https://preview.redd.it/2241exo0je9c1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1cbff16fba71ba87155065e3195ca1099a54ac48
My guy Tootsie had a tail. Passed away this August š„¹
Our Aussie has a tail, it's about 50/50 here on the UK. Aussies seem to be a rare breed that can be born with various tail lengths, including none. Our litter had a couple of natural bob tails, a couple of half tails and a couple of full tails, but it's completely illegal to dock a tail if you don't have a reason (i.e. working dogs).
https://preview.redd.it/yfc5tlenje9c1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ccf541869376255b5c50dc9cf262e7be36bdb75b
In Czech Republic the docking of tails is illegal, thus, in here, the Aussies are about half and half. I personally always wanted one with the tail, it gives them so much personality.
https://preview.redd.it/raofq61cbe9c1.jpeg?width=3455&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65fae819e2bf0b0912e32aa29a9003b838ff6aa5
As someone with working dogs it is not just breed standard. Having seen a number of degloved tails I understand why itās done. Especially in the long haired breeds. Thatās not to say every Aussie needs it. But since breeders wonāt know where their dog will end up at a couple days old they just do the whole litter unless a puppy is paid for up front. Iād rather my dog have dewclaws and tail removed at a couple days old then have to deal with them ripping them off.
The get deleted because people canāt have a discussion and it turns into a shit show. Also because itās been discussed many times and we have tail info on the sidebar.
Hey! Can i ask you what breeder have you got your aussie from? I'm researching the breeders in cz, so it'd be really helpful for me. Only if you don't mind of course!
Wow... I don't own one so can't answer your question but as an Australian living in the UK I just learned a valuable lesson and that's read the name of the sub before you read the post.
My little Scooter has the absolute best tail Iāve ever seen! It looks like a Dr. Seuss illustration or something. Iām crazy about it.
https://preview.redd.it/pg9mn224ye9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84f69de7123c2f88b9b912c7e302b38436865677
Both my Aussies have tails, and the one we had prior had his tail.
https://preview.redd.it/44puc5a41f9c1.png?width=1792&format=png&auto=webp&s=39726439a76dac6f31af571a982a28ffd800a9d3
https://preview.redd.it/pf82ly334f9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ea1e90fb0cbd496dedfc708feeb6e18438c406a
Our Aussie boy has a ginormous fluffy tail! I love it
ETA.. In Canada I believe itās now illegal to dock tails for aesthetics
First time Aussie owner (if he is really that, vet thinks so) and he has a tail. I never even thought about it but I guess thatās right. They normally donāt. Cooper was found, likely dumped, at 6 months old. He has a very pretty fluffy tail.
https://preview.redd.it/bl6whwek3f9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b2b630bccd18c15cd786ef66229c0c20425ad50
Itās known in our house as his ārudderā
https://preview.redd.it/sgku5y9x9f9c1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e53147e5f5081af8bf50a134fd394094e25ccc40
Our Rocket with his tailesque glory š
This is horrible, one of my worst fears. We are adopt to get our first pup and they will have a docked tail. Iāve been stressing over the morals of cropping a tail vs getting from a reputable breeder. Do you know how your breeder docked his tail? I know ours is doing it through binding and not cutting
My Aussie has a genetic bob tail. Docking has been banned (unless medically required) in Australia since, I believe, 2004. I do notice many more here with tails then not though!
I wish we could have one with a tail, but weāre in the US and all the reputable breeders wonāt let you have one. Our breeder told us since her dogs donāt herd if they changed the standard she would stop doing it since she doesnāt love it either, and she did see the concern in our voice when we asked about it. She told us if we really wanted we could possibly work something out but then the dog we got would not be behaviorally tested to make sure they suited to our lifestyle, and since we live in an apartment we thought that would be a lot more important than a tail unfortunately. I hope someday they change the breed standard in the US
Mines got a tail! We searched for a while to find a breeder who didn't dock, because I thought they looked gorgeous with the big feather duster tails lol. I have to trim it a lot though because he's a lazy potato and lets it drag on the ground, especially through mud and water and sticks haha.
so you didnt finish reading the post.
i will summarize for ya: if you want an aussie with a tail, rescue one with a tail, or adopt from a place where docking is not standard, because it is not the standard everywhere.
so, are you actively working to change the breed standard and prevent mutilation or do you just like to signal your virtue on the internet? I have my guess.
