Gay tail

So owners should look for this arch if they’re trying to tell if their pup has an otter or carrot tail. 

You’ll also see this tail on dogs who spend significant time in the water. Their tails are the classic look for what are considered saber tails. 

In most cases, saber tails are found on breeds who were herders.

It’s a tail that can also be set a little higher at the point where it connects to the body. Luckily, this procedure (docking) has become controversial and even banned in some countries. It allows these breeds to maneuver more easily during hunting trips and similar activities.

It’s a feeling of being unsure about a stranger or strange situation. But eventually, people grew to like the look and started doing it for cosmetic reasons.

I can’t say I’m a massive fan of how it appears. I also look at how to decode tail movements to help people better understand their dog’s communication.  But first, it’s time to look at all the primary dog tail types!

8 Types of Dog Tails

Eight types of tails are found in dog breeds around the world.

But natural tufted types are often reserved for only Poodles and Poodle mixes.

Notable Breeds With Tufted or Gay Tails

8. It’s just a simple matter of matching the description to what lies on their body. 

Let me know what your dog’s type in the comment section.

Other standards flat out say that it’s a fault, such as the standards for the Coton de Tulear and Italian Greyhound. OTOH, the Smooth Fox Terrier standard calls for the tail, or stern, to be carried gaily, but not over the back; the Lakeland Terrier calls for the tail to be set high on the back – and even though it is customarily docked –  the tip of the tail is level with the occiput on the dog’s head when the dog is stacked or set up in show position.

I’m not smart enough to figure out why this type of tail would help in those duties. There are stories of handlers resorting to surgery to fix a gay tail so to be able to compete and possibly win in the show ring.

Caroline Coile in her book “Show me, A Dog Showing Primer” talks about unscrupulous people who purposely have the ligament of their dog’s tail cut so that the tail is carried according to standard.

If the gay tail is due to the dog’s conformation, cutting it won’t prevent the dog from passing down the “gay tail” to his offspring, which may lead to more problems if the goal is producing “show quality” puppies.

Caroline Coile though points out that dogs undergoing this procedure are easily spotted because the tails end up being perpetually carried like “a limp rope.”

Clicker Training Tail Carriage

Did you know?

You can expect to find breeds with shorter versions or corkscrew ones that go beyond the ring’s closure. As a result, it allows dogs to move more effortlessly and offers certain advantages. 

For instance, dogs with sickle tails will use them to cover their face when sleeping. Currently, I’m a proud owner of a Beagle and a Pitbull who make sure my life is never dull.

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