Tails?
There is no sign of him ever having a tail. I was wondering how rare this is and also if anyone else out there has a dog like this.... Elissa |
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| It is exceptionally rare, and genetically speaking, it is a double lethal gene. Not a good thing for a breed that is supposed to be born with a tail. It occasionally happens in ALL breeds of dogs. |
| Also, just because there is no sign of ever having a tail does not mean there wasn't one. Many breeders now request the tail be docked completely, leaving nothing, which means the vet goes in with a scalpel and removes the last vertebre from inside, which sometimes even leaves an indent. I personally don't like the look or feel of it when there is an indent, but also don't like the look of a tail not properly docked when it is left too long. Sky has nothing, no vertebre left at all, and Dancer had one left so there is the barest hint of a stub but even when she is shaved down it is hard to see. |
| in my country (netherlands) and a lot of other european countries it is illigal to dock the tail. So the name bobtail really isn't accurate anymore. |
| I don't know if this holds true with Sheepies or not, but I have been told by Aussie breeders that occasionally the Mother will chew their tail off immediately after birth. They believe that Mother thinks since she doesn't have a tail neither should the pups. Don't know if it is true or not. |
| That occasionally happens with all breeds, and with cats as well... or a leg, and from what I have seen, they only do this by mistake, chewing at the umbilical cord, possibly while trying to give birth to the next at the same time and therefore a bit overwhelmed at the moment... and not paying attention. It usually only happens with first litters, inexperienced moms. |
| I have had 3 puppies naturally bobbed at birth.
However I request that my bobtails (yes that IS what the founding fathers called them and they still are) be totally docked. I have had three different vets dock in 3 different ways. i personally prefer when a bit of lidocaine is given and then they are clamped and the appendage then removed. One or two stitches, and a bit of 'super glue' over the area and puppies are returned to mom with only one or two whimpers. No worse the wear. |
Quote: they only do this by mistake, chewing at the umbilical cord, possibly while trying to give birth to the next at the same time and therefore a bit overwhelmed at the moment... and not paying attention. It usually only happens with first litters, inexperienced moms.
This is exactly what happened with a rescue litter we had (not OES's). Mom chewed off the tail by accident. There was quite a bit of blood, but it was only after a few hours, when we were taking pictures, that we noticed it gone. All the pups were nursing, with tails sticking out, except for one. That little girl didn't make it, either, but she also had a deformed mouth (not cleft pallate) so couldn't nurse. |
| I grew up with sheepdog and lived with them since 1948,
but I have never seen a sheepdog born whitout a tail! |
Dave still has his tail  and still looks lovely bless him  |
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