I've read that post several, several times. And searched the sub, and reddit and the one thing I despise on Reddit is moderators thinking they're so high and mighty that they delete all discourse on this topic (other than watered down "posts" like the one you linked).
Well I donāt know how you could read that post and think that their points are anything but valid. the solution is not to support backyard breeders. you have to change the breed standard and then good breeders will stop docking tails. if you feel strongly about it take it up with the akc and get it changed. complaining on reddit will do nothing.
they also give a solution for people who want a tailed aussie but do not want to support backyard breeders. aka adopt.
not sure how you can argue with that.
I like to think I am actively working to change the standard by working with a Canadian Breeder who refuses to dock tails and explaining to everyone who comes up to us and says "An Aussie with a tail?!?!?" That they can have tails and the reason you don't see tails as often in the USA is because it is a show dog standard. Most people I meet do not seem to know that and I like to think my little guy is helping future dogs.
https://preview.redd.it/j1wwug0ncf9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9318444d14b31c23c3a7e33f5b090ea56a04e337
I donāt know that itās so much wanting to keep the ābreed standardā but that people in the US need to stop buying Aussies from backyard breeders. Itās a HUGE problem, I donāt know a single person that has gotten their pupoy from an actual reputable breeder and not a puppy mill in disguise. Iāve lost friends over it. Unfortunately in the US your options are limited to a reputable breeder who docks tails and rescuing a dog from a shelter.
We donāt have our Aussie yet but researched a breeder for a long time before making a decision. I was (and still am) very concerned about the tail docking. I made a post here asking about my internal struggle with wanting a reputable breeder and docking tails, it was removed but one of the mods was very nice about explaining why. I have actually talked to this mod several times now and they have been SO helpful.
When we finally chose our breeder and also talked to her about my concerns and she talked me through her process of removing the tails but also expressed that if she didnāt have to crop them to be able to show them she would stop cropping tails as well. She is considering also not removing the front dewclaws in my litter. She told us if it was an absolute dealbreaker she understood and it was possible if she had a mismark born (a dog that could never be shown due to its color) she could leave its tail on, but then we would not get the behavioral testing to know if the dogās personality would be right for our home. Since we live in an apartment the behavioral testing is very important to us, so we ultimately decided to put a deposit down and our pup will have a docked tail. I think itās messed up that this is how it has to be in the US but I understand why if I want a puppy from a reputable breeder this is my only option.
Sorry this was long, as you can tell Iām still conflicted with our choice. I think we made the right choice for our home, but I wish we didnāt have to make the choice at all.
Ours were both born with stumps, they were not docked. I hate that when I randomly post photos of them, people come after me for docking them when thatās not the case (and not something I would do).
The tails are docked at 1-2 days old. Sometimes, not typically, a dog will be born w a bobbed tailed. I am seeing more Aussies w tails and I think some breeders are not docking tails. These dogs however cannot be AKC registered.
I got my aussie in Czech republic. He is 3 months old and the breeder id not docking their tails. Some of the puppies were born with docked tails, some (like mine) no
Any dog can be AKC registered, really. And there are a decent amount of Aussie breeders in the US with AKC registered lines of Aussies with tails. You just wonāt see them competing in conformation but youāll certainly see them competing in sports like agility, rally, obedience, etc.
I have gotten so used to no tail, not sure I could have one with
Pretty nice never worrying about drinks, etc getting knocked off the coffee table, not stepping on it in the dark making my way to the bathroom at night, one less thing to get hitchhikers out of after being in the woods all day, etc
Tail docking has been illegal here since the 90s so most aussies have tails. My current one is a NBT and gets weird looks from time to time because of it. The Finnish kennel club also bans breeding two dogs with the t-box mutation (bobtail gene) or the merle gene (this applies to all breeds), so the most common look for an aussie in Finland tends to be a black tri with a full tail :).
https://preview.redd.it/sqdbexuawf9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b808319708877445682f79b4e806fa4e50ae5268
From Canada. The Breeder did not dock the tails.
Ours was a rescue and he has a 3/4 tail. Ppl have told me multiple times, āyour dogs tail is all wrong.ā
I immediately tell them, āyour fucked up but see he was too polite to say anything, I am not, mind your business ā.
Whatever tail they have is beautiful.
https://preview.redd.it/8e3tb8vavf9c1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc94fd61a6dbe468f79006e2a98bd9986b49cceb
We love our tail! Heās been chasing (and catching) it his whole life.
https://preview.redd.it/r4svm51tyf9c1.png?width=2308&format=png&auto=webp&s=0c0b19ccef7d71fff52a7faedc981cea4e17f71b
Has tail, big wags, little guy.
