Tail
When he was a very young pup, his tail was scrawny, but now it has a full plume of black and gray, with a white end; it's beautiful, and I can't imagine him without it! Nick  |
|
|
| I know emotions run high on this topic, so I'll just quietly say that our first had his tail, and it was also magnificent. I've missed tails ever since.
I'd love to see them stay on all sheepies. |
Lola has a gorgeous tail as well. I have a Poodle and a Yorkie that are docked. I think though that if I were ever to get a OES puppy, I would request that it not be docked. Just a personal preference of my aesthetics. Maybe it's because Lily (my golden) has such a lovely tail, and she and Lola balance each other visually. I have to say, Lily and Lola are COMPLETELY different dogs, but their energy is similar. I don't know what they would do without each other.   |
bealsibub wrote: I realise that this is a relatively new thing with OES's, but I would just like to say that my eight month old OES has a truely magnificant tail that he holds aloft with pride and joy. So much so that often my torch light can't get past it to see where we are going!
When he was a very young pup, his tail was scrawny, but now it has a full plume of black and gray, with a white end; it's beautiful, and I can't imagine him without it! Nick There has been a docking ban in Europe for over 10 years now and inbetween times we have got used to this brush on the sheepies backside, you can tell by the way they carry their tail the mood the dog is in. In the show ring the OES can show their ait better if docked, you can observe the roll better than on a tailed OES, but saying that we will have to get used to the movement with a tail. Stewart |
| If I wanted a dog with a fluffy tail, I would have a Golden or better yet, a Pyr. I want to see the OES back side look just like it does in photos and paintings produced over the last 200 years.
The OES is called a "bob tail", not a full fluffy tail. Ban's on docking are coming from the same groups that want to take away all ours rights and choices for our pets. What will be next for our beautiful OES, bred to take herding instinct away? It's soooo cruel to have a dog chasing poor defenseless sheep. Sorry, I just can't sign up to accept every push from fanatic animal rights groups. |
With tail or without there all still Sheepie 
I think whats most important is the overall dog and what they bring to our lives. In countries like here where we have no choice, I cant imagine not having an OES in my life just because of that waggy thing hanging off the butt. I think there is more to the overall dog then worrying about a tail or wether it is bobbed especially in countries where you cant anymore. I dwelled on this for years after the 2004 ban came into force here, then I bred brie later then I would of wanted as it took awhile to come to terms with no more "bob tail" But I cant imagine not having this breed in my life just because here they have to have that waggy thing. There is more to them in nature and as family then wether they have a tail or not. I am liking the tail, it acts like a rudder, cleaner when pottying and only downside an extra appendage to groom  
So wether bobbed or tailed there is still much more to them as an overall fun breed. Stewart have to disagree with movement, the rolling gait still is there if correct shoulder lay, front, topline and correct angulation of the rear end, also tail not carried high over the back like a curly gay tail when on the move.  I've seen no difference there with the tailed lot I have now. AND I am proud to say I have bred the first tailed OES to go to NZ and gain his Championship title where docking is still allowed.
The tail on him made no difference up against docked OES in that country. |
| I LOVE the sheepies w/or w/o their tails. Daphne has a little 3 inch nub which makes her not show quality but it is SO CUTE! I cannot imagine her without it! Everyone remarks about how adorable it is when she wags it as fast as she can. I do believe that you should have the choice to dock or not to dock your dog's tail though. |
| I prefer docked. We had a lab that when excited his tail felt like a whip, and could clear a coffee table in a single swipe.
That being said, I saw on the morning news all of the new laws that went into effect on Jan. 1st. California passed a law banning the docking of cow tails. Evidently milk cows are docked by some farmers as they are easier to milk according to the report..........Kathy |
I should add that he can clear a shelf of ornaments with one sweep! 
