Page 108 - Aussie Magazine - 2023 Issue 2

History

When gaiting the tail should also be level with or lower than the
topline. Elisabeth Eknes Photography

As tails have appeared on the breed, it is apparent
that many Australian Shepherds have a bushy tail.
This is a specific style of tail. It is not clear if the
end of the tail ends in a slight upward curl as some
breeders report other options such as a straight end
to the tail. In a breed not designed to have a tail, I am
not sure this depth of tail description is important. A tail carried in this manner indicates a very high tail set on a flat
croup. Photo Marco Rosetti
Tail Carriage

For tailed breeds, it is noted that the tails can be With the breed standards calling for a moderately
very expressive during times of excitement and sloping croup, that we assume follows a pelvic
even carried up and over the back. If we look at the angle that mirrors the front angulation, we have
original function of the breed as a working stock preserved a movement style that supports stamina
dog, a massively expressive tail being wafted up and agility; to support the breed original form and
and over the back would be considered a hindrance function. Tail set and carriage should matter to all
to working style with the potential of upsetting and breeders as it is an excellent landmark to determine
unsettling the stock itself. It would be logical to rear angulation and structure. No matter what the
fault this type of tail when working. For this reason, length of the tail, a dog lacking the correct tail set
other tailed breeds note that the tail carriage should and carriage is wasting energy with inefficient
only be judged when the dog is moving. movement. This is in direct conflict with the breed
standards.

It is important to reiterate that tail carriage during
work and in movement are key. When excited, in
play, stimulation, and fear will cause a dog to carry
his tail in a variety of manners, including curled
up and over the back or straight up in the air. It is
important to not confuse this tail expression as the
dog’s true tail set and carriage.

I appreciate and wish to thank the illustration and
photographic contributions that were provided
A tail carried upright when moving is likely an indicator of a high for this article. It is important to note that the
tail set on an incorrect croup angle Elisabeth Eknes Photography
photographs represent one shot at one moment

108 | A Worldwide Magazine for the Aussie • Issue 2/2023