A dog-trainer’s eye takes a look at tails
By Liz Palika
September 16, 2009
My husband and I have shared our home with Australian Shepherds for more than 25 years. We’re used to dogs without tails. Our dogs have wiggling stumps of tails, or what Aussie owners call, “wiggle butt.” I love wiggle butt; I find my dogs very expressive without a wagging tail — their happy face, cupped ears, bright eyes and wiggle butt says it all.
The other day I was talking to a friend who has Labrador Retrievers, and I thought her happy Lab was going to bruise my shins – that powerful tail of his was whacking my legs something fierce - enough that I actually got up and stood behind a chair.
That got me thinking (I know, I know, it’s dangerous for me to think but I do it anyway once in a while) about tails. As a trainer and behaviorist I watch the whole dog – from nose to tail – to try and discern what’s going on. I also tell people all the time that a wagging tail means emotion and not necessarily happiness.
But I also thought about the variety of tails that our dogs’ have. From the German Shepherd’s long sweeping tail to a Pharoah Hound’s whip-like tail. Every breed standard describes the perfect tail for that breed; for example, the Lab’s powerful tail is called an “otter” tail. It’s thick at the base and should follow the dog’s topline when the dog is in motion.
The breed standard for Australian Shepherds calls for a straight tail that is either docked or a natural bob. A couple of my dogs have had natural bobs, and those tend to be slightly longer than the docked tails — but both are equally expressive.
I also found it interesting how some tails match the breed’s perceived disposition or character. The Bichon Frise should have a merry temperament with a tail to match. It should be well-plumed and curve gracefully over the back. If the tail were carried low and close to the hind legs, I think it would change how I see the breed. Interesting.
I checked out some rare breeds that I don’t see too often. The Cane Corso’s tail should be an extension of the backline, thick at the root, docked at the 4th vertebrae or natural. The Chinese Crested’s tail is slender and tapers to a curve. The Boykin Spaniel’s tail is docked at 3 to 5 inches, is carried horizontal and is active. The English Cocker should also have an active tail. The breed standard says the tail should be in motion when the dog is in action.
Some breed standards give far more detail than others. The Keeshond’s tail is long, well feathered, tightly curled over the back and should be tight to the back. The Irish Water Spaniel’s tail is strong, level with the back, thick at the root, and should taper to a fine point. It is called a rat tail because it has curls at the base but smooth hair to the point. The Finnish Spitz has a curled, plumed tail that is carried over the back with the tip pointing towards the thigh. However, the standards goes into far more detail than that! It is quite detailed as to the tail’s position.
I was also pleased to see that a few standards are allowing both a docked tail and a natural tail. There have been quite a few discussions regarding docking and I think in the future more breeds will be allowing both types of tails, but I was pleased to see more already are. The Field Spaniel standard says docked tails are preferred but natural tails are allowed. The Swedish Valhund, though, took the prize. Tails can be bobs, stubs, or long; natural or docked.
How fun!
What about Chihuahua’s I have 2 right now and have had 2 others and the tails are not the same. It is almost a personality issue. Also I have a mutt probably new foundland and his tail goes around like a helicopter. It is odd
Comment by kathy — September 16, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
the Rottie tail is an awesome sight.
;-)
Comment by EmilyS — September 16, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
My attention was first drawn to the English shepherd because I liked working Aussies back before the AKC takeover, but BY GOD A DOG SHOULD HAVE A DAMNED TAIL.
ES have some significant temperament differences from Aussies, as it turns out, and those suit me better anyway.
Anyone who thinks that wiggle butt is limited to caudal amputees has never met Moe. Or my friend Dave’s fabulous natural-tailed rottie girl.
There used to be — back in the 80’s — a club just for natural-tailed Aussies, the Basque Shepherd Club of America or something similar. Wonder what ever happened to them?
Comment by H. Houlahan — September 16, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
My now deceased American Eskimo, Maisie, had the typical tail, tightly curled over her back, feathered, but at the very tip she had a curl. Loved to put my little finger in that curl and she would tighten it around my finger. I can feel it to this day.
Comment by VJ — September 16, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
I wanted an Aussie with a natural tail. I couldn’t find a breeder willing to do it. (This was about eight years ago.) One of the breeders told me that she agreed to do it for a potential owner once, only to have the buyer back out because she decided she didn’t want that particular puppy. The breeder then had a difficult time selling the dog with the natural tail. I love wiggle butt! My last dog (Aussie/Border cross)had wiggle butt AND a tail.
Comment by C.L.H. — September 16, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
Kasey has a tail like a question mark. :O)
In what cases does a tail wagging not convey happiness?
Comment by Original Lori — September 17, 2009 @ 5:51 am
Sheepies also are famous for Wigglebutt!
Having only had sheepies and frenchies, i too have never hada dog with a tail until we got our Spinone Puppy. Yes she’s docked, but it’s a long dock. it’s nice sometimes to see a tail wagging when she’s happy as opposed to some cute wigglebutt dancing.
Though with frenchies there’s not so much wigglebutt as there is ear set (or as we say in my house - “turnip head”)
Comment by Sarah — September 17, 2009 @ 6:45 am
More than one time, I have had someone tell me that my ol’ girl Sparky has a festive tail. It adds to her overall happy appearance. She is a herding dog mix (best guess is ES x aussie with maybe some golden retriever thrown in) and her tail is luscious, thickly feathered appendage that curls slightly up over her back. Think the technical term is a gay tail. Whatever it is, it speaks volumes. The top of it is black and the underneath side is tan (ok, mostly gray now) but I understand now why such tails were sometimes called the “shepherds lantern”. When taking care of evening chores, her tail is my guide on the path back to the house as daylight wanes.
Comment by Melinda — September 17, 2009 @ 10:23 am
Regarding the question about wagging tails meaning other than happiness:
A wagging tail means excitement or emotion. Happiness is obviously one of those but the tail’s position (high or low) and the speed of the wag are also a part of the communication.
A wagging tail could signal status between dogs when one dog greets another dog. The tail held low with just the tip wagging can be a part of the dog’s means of expressing submission. The wagging tail held high and moving slowly can signal potential aggression. And a wagging tail can just show the dog’s wish to communicate.
But most definitely a wagging tail must be observed with the rest of the dog’s body language to understand what the dog is trying to convey.
Comment by Liz Palika — September 20, 2009 @ 1:59 pm