs of swelling, redness or pain. A hygienic home
environment will help for the speedy recovery of your Australian Shepherd
puppy.
What will happen if you breed two
NBTs together?
It is not advised to
breed natural bobtail dogs when the tails are too short.
Breeding two natural bobtail dogs results in puppies with spinal cord defects
or spinal Bifida. So, breeding two similar naturally, bobtail dogs can cause
serious health issues in young ones.
Is there any other dog breed with a
natural dock tail?
Apart from the
Australian Shepherd, many other dog breeds have natural bobtails. Dogs born
with short tails include Australian stumpy tail cattle dog, Brittany, Danish
Swedish Farm dog, Catahoula leopard dog, Jack Russell Terrier, Croatian
sheepdog, a schipperke, Bourbonnais pointer and Polish Lowland sheepdog.
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