Why Do Australian Shepherds Have No Tail

Why Do Australian Shepherds Have No Tail. There are many reasons for the docking of the Australian shepherd tail. Another big reason why breeders dont specifically breed bobtailed Aussies is because of the potential negative effects on the gene pool.

Why some Aussie shorthaired shepherds have naturally bobbed tails Its interesting to know that one in five Aussies has a natural bobtail and that means that the puppy was born without a tail. Australian Shepherds born with tails were traditionally docked like many other herding breeds because they naturally carry their tails. Breeding bobtail Australian Shepherds can result in serious health defects such as spina bifida or other lower spinal cord defects.

They often have no tail When you are a hard working dog long ears and tails can get in the way.

This genetic mutation curbs the tail naturally creating a shortened tail that is only about one or two vertebrae in length. Some Aussies are simply born without tails. Most Australian Shepherds dont have tails because they are docked as puppies but not all of them. In Australian Shepherds thats a docked tail.