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
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?
"We give dogs the time we can spare, the space we can spare and the love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made" - M. Facklam
"We are raised to honor all the wrong explorers and discoverers - thieves planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams."- P.S. Beagle
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king." - J.R.R. Tolkien
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