People often ask, “Why is the Australian Shepherd’s tail docked? Some of the reasons are tradition, identification, cosmetic, and function.
Tail docking has most likely occurred since ancient times. It has been written that the Romans docked tails because they believed, though erroneously, that the muscles in the dog’s tail were a cause of rabies.
In the late 1790s, a tax law was introduced on dogs to help fund the French wars. Working dogs were the exemption and were docked to signify their status. This practice was also in place in Great Britain.
Woods Natural History, published in London in 1865, lends insight into the historical practice of tail docking. “The tail of the Sheep-dog is naturally long and bushy, but is generally removed in early youth, on account of the now obsolete laws, which refused to acknowledge any Dog as a Sheep-dog, or to exempt it from tax, unless it were deprived of its tail. This law, however often defeated its own object, for many persons who liked the sport of coursing, and cared little for appearances, used to cut off the tails of their greyhounds, and evade the tax by describing them as Sheep-dogs.”
As dogs assisted man in the field, herding or hunting, their tails could be a magnate for foxtails and a host of other burrs and stickers, which could cause trauma to the tail. Consequently, tail docking was implemented to avoid injury and infection. This is one of the reasons natural bobtails were valued and bred for.
As dog shows became fashionable in the mid 1800’s with the establishment of the Kennel Club, tails of some breeds were docked as an identifying characteristic. Even today, in breeds with congenital bobtails, the tail is sometimes shortened to enhance a more symmetrical appearance, creating a classic silhouette for the show ring.
Why is the Aussie’s tail docked? The clearest answer I can give is that it is probably tradition and that it is stated in the breed standard that: “An identifying characteristic is the natural or docked bobtail.”
I have the most beautiful Aussie in the world. She is a red/white and tan rescued Aussie, 15 years and 2 months old, with a fabulous tail. It’s just one of her gorgeous attributes.
No one should dock that tail. It has saved her from coyotes, warned other smaller dogs, and invited her friends.
I’ve had her for 13 of her 15 years and known her for 14. Her gorgeous tail has been a gift from God and so has she.
I think aussies tail’s should be docked.
It keeps them from infection, and getting hurt.
I have two aussies myself, I think their little nubbers are so much cuter then a tail. their whole butt waggles with them. :]
Here is a blog entry about tail docking (dated September 14, 2007) you may find interesting:
http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2006/03/nannying-idiots-continue-to-ignore.html
I’m almost ambivalent when it comes to the issue of tail docking. I see the value of both sides; the docking for safety and/or cosmedic reasons and the natural tail in its full, bushy beauty
My parents are always thankful when the dogs and I come to visit. Their coffee tables and the items on them are untouched by big, wagging tails
I am so used to the aussie without its tail,I dont think I would be used to it with one. I love that aussie wiggle that we have all come to love-and are used to seeing in and out of the show ring.
I can totally understand the importance of docking-since life on the farm is tough and you really dont want the aussie getting hurt due to its tail being stomped on or full of burrs…but I do have a question: if this is such an issue,why dont they dock border collies-who do the same kind of work?
I have 2 Aussies (docked w/ AKC papers) and I just had my first litter this summer. There is nothing to describe seeing all 6 puppies nursing in line with their little tails wagging. I am so glad I decided not to dock their tails… and now, at 5 weeks old, they do the full Aussie wiggle… little tails and all. They also run through the yard with their tails straight up, waving at full mast.
They all have their sire’s thick full curly coat. (He’s got a showcoat on a working body… ) I’ve run him all day through burrs, tall grass and whatnot, and nothing gets past his outer coat… Everything combs out with a coarse comb.
I would like to know how much of the tail should be left after docking a miniature australian shepherd.
