Why do Australian shepherds have no tails?

If you have an Australian Shepherd dog, you already know that nothing is cuter than an Aussie's attempt at a bobbed tail wag. The term "attempted" is a crucial part of the previous phrase since it tells you everything you need to know regarding the well-known Aussie wag. Most Aussie dogs' tail wags are more akin to a full-fledged booty shake, in which they vigorously shake their whole hindquarters. This is only one of many fascinating facts concerning Australian Shepherd dogs, although it does raise the question of where the tail is.

The Australian Shepherd belongs to the breeds of dogs that have a tailless look. While other dogs, like French Bulldogs and Boxers, are also known for being tailless, the back end of the Australian Shepherd dog has become legendary in the canine community. The breed's tailless look makes them appear to be sweet little bears, yet they put on quite a show when upset. Everything you've ever wanted to know about the bobbed tail of this distinctive breed may be found right here.

The Bobbed Tail in its Natural State

Only a few breeds have naturally bobbed tails, and Australian Shepherd dogs are one of them. While some of the Australian Shepherd dogs are born without a tail, one out of every five Australian Shepherd dogs is born without one. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a naturally bobbed tail and one that has been made via tail docking but keep reading to learn more about the differences.

What causes a bobbed tail in nature?

The naturally bobbed tail is typically a recessive trait in the Australian Shepherd dog breed's genetic makeup. A genetic abnormality causes the tail to naturally shrink, resulting in a tail that is just either one or two vertebrae long.

The T gene mutation, often known as the C189G gene, is the genetic mutation responsible for the bobbed tail seen in Australian Shepherd dogs. This genetic trait is present in every Australian Shepherd puppy, and those born with a bobbed tail possess a replica of the gene. While not all Australian puppy has C189G gene mutation, each Aussie can pass on recessive gene to its offspring.

There are three alternatives for whether or not a bobbed tail is going to occur spontaneously when a new puppy's genetic code is produced. The following are some options:

1. A puppy with 2 copies of the regular tail gene is going to have a normal tail genetically.

2. One version of the regular gene and one version of the C189G gene generate a bobbed tail.

3. A puppy with two copies of the C189G gene is more likely to die in the pregnancy than one without.

Although only three genetic variations exist for an Australian Shepherd puppy's tail development, it's worth remembering that only 20% of Aussies have a naturally produced bobbed tail. In the same way, only about one out of every 5 Australian Shepherd puppies is born with a merle coat. The merle coat is a recessive gene that is similar to the merle coat, but merle gene mutation doesn’t have the same bad implications as the merle coat mutation.

What are the other types of Australian tails?

Australian Shepherd dogs having "normal" tails frequently have their tails docked. We'll talk about tail docking later, but for now, it's important to know that an Australian Shepherd puppy's normal tail is anything but normal. The tail of an Australian Shepherd dog that has been allowed to develop past birth is commonly twisted and weak.

The tail of an Australian Shepherd dog can be a variety of shapes and sizes, curled or straight, but if allowed to grow to full length, each Aussie puppy tail is completely covered in the same thick, matted fur as the rest of the dog.