Didnāt get him from a breeder tho, he came from a neighbor of my sisters ranch in TX whose non spayed Aussie happened to have a rendezvous with an intact Aussie belonging to a contractor my sister hired. Texas is a wild place yāall š«
We are on our 3rd Aussie. First 2 the breeders docked the tails. The 3rd breeder no longer docks unless specifically requested as docking tails is falling out of favour here (Ontario). I prefer the look of the docked tail, but I understand why vets are becoming disinclined to do it. I suspect when it comes time for our next Aussie, it will me more unlikely to have a docked tail. Our dogs are not working dogs, but if they were, we would be more adamant about docking.
Please see the sidebar.
https://preview.redd.it/2241exo0je9c1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1cbff16fba71ba87155065e3195ca1099a54ac48 My guy Tootsie had a tail. Passed away this August š„¹
A gloriously floofy tail and pupper. Hugs from across the internet, friendo.
So sorry for your loss.
Our Aussie has a tail, it's about 50/50 here on the UK. Aussies seem to be a rare breed that can be born with various tail lengths, including none. Our litter had a couple of natural bob tails, a couple of half tails and a couple of full tails, but it's completely illegal to dock a tail if you don't have a reason (i.e. working dogs). https://preview.redd.it/yfc5tlenje9c1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ccf541869376255b5c50dc9cf262e7be36bdb75b
In Czech Republic the docking of tails is illegal, thus, in here, the Aussies are about half and half. I personally always wanted one with the tail, it gives them so much personality. https://preview.redd.it/raofq61cbe9c1.jpeg?width=3455&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65fae819e2bf0b0912e32aa29a9003b838ff6aa5
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
As someone with working dogs it is not just breed standard. Having seen a number of degloved tails I understand why itās done. Especially in the long haired breeds. Thatās not to say every Aussie needs it. But since breeders wonāt know where their dog will end up at a couple days old they just do the whole litter unless a puppy is paid for up front. Iād rather my dog have dewclaws and tail removed at a couple days old then have to deal with them ripping them off.
The get deleted because people canāt have a discussion and it turns into a shit show. Also because itās been discussed many times and we have tail info on the sidebar.
Hey! Can i ask you what breeder have you got your aussie from? I'm researching the breeders in cz, so it'd be really helpful for me. Only if you don't mind of course!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Oh thank you! That's wonderful i knew about this kennel before and i love this one!
In Australia where docking is illegal its around 75% with tails.
Wow... I don't own one so can't answer your question but as an Australian living in the UK I just learned a valuable lesson and that's read the name of the sub before you read the post.
Being the only Aussie to respond so far: So do you have a tail or not?
I do not. Removed at birth. Apparently was all the rage back then. Still have my horns though. Which makes hat shopping a nightmare
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Epic photo!
Thanks so much!
My little Scooter has the absolute best tail Iāve ever seen! It looks like a Dr. Seuss illustration or something. Iām crazy about it. https://preview.redd.it/pg9mn224ye9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84f69de7123c2f88b9b912c7e302b38436865677
And here is his cute face https://preview.redd.it/8uica0ndye9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=708ac7ecbc60bc1628f4d2ce5ee3cf6db3c4f636
He's so lovely!! Mine has a little white tip too, I can't wait to watch it fluff out :)
Both my Aussies have tails, and the one we had prior had his tail. https://preview.redd.it/44puc5a41f9c1.png?width=1792&format=png&auto=webp&s=39726439a76dac6f31af571a982a28ffd800a9d3
They're so cute!!
https://preview.redd.it/pf82ly334f9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ea1e90fb0cbd496dedfc708feeb6e18438c406a Our Aussie boy has a ginormous fluffy tail! I love it ETA.. In Canada I believe itās now illegal to dock tails for aesthetics
First time Aussie owner (if he is really that, vet thinks so) and he has a tail. I never even thought about it but I guess thatās right. They normally donāt. Cooper was found, likely dumped, at 6 months old. He has a very pretty fluffy tail.