I have owned Aussies for over 20 yrs. Over the past couple of years my chiropractor that works on my dogs and I have comptemplated the chronic issues with subluxation of the pelvis as compensation for the lack of the tail for balance. She notices it most in docked breeds.I did own a dog years ago with a very bad dock (right to the pelvis). She could not jump horizontally well nor did she deficate easily. So the impact to the surronding muscles can greatly be affected. Out of curiousity last year I left 1 tail on pups out of 2 different litters. Both were dilute so not a showable color. I normally have the newborns adjusted shortly after having their tails docked. The ones without the docks did not require adjustments to their pelvis or tails. The docked pups all did.They were the first to walk with their heads up and not shuffle. I kept one of the pups myself and she can run backwards with a dog chasing her almost as fast as running forward. I do like the docked Aussies, but I think the tails are quite pretty and I have more performance people wanting tails on their dogs. As a breeder I don’t have a problem with people docking OR leaving the tails on. This day and age there are few working farms and most dogs are pets. So the chance of damage to the tail is minimal. I do trial and work my dogs and never have had them ever kicked from behind, but I suppose it could happen on a ranch working in tight quarters in chutes, trailers or holding pens.
Hi Virgil,
It depends on how short you want the tail. Generally speaking you should place the band between the second and third joint (vertebrae) which will yield about a two to three inch tail at maturity. The ASCA breed standard allows for a maximum tail length of up to four inches.
Kind Regards,
Jeanne Joy
I love the docked tail, Aussies just aren’t wigglebutts with a tail!
I always thought the unnaturally docked tails were docked originally to avoid the burrs, snags, getting caught on brush while out on the range herding. Like you said, to avoid infection, etc. And I know how hard it is to get burrs out, if there were burrs anywhere, our Duke would find them. He was so good though, if he could reach them on himself, he bit them and pulled them out. We also have a Border Collie and his tail is a PAIN to keep nice! But that’s country life for ya!
Oh, I was just reading through some of the comments and saw Paula’s asking about why Border Collie’s tails aren’t docked. Maybe one reason is because they originate in Scotland/England where they herded sheep in pastures, where there really wasn’t the same type of “scrub” as out west in the U.S. where the Aussie originated, so nothing really to get their tails snagged on, was not an issue? Just a thought! =)
Our Aussie doesn’t have his tail. I don’t care for the cosmetics and I hope it’s not just tradition. We are more concerned about the dog’s well being and health. If it doesn’t have to be removed for health reasons, they should be left alone. It makes me feel like a finger being cut off.
I personally wish my mini-aussie’s tail was not docked. I don’t really see it as necessary, especially in this day and age when these are mostly not working dogs. I asked the breeder about the docked tail, and she didn’t have a good answer. She said the one dog whose tail she didn’t dock was practically hairless and rat-like looking. But, that dog was a runt and apparently had other issues as well.
There are examples of working dogs who keep their tails like Border Collies and Blue Heelers. I suspect the majority of work-related reasons for docking dog tails are really more cosmetic reasons.
To me, docking a dog’s tail is similar to declawing a cat — it’s seems like cruelty. Our border collie’s tail had to be brushed, but that’s pretty standard animal care and we called her wiggle-butt long before we’d ever seen our first Aussie. I’m happy to see some European countries outlawing docking — it would be nice to see the US follow suit.
Very Nice website. I just finished mine and i was looking for some ideas and you gave me a few. Did you develop the website alone?
Cheers
I had an Aussie with the most beautiful blue eyes and a full tail. She was a stunning dog and to me, a dog without a tail looks so unnatural.
I am looking for another Aussie and I’m having problems finding one with a full tail.
Docked tails keep the dog from getting infections? Really?? Where is the logic in that? What about the hundreds of breeds that do not have their tails docked? I’ve been in the dog community for over forty years and don’t remember there EVER being an epidemic of infections caused by long tails.
Tails are docked for one reason, and one reason only – because some people thought it looked better and so it became the norm.
God gave my Aussie his tail and we are going to keep it.
Tail docking is the single most stupid debate in the entire history of dogs. We talk to adopters every year who think that this is some sort of big deal, who want an Aussie, but only one where the tail has not been altered “inhumanely”, well meaning people who fail to understand the exact nature of the docking procedure, or the fact that a tail docking in a 3 to 5 day old puppy is less invasive, traumatizing or dangerous than a surgical procedure that is performed routinely on millions of human male infants every year. The same people who have no issue with circumcision will decry loudly the docking of a puppy’s tail. It just goes to show that there is a lot of incorrect and misleading information being spread by the idiot fringe of the animal rights contingent, and it behooves all of us who rescue and breed to make sure that we provide the correct information to everyone that we come in contact with.
