Which Hunting Dogs With Cut Tail?

Many people think a docked tail means someone cut a puppy’s tail. Some dogs are born with naturally docked tails. This is called a bobbed tail.

Why Do Some Hunting Dogs Have Short Tails?

Bobbed tails are caused by a change in a dog’s genes called the C189G T gene mutation. This gene is on a chromosome that all dogs have. If a dog has one copy of this gene, it will have a bobbed tail. This is why so many dogs have bobbed tails.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) groups dogs by what they do. Many dogs with bobbed tails are herding dogs. This might be because having a tail would make herding harder. For example, a cow could step on the dog’s tail.

15 Dog Breeds with Naturally Short Tails

Here are 15 dog breeds that can be born with bobbed tails:

• Australian Cattle Dog: These dogs are hard workers and are loyal. They were bred to herd cattle. Some Australian Cattle Dogs were even bred with dingoes! Their bobbed tails are caused by a change in the T gene.

• Australian Shepherd: These dogs are smart and independent. They are good at herding, but they can be hard to train. They are from the United States. The T gene mutation causes their bobbed tails.
• Boston Terrier: This breed is known for being friendly and strong. They are a popular breed because they are small and have short tails. The Boston Terrier does not have the C189G T gene mutation.
• Brittany: This breed is full of energy and happy. Brittanys make good hunting dogs because they can point and retrieve. They are from France. They have bobbed tails because of the C189G T gene mutation.
• Catahoula Leopard Dog: This dog is the state dog of Louisiana. It is a mix of many different breeds, so they can look very different. Catahoula Leopard Dogs work hard and are energetic. They are also very reliable. Some Catahoula Leopard Dogs are born with bobbed tails.
• Danish-Swedish Farmdog: This breed is good at many jobs, like herding and catching rats. They are very smart. The AKC has only recently recognized this breed. The C189G T gene mutation causes their bobbed tails, but some of them have long tails.
• English Bulldog: This breed is not recognized by the AKC. But the UKC calls it a Companion Dog. The English Bulldog does not have the C189G T gene mutation. Something else causes their short tails.
• Jack Russell Terrier: This breed is smaller than the Parson Russell Terrier. The Jack Russel Terrier has the C189G T gene mutation. But the Parson Russell Terrier does not. Some Jack Russell Terriers are born with bobbed tails. But people sometimes cut the tails of dogs that are born with long tails.
• Mudi: This breed is a herding dog from Hungary. It is one of the oldest breeds with a bobbed tail. Like other herding dogs, the Mudi is smart and independent. Mudis can be born with short or medium tails.
• Parson Russell Terrier: This breed is popular in Ireland, England, and Australia. It looks like the Jack Russel Terrier. But it does not have the C189G T gene mutation.
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi: This is the first breed that scientists linked to the C189G T gene mutation. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is short. It also doesn’t have a tail. This helps protect it from getting kicked by farm animals.
• Pug: This breed has a curled tail. This is because of their spine, not because they have a bobbed tail. Scientists don’t fully understand why Pugs have curled tails. They don’t think it has anything to do with the C189G T gene mutation.
• Schipperke: This breed looks like a Spitz. It was bred to catch rats on ships. It has a bobbed tail because of the C189G T gene mutation.
• Spanish Water Dog: This breed has been in Spain for a long time. It was probably used to herd and hunt. Its bobbed tail is caused by the C189G T gene mutation.
• Swedish Vallhund: This is another herding breed with a bobbed tail. This is caused by the C189G T gene mutation. These dogs work hard and have a lot of energy. They are thought to be as old as the Vikings! Swedish Vallhunds can have many different tail lengths.

Is It Good or Bad to Cut a Dog’s Tail?

People used to think that cutting a dog’s tail made its back stronger. They also thought it made the dog faster and less likely to get hurt. Today, tails are sometimes cut to prevent injury. They can also be cut for medical reasons or just to look a certain way. People used to cut hunting dogs’ tails to keep them from getting hurt in the woods. But some people think that there is no proof that this works. One big study found that only 0.23% of dogs hurt their tails. That means that 500 dogs would have to have their tails cut to prevent one injury.

Some people think cutting a dog’s tail is mean. They say that dogs need their tails for balance and communication. Dogs use their tails to talk to other dogs and people. If a dog’s tail is cut, it can be hard for it to tell others if it is scared, angry, or playful. Some studies show that dogs with cut tails might be more aggressive. Researchers think this is because dogs that can’t use their tails to communicate might not be as social. This could make them more likely to be aggressive. Some people also worry that dogs whose tails have been cut feel pain in their tails, even though the tail is gone.

Will People Stop Cutting Dogs’ Tails?

People are starting to question if cutting a dog’s tail is a good idea. This makes people wonder what will happen to some breeds in the future. Many countries have already made it illegal to cut a dog’s tail. Scientists can now use DNA tests to find out if a dog will have a bobbed tail. This means that breeders could choose to only breed dogs with bobbed tails. But scientists need to do more research to find out if this is safe.