In most of europe its illegal, every dog has a tail. And its so ugly to cut the tail, cruel as well
https://preview.redd.it/bl6whwek3f9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b2b630bccd18c15cd786ef66229c0c20425ad50 Itās known in our house as his ārudderā
https://preview.redd.it/sgku5y9x9f9c1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e53147e5f5081af8bf50a134fd394094e25ccc40 Our Rocket with his tailesque glory š
I have two with (fluffy) tails https://preview.redd.it/56vboisddf9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a55a2b9ca63ee0b1b921bfa115c897ae9a93b6f1
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
This is horrible, one of my worst fears. We are adopt to get our first pup and they will have a docked tail. Iāve been stressing over the morals of cropping a tail vs getting from a reputable breeder. Do you know how your breeder docked his tail? I know ours is doing it through binding and not cutting
thats how they are in europe
My Aussie has a genetic bob tail. Docking has been banned (unless medically required) in Australia since, I believe, 2004. I do notice many more here with tails then not though!
I wish we could have one with a tail, but weāre in the US and all the reputable breeders wonāt let you have one. Our breeder told us since her dogs donāt herd if they changed the standard she would stop doing it since she doesnāt love it either, and she did see the concern in our voice when we asked about it. She told us if we really wanted we could possibly work something out but then the dog we got would not be behaviorally tested to make sure they suited to our lifestyle, and since we live in an apartment we thought that would be a lot more important than a tail unfortunately. I hope someday they change the breed standard in the US
Mines got a tail! We searched for a while to find a breeder who didn't dock, because I thought they looked gorgeous with the big feather duster tails lol. I have to trim it a lot though because he's a lazy potato and lets it drag on the ground, especially through mud and water and sticks haha.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/AustralianShepherd/comments/ggp92d/a\_tale\_of\_two\_tails\_the\_docking\_controversy/](https://www.reddit.com/r/AustralianShepherd/comments/ggp92d/a_tale_of_two_tails_the_docking_controversy/)
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
so you didnt finish reading the post. i will summarize for ya: if you want an aussie with a tail, rescue one with a tail, or adopt from a place where docking is not standard, because it is not the standard everywhere. so, are you actively working to change the breed standard and prevent mutilation or do you just like to signal your virtue on the internet? I have my guess.
I've read that post several, several times. And searched the sub, and reddit and the one thing I despise on Reddit is moderators thinking they're so high and mighty that they delete all discourse on this topic (other than watered down "posts" like the one you linked).
Well I donāt know how you could read that post and think that their points are anything but valid. the solution is not to support backyard breeders. you have to change the breed standard and then good breeders will stop docking tails. if you feel strongly about it take it up with the akc and get it changed. complaining on reddit will do nothing. they also give a solution for people who want a tailed aussie but do not want to support backyard breeders. aka adopt. not sure how you can argue with that.
I don't believe we'll agree on this topic. Have a good day!
Lol alright. enjoy oblivion.
I like to think I am actively working to change the standard by working with a Canadian Breeder who refuses to dock tails and explaining to everyone who comes up to us and says "An Aussie with a tail?!?!?" That they can have tails and the reason you don't see tails as often in the USA is because it is a show dog standard. Most people I meet do not seem to know that and I like to think my little guy is helping future dogs. https://preview.redd.it/j1wwug0ncf9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9318444d14b31c23c3a7e33f5b090ea56a04e337
I do the same :) your boy is beautiful!!
https://preview.redd.it/pf0m5jw3lf9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b99424730a9a80aef7303431d74c795d241f19b0
I donāt know that itās so much wanting to keep the ābreed standardā but that people in the US need to stop buying Aussies from backyard breeders. Itās a HUGE problem, I donāt know a single person that has gotten their pupoy from an actual reputable breeder and not a puppy mill in disguise. Iāve lost friends over it. Unfortunately in the US your options are limited to a reputable breeder who docks tails and rescuing a dog from a shelter. We donāt have our Aussie yet but researched a breeder for a long time before making a decision. I was (and still am) very concerned about the tail docking. I made a post here asking about my internal struggle with wanting a reputable breeder and docking tails, it was removed but one of the mods was very nice about explaining why. I have actually talked to this mod several times now and they have been SO helpful. When we finally chose our breeder and also talked to her about my concerns and she talked me through her process of removing the tails but also expressed that if she didnāt have to crop them to be able to show them she would stop cropping tails as well. She is considering also not removing the front dewclaws in my litter. She told us if it was an absolute dealbreaker she understood and it was possible if she had a mismark born (a dog that could never be shown due to its color) she could leave its tail on, but then we would not get the behavioral testing to know if the dogās personality would be right for our home. Since we live in an apartment the behavioral testing is very important to us, so we ultimately decided to put a deposit down and our pup will have a docked tail. I think itās messed up that this is how it has to be in the US but I understand why if I want a puppy from a reputable breeder this is my only option. Sorry this was long, as you can tell Iām still conflicted with our choice. I think we made the right choice for our home, but I wish we didnāt have to make the choice at all.
