Is Docking right?

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Originally posted by Amber
Can dogs be born with docked tails? :confused:

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Yes, some dogs are born without tails or with bob-tails. :) the catahoula I'm getting may be a bobtail, it all depends on which dog the breeder breeds. Other dogs that I know of that have bobtails or no tails are the Australian shepherd and bobtail Australian cattle dog.

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Originally posted by Amber
Can dogs be born with docked tails? :confused:

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You bet. Some breeds that are almost always born with natural bob tails are Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Schipperkes.

My grandfather docks his cattledog's tails. He says the reason is because they tend to get caught up in gates, stepped on by farm animals, etc...He says it isn't supposed to be for looks, it is for working dogs.

I really don't have an opinion on docking. I haven't really done any research on it.

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My grandfather docks his cattledog's tails. He says the reason is because they tend to get caught up in gates, stepped on by farm animals, etc...He says it isn't supposed to be for looks, it is for working dogs

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A lot of the ranchers around here also say that cattle and sheep will be distracted and/or alarmed by the herding dog's long, waving tail. I've never quite believed that, since collies have long tails, and they herd, right? :confused:

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A lot of the ranchers around here also say that cattle and sheep will be distracted and/or alarmed by the herding dog's long, waving tail. I've never quite believed that, since collies have long tails, and they herd, right?

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Seems like they're more companion dogs now, but yes their
original purpose was herding. Their tails don't seem to be
very noticable IMO, but who knows to a sheep maybe they are.
They really don't wag their tail rapidly, like say a terrier would.
It's more of a swishing motion and that's done moreso when
their tail is a lower position. When they run they hold it higher,
but even still it's more parallel to the ground, not way up high
for all to see. That's just my view of what I've experienced with
my Smoothie. I would think with a Rough, the tail would be
even less noticable, hidden in all that hair.

I've not been around any cattle dogs to know if theirs is more
distracting in comparison, but it does seem to me, that most
docking did originate with some purpose in mind.

Par...