Breeds with naturally docked tails
In some cases, selective breeding and nature have taken care of tail docking. There are several breeds where puppies are born without tails.
The most familiar dog breeds with docked tails include Australian Shepherd, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Brittany Spaniel, Danish Swedish Farmdog, Jack Russell Terrier, Schipperke, and Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Many of those are due to a gene mutation called C189G. Breeding removed their tails.
What Dog Breeds Have Naturally Docked Tails?
Naturally docked tails are called bobtails, and they occur in Australian Shepherds, Catahoula Leopard Dogs, Brittany Spaniels, and Schipperkes. These breeds share a good work ethic and usually want an active and outdoorsy lifestyle with their owners. Having bobtail assists with ease of travel by not getting caught in branches or other obstacles in nature, and thus many pet owners gravitate towards these breeds.
Dogs that have docked tails are dogs that have had their tail either amputated when older or removed with a rubber band at a few days of age. This practice has been banned in many countries. Since this procedure tends to be done without anesthesia, it is generally painful and is considered animal cruelty in many jurisdictions.
While many dog breeds seem to have no tails, some of these breeds get this look via tail docking. There are dogs that are born without tails, so if you want to have a tail-less dog and avoid the practice of tail docking, this list will help you. Some dogs are born without any tail, while others may have very short tails.
This French breed has the same tail mutation as the Brittany Spaniel. They are most commonly bred in the United States and may be called a short-tail pointer.
This dog used to have a long tail that was docked. When tail docking was banned in Croatia, breeders began selecting for shorter tails so the breed would still have the short tail.
The Pembroke Welsh corgi has been bred to have a short tail in areas where tail docking has been banned. If you are in the United States, the AKC still encourages tail docking for this breed.
Top 15 Dog Breeds With Short Tails Amazing Short Tail Dogs
At one time, dogs weren’t pets. Instead, they had jobs and consequently had a docked tail.
Dogs worked on farms, in the military, and helped with hunting, fighting, ratting, and baiting. That’s not to say they no longer serve those purposes. But, let’s face it, most are pets.
One of the most ludicrous thoughts on this topic was that you would prevent it from getting rabies by docking the dog’s tail.
Mostly, it was done to avoid injuries from farm equipment. It would give another fighting dog something less to grip onto in pit fights. And let us not forget, because people believed it increased the dog’s speed and strengthened its back.
Also, at one time, working and hunting dogs with docked tails weren’t taxed. It never hurt to save a shilling or two.
Working and hunting dogs without tails were less likely to collect debris or amass feces around their rump. They were also less apt to get injured by getting caught in farm equipment, wagons, and carts.
Bobbed tail vs. docked tail? Some support the practice but believe tail bobbing is less offensive than docking, even though it is the same thing.