The stern or tail is not inconsequential. If that were the case, Mother Nature certainly made an engineering error in nearly every warm-blooded mammal and in most of her cold-blooded, footed creatures. From the lowest lizard to the otters, nearly all have tails.

It is human nature to meddle or interfere with the natural order illustrated by the number of various dog breeds. Today’s AKC recognized breeds have approximately 47 tail types which is predictable because humans have a habit of making things complicated. The ultimate irony though is that our forebears already modified Mother Nature’s work and put pen to paper to dictate the breeds’ ideal physical traits and characteristics, yet we frequently see today’s fanciers ignoring these demands. In many cases, today’s breeders are changing the rules again with a casual disregard for the tail, as if the stern had no purpose. If that were the case, then why did nature initially design it?

In nature, the stern serves a myriad of purposes and our dogs are not exempted. Tails communicate, provide equilibrium and stability, and even serve as tools. For example, suitable for their place of origin, a number of our Northern Spitz breeds use the tail to protect and warm their face when curled in a ball. The tail on whippets or greyhounds is used as a counter balance at high speeds in tight turns, as both breeds natural quarry was hare which does not flee in straight lines. Further, the stern is highly valued in our scenthounds for locating in the brush but also communicates or is a beacon to the Master of Hounds. Apart from the designated versatile hunters, gun dogs’ tails such as the retriever class, is not docked and is often used as a rudder in rough waters. Breeds vital to fishermen, such as the Flat-Coated Retriever or Chesapeake Bay Retriever, have tails that are important appendages. The Chesapeake tail has a necessary, strong insertion or set-on. It should be fairly heavy at this base as he worked in icy, rough ocean waters launching himself off boats, which requires a strong, powerful stern. A dog without such or even docked may not fare well. Hence, one of the reasons why it is unacceptable for a Chesapeake to have a curled tail. Contemplate the Newfoundland’s function as a utilitarian dog, but excels in water and must have a broad and strong tail insertion with no kinks in the vertebrae.  

Moving beyond tail function is the form of tails, that which is frequently modified or overlooked by neophytes and breeders. The tail is the final portion of the spine and is composed of coccygeal vertebrae, in which the tail root attaches to the sacral region of the croup. This set-on varies with breed blueprints. A dog whose tail is low-set is typical of a gently rounded croup such as the Bearded Collie. Conversely, an Australian Terrier’s tail is set on high and whose sacral vertebrae, or croup is seemingly a firm, level line from the withers to the set-on.

We see dogs who are supposed to have a low tail set, yet have an unattractive, gay tail. This is not an insignificant adaptation to a breed blueprint and the fault lies in the slope of the pelvic girdle. Imagine using a negative angle (an angle that goes clockwise) to measure the slope of the iliac wing and ischial tuberosity, which the amount of turn on the angle is too slight. It may measure a negative 15 degrees instead of a desired 30 degrees. As such the tail root is too high, inducing tail carriage above the horizontal line of the back and is not only unattractive but is an engineering defect. A common cause is a faulty, shorter pelvis, along with the flatter pelvic slope creating a ‘chopped off behind’ appearance. The latter being the ischial tuberosity and upper thigh muscles do not extend beyond the set-on of the tail, the dog lacks a ‘shelf.’ This all has consequences in gait and power.

I will continue the discussion and merits of the tail to the hindquarters in an upcoming segment. For now, hopefully, you understand and appreciate the tail’s importance as breeders should pay heed to this stern warning.

This article first appeared on the Canine Chronicle website. Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=36592