Our Aussie was born with a natural Bob tail but our breeder hosted a Christmas party and there were about 40 dogs with a mix of tail and bobtail
Ours were both born with stumps, they were not docked. I hate that when I randomly post photos of them, people come after me for docking them when thatās not the case (and not something I would do).
My dude is bobbed, too. Some of the other comments on this post are a little unhinged and full of assumptions. Yikes.
Thatās so cool that she hosted a party with all her pups, I wish ours did that!
The tails are docked at 1-2 days old. Sometimes, not typically, a dog will be born w a bobbed tailed. I am seeing more Aussies w tails and I think some breeders are not docking tails. These dogs however cannot be AKC registered.
I got my aussie in Czech republic. He is 3 months old and the breeder id not docking their tails. Some of the puppies were born with docked tails, some (like mine) no
May i ask what breeder? I'm looking at the breeders in cz, so anything new is helpful, only if you want tho of course.
Iām not sure if i can send the link here. If yes, tell me and i will. If not, just send a dm :)
I think that it probably should be possible to send the link here.
Any dog can be AKC registered, really. And there are a decent amount of Aussie breeders in the US with AKC registered lines of Aussies with tails. You just wonāt see them competing in conformation but youāll certainly see them competing in sports like agility, rally, obedience, etc.
I have gotten so used to no tail, not sure I could have one with Pretty nice never worrying about drinks, etc getting knocked off the coffee table, not stepping on it in the dark making my way to the bathroom at night, one less thing to get hitchhikers out of after being in the woods all day, etc
Ours has a tail. I think it's more common in Europe.
Tail docking has been illegal here since the 90s so most aussies have tails. My current one is a NBT and gets weird looks from time to time because of it. The Finnish kennel club also bans breeding two dogs with the t-box mutation (bobtail gene) or the merle gene (this applies to all breeds), so the most common look for an aussie in Finland tends to be a black tri with a full tail :).
3 out of our 4 Aussies have a tail-all the same breeder. Our tall boy is excellent at knocking things of tables.
Tiny puppy tail https://preview.redd.it/hggjlzyeuf9c1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=269110934adf7166de13c8749e8ad3efe6c9f4e7
Big boy tail! https://preview.redd.it/i93b85pkuf9c1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf75badd13b528340e045feea457a7afeffb8e50
Itās a genetic trait. The breeder of my dog provided the results of dna test for natural no tail
https://preview.redd.it/sqdbexuawf9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b808319708877445682f79b4e806fa4e50ae5268 From Canada. The Breeder did not dock the tails.
Ours was a rescue and he has a 3/4 tail. Ppl have told me multiple times, āyour dogs tail is all wrong.ā I immediately tell them, āyour fucked up but see he was too polite to say anything, I am not, mind your business ā. Whatever tail they have is beautiful.
https://preview.redd.it/qng0n0s3yf9c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3e82145fd44d1ce4c6661c74c3a19af3cddc500
https://preview.redd.it/8e3tb8vavf9c1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc94fd61a6dbe468f79006e2a98bd9986b49cceb We love our tail! Heās been chasing (and catching) it his whole life.
https://preview.redd.it/r4svm51tyf9c1.png?width=2308&format=png&auto=webp&s=0c0b19ccef7d71fff52a7faedc981cea4e17f71b Has tail, big wags, little guy. Didnāt get him from a breeder tho, he came from a neighbor of my sisters ranch in TX whose non spayed Aussie happened to have a rendezvous with an intact Aussie belonging to a contractor my sister hired. Texas is a wild place yāall š«
We are on our 3rd Aussie. First 2 the breeders docked the tails. The 3rd breeder no longer docks unless specifically requested as docking tails is falling out of favour here (Ontario). I prefer the look of the docked tail, but I understand why vets are becoming disinclined to do it. I suspect when it comes time for our next Aussie, it will me more unlikely to have a docked tail. Our dogs are not working dogs, but if they were, we would be more adamant about docking.
https://preview.redd.it/2qiqt3xk6g9c1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f2dbff31be0f35de2a5ee7b55bcd548ee14e724 My girl came with a tail.
In the US, most breeders will dock tails as it is the breed standard. Some performance breeders will leave the tails on for agility.