Here, in Germany docking isn’t allowed – and I haven’t heard of many infections. This is obviously no reason for docking.
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I don’t know any aussie with an injured tail, too. And how many aussies are working in the scrub today?
I do love the long tail of my aussie and have no difficulties to get burrs out though he has a full coat and we’re often i the wood. And he is a wigglebutt, too
Dear Lynn and other pro-tail aussie fanciers,
After 20 years of breeding, showing, and training aussies, I have decided to no longer dock my puppies’ tails. My reasons primarily come from watching my puppies experience pain during the procedure and for days afterwards; hunching their hindquarters and whimpering. I was especially interested to read the comment from the person who has had to adjust her puppies who have had their tails docked. This only lends more credence to the information given by the AVMA that dogs suffer with psycholgical and physiological damage as adults when their tails have been docked. The AVMA also states that puppies do experience pain; however, the pain is “difficult to quantify.” How much pain should we be allowed to inflict on our dogs for the pure vanityty of “cute wiggle butts” or what we’re accustomed to. Psychological research proves that even artwork that is first not appreciated as beautiful, becomes pleasing to the beholder over time. If we can become accustomed to the pleasing affect of a dog without a tail, over time the same would happen to our sense of beauty regarding an aussie with a tail.
I’ve also never been impressed with people who say that burrs in their dog’s tails are annoying. If you’re annoyed with having to brush your dog’s tail, then maybe having a dog is too much responsibility. How about shaving the dogs tails or whole body as a compromise!
I have never heard of, or seen, a dog injure its tail while working cattle and 99% of people who own an aussie do not work them. It seems somewhat dull for us to justify a comprehensive amputation practice for so many dogs when so few dogs are truly effected.
I was always disgusted by this practice, but ashamedly, gave in due to the peer pressure of the ASCA standard. My last two litters have been left as God created them. This is simply an outdated, cosmetic tradition that is cruel. Maybe it will take one courageous breeder at a time to end this inhumane practice, and believe me it does take courage when your breeder friends are not so friendly anymore.
Breed Standards should be holy when they reflect and maintain the best interest of the breed. When they don’t, it is up to us as the stewards of our beloved canine friends to step in and exult a better way.
I currently have a gorgeous litter of puppies with tails if you are interested. laurabelveal@earthlink.net
Is docking painful for puppies at 3 to 5 days old? I understand after certain age (not sure when’s the starting period), it’s like amputation.
My Aussie is quite the smiling wiggle butt even with his full tail. I can see no reason to dock an animal just because I want it to look a certain way (this goes for ears as well). Dogs have tails for a reason, it’s not like they are just there for show. If you don’t want a tail wagging creature, don’t buy a dog or find one that has a naturally short tail. This seems to be just another way that humans have to interfere with the natural world to better suit their own vision of how it “should” be. And the excuse of “but its always been done this way” is no good. For generations in America, Slavery was “the way it was done” and that was not right either.
That said, if an animal is in REAL danger of hurting itself due to its work or lifestyle, then take what measures are necessary to ensure their safety.
I can not condone cutting on my animal just so other people can look at it and say “oh yes, that’s what an Aussie should look like!” How selfish. I can say I fully support Germany’s stance on not allowing docking. Huzzah!
my ausstraillian shepard collie mix had a mass on her tail she is 13 years old i miss her beautiful tail, but they had to take it the mass was to deep. has anyone else had an issue with their dogs like that?
Everyone is wrong, It became a standard because the NATURAL BOB TAIL GENE is VERY strong in many of the breed lines. Like Manx cats. My last litter of 7, had 5 TOTAL NBTs, never touched those tails. ASCA Reg. Papers USED to have you PUT down where it was a NBT or NBT/Dock or Docked. As to double on it, can cause problems. I know, I had a pup with the NBT going too far back………. No anus at all.
in have a 5 year old red and white aussie with her natural tail i have seen no problems in fact i think it looks perfect
Hurrah for Germany! Let’s move into this century America and ban mutilating animals just for OUR vanity.
Just wanted to thank everyone for their comments on this topic. They all really helped in my decision to not dock my current litter of Aussie’s tails. They are 1 week old today and I am just adoring their wagging tails as they nurse. Thank you again!