Do Australian Shepherds Have Tails When They’re Born?

Dogs are often thought of as the most loyal pets to have. In the United States, almost half of all households have a dog. Many homes many having more than one. In the dog family, there are plenty of different breeds to choose from. One of the most common breeds is an Australian shepherd. The name is very misleading, as these dogs actually first came from California – not the country of Australia. One of the most common characteristics that this breed typically doesn’t have a tail. If they do have a tail, it tends to be a bobbed tail. This has begged the question of if these dogs are born with tails or if they naturally don’t have them.

Are Australian Shepherds Born With Tails?

Even though there seems to be a trend of Australian shepherds not having tails, they’re still born with them. Only about 20% are born with a bobbed tail, leaving the other 80% born with typical long tails. The problem is that most of these tails don’t last, as they are docked at birth. Docking tails is when you cut the blood supply off to the tail to make it fall off.

The other way you can dock a tail is by removing it via surgery. Back in the day, this would be done to help dogs avoid rabies, grow stronger, and prevent injuries. The reasoning behind it today is to prevent injuries and provide visual appeal, amongst other reasons.

Is Doing This To Australian Shepherds Painful?

As you might expect, docking a dogs tail is one of the most painful things it will ever go through. While there’s no exact way to figure how painful it is, dogs reactions to the process tell us all we need to know. The wincing and moaning during the process, especially when you cut the blood supply, is quite loud.

One of the worst after-effects of this is how the dogs will think about pain in the future. This is maybe the first time in its life it will feel pain, so there will always be trauma associated whenever something painful happens. Even worse, there’s no therapy or anything dogs can really do to help get rid of this trauma. With all of the questions surrounding the morality behind this process, is it even legal to dock dogs?

Docking Australian Shepherds Can’t Be Legal… Right?

Even with all we know about the negative things associated with docking dogs, it’s still legal in the United States. However, many European countries have made both docking and cropping illegal. This is when you alter the dogs ears. The countries who have made this act illegal have done so because it’s considered unnecessary mutilation that causes nonessential pain. Even though the United States as a whole hasn’t made it a federal crime, there are some states that have considered passing laws against it.

Is There An Age Limit to Docking Australian Shepherds?

Thankfully, there are some restrictions to docking dogs. The dog cannot be older than five days old. If they are, then there must be official paperwork done proving the reasoning behind it is for work purposes. Dogs that are in the military or police force are required to do it for their own safety and protection. You can also do it if there’s a pest or rabies issue with your dog. Other than that, the dog must be a newborn. The dog must also have this done by a certified vet. This is completely illegal to be done at home.

How Long Do Australian Shepherds Live After Docking?

Even after such a traumatizing experience, Australian shepherds live very long and healthy lives. The average lifespan is between 11-13 years. They still have such upbeat and happy smiles every day of their lives.

Dogs are some of the best animals for us to have around. They’re always affectionate and playful for the most part. They’re so naturally satisfied with their existence, even if they don’t get everything they want. More often than not, they don’t let anything get them down. Unfortunately, Australian shepherds that are born with tails usually don’t get to keep them. 20% are born with a bobbed tail already, but 80% are forced to feel the pain.

It’s sad that these animals don’t get a say in how they look or the pain they have to endure. Regardless, Australian shepherds are some of the most amazing dogs in the entire world. It’s no wonder their popularity is skyrocketing, with their beautiful fur and incredibly fun personalities.