Nick
(PS - docking of tails has been banned here in the UK since 2007.) |
I know this is a hot to[ic...but I love sheepdogs for what they are sheepdogs They have nice fluffy butts But I would love to have a sheepdog with a tail  I have a lab and gsd The gsd's tail is low but watch out for a labbys tail!!! So a sheepdog with a tail would not bother me one bit AND I know they are docked very young but does it hurt them?? |
| Less trauma in docking a puppy tail than circumcising a baby boy. Why is it we can easily make the choice to inflict more pain with larger potential ramifications and still have heartburn over docking. It's a strange world. |
| Our rescued sheepie Lucy has a tail, I can't believe how fluffy they get! When she gets overly excited her butt doesn't just wiggle, the force of her wagging her tail sends her entire back half wailing back and forth. Nice to hear someone else say it stays curled up. Lucy's gets so curled when she is happy that it looks like a chow's tail! I'll have to post some pictures for you, it is cute. If I had to choose docked or not docked...I'd go with docked, that thing hurts when it hits you ! |
| I have only had mixes with tails BUT, would love em either way!!! |
That last one was me  |
| I saw on the morning news all of the new laws that went into effect on Jan. 1st. California passed a law banning the docking of cow tails. Evidently milk cows are docked by some farmers as they are easier to
milk according to the report..........Kathy[/quote] I was concerned with this new law in my previous post. As far as OES I personally like the bear butt look of a docked tail and given the docking is done at about 3 days ( and as mentioned in a previous post and having seen quite a few human male circ's and consented to my son's based on ped's recommendation) I beg to differ the difference. |
| I love Bally's tail, though I love sheepies just as much without them. Bally often does what we call his "important tail" and holds it high and in full fluff when he's busy doing things like woofing at cats or exploring the garden. He always looks so pleased with himself for being a Big Dog. And if he hears his name in the middle of a conversation, he always has to wave it a few times just in case.
Oh, and it's very useful when he's about to get into mischief. Gives him away every time. |
| Ha, ha Tiggy has her "important tail" too!!
She combines it with her "dog on a mission" trot when she really means business. Things like leading the way up our side path after we've come home from a walk and I've let her off lead inside the gate. She trots ahead waving her flag/tail and makes sure there are no intruders in the back courtyard.
You never know a bird or worse still a cat may have invaded while we were out. |
Sheepdogma wrote: Less trauma in docking a puppy tail than circumcising a baby boy. Why is it we can easily make the choice to inflict more pain with larger potential ramifications and still have heartburn over docking. It's a strange world. First of all those are two different things.. And if you ask my opinion, I think neither one of those should be made. OES is lovely dog with or without tail but I don't want that my dog has to suffer just because I like how it looks!! Have you ever heard of ghost-pain? Some dogs with their tails docked can feel the tail after (bad)docking and they're in chronical pain all through their lives.. and all just because people just like the way they look. Human is the most self-centered animal on earth and I can't really believe that anyone truly deeply cares for their dogs if it's OK just to cut pieces off them. Dogs communicate with their tails a lot, so practically taking your hand gestures and tongue off would be the same. It's good that docking is banned in the EU, I hope that people in US also realizes it. And for last, this is just my opinion. I know that here are lots of people who think I'm hypocritical and stupid but this is just the way I see it. |
| I understand both sides here, however I err on the side of the docked tailed OES. I've never had one with a tail and I might add that cold beer in a mug stays put on the coffee table during the College/NFL season......... I'm just saying!! |
The nicest part of the OES having a tail, is when they are lying there pretending to be asleep and you come in the room or garden and talk his tail at the tip wags happily. "I am not really awake honest, I just can't quite manage to hide how happy I am to hear your voice!"  It is nice when they greet other dogs to be able to signal that they are in a friendly happy mood too.  I'd like to know how he manages to bend it in the middle 90 degrees downwards to hide his blushes when having a bowel movement  |
| I've only ever had docked sheepdogs, and I love my dog's Wiggly Butt! We even have a command for it; if I tell Tonks "Wiggles!" her butt vibrates like mad! People love it; she always gets a laugh over that one. I have a friend who's sheepdog has a magnificent tail- its really something to behold. But given a choice, I like a big butt over a plumed tail. Tonk and her tailed pal Sunshine:  |
| I love Tedi's tail! It's wagging constantly and I could never imagine him without it.. and it looks so gorgeous, when he is concentrating and he keeps his tail up like a flag. Who can say that this butt isn't perfect  |
| I'm glad its illegal here in the UK...Our OES shows so much emotion through his tail and I can't imagine it not being there! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|