QUEENSLAND HEELERS

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I have had Queensland Heelers for 10 years. I was wondering if those of you who have them or like them prefer the tail docked. It's not a matter of function in most cases, just preference. The tail can be helpful, working as a rudder when the dog has to turn quickly. I find I dread the docking process more and more with each litter. I put a band on them and then cut the tail off the next day. (No bleeding like that.) I appreciate your input on the TAIL/NO TAIL preference. Please state why you prefer it one way or the other. Thanks, Nancy in CA

-- Nancy in CA. (sonflower35@icqmail.com), November 27, 2000

Answers

I beleive it is know frowned apon to dock there tails .If I am correct it is not accepted in the AKC show ring .I would not do it .I am in N.Y State and have been looking for a pup .Do you know of any breeders this way or do you have any upcoming litters?

-- Patty (fodfarms@slic.com), November 27, 2000.

My thought is if it comes with a tail, leave the tail.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 27, 2000.

The Queensland Heeler is now known as the Australian Cattle Dog and is shown natural, no bobbed tail. Same great dog, just more of him to admire.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), November 27, 2000.

I would tend to agree that if it comes with a tail, leave the tail. Some of the collie breeds, or dogs that originated from them, will occasionally have puppies with natural bob-tails, which may be one reason why breeders started bobbing the tails on the pups that had them, to make the litters look uniform. Or possibly a naturally bob- tailed dog was very good and to capitalize on it's reputation, others started bobbing the tails of their pups. I don't know!! But I do know that if you're trying to stuff three adults and two dogs into the front of a pickup truck, it helps if at least one of the dogs is bob-tailed -- you put that one closest to the door, so you can shut the door without having to worry about shutting a tail in it!!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), November 27, 2000.

I would leave the tail too, for wagging. I am glad Border Collies don't need anything like this done. Interesting, I saw an add this week for Border pups, and it said tails bobbed. When I had Golden Retrievers, I had to have the vet do the dew claws, and it is harder on us than it is on them. Sometimes you feel like a tail, sometimes you don't! he he

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), November 28, 2000.


My border collie knows the command "watch your tail" and immediately tucks it close before the door slams, and in the house when he is about to clear the coffee table.

You can read a lot from a dog by the way he holds his tail. Why would you want to cut it off?

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), November 28, 2000.


None of this may be right but I was always told in the "olded"days over in England you were taxed on stock that had tails and that started the cropping of sheep and dog tails. Like I said this maybe all wrong or maybe right!

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), November 28, 2000.

Thanks for all your input. I'm glad that you all seem to be thinking along the same lines as I am. I hope the people in my area have the same view. I'll find out with the next litter, when I leave the tails on! They are a really great breed of dog and it shouldn't matter if they have a tail or not. But, we all know how some people can be! God bless! Nancy

-- Nancy in CA (sonflower35@icqmail.com), November 30, 2000.

When people come to pick up their pup I tell them I have allready taught them a trick. I pick up their pup, hold it close, and whisper in it's ear, "Wag your Tail". Well of course the little tail starts a waggin'! Every time I sit in there and hold the pups I make sure their tail is free, not held down by the crook of my elbow. I DO teach them to wag it, and I will hold them till they do! They start waggin' at 4 weeks. I teach them to be totally comfortable in my arms, and happy. I love my puppies, and I go thru withdrawels when they are gone. Let us know when you have some and if they are waggin'!

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), December 01, 2000.

Yes, if it has a tail at birth, let it keep it. And it's ears too!

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 01, 2000.


I've never had a Queensland Heeler, but like their tails intact.

However, I have a questions about the breed and want to know if they are good at also herding goats. Do they nip alot? Do they have to be formally trained? Do they have to be separated from the livestock when they don't need herding (so as not to drive them crazy)? Thanks.

-- Marsha W. (CaprisMaa@aol.com), December 02, 2000.


Queensland Heelers are beautiful dogs, with or without their tails. My neighbor has a QH and her tail is docked. I think it is really cute when they wag their tails, or what's left of them. I also agree that they should keep their tails unless something is seriously wrong with it.

-- Lindsay (donut8@chickmail.com), April 17, 2001.

akc states that the have to have tails .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), April 17, 2001.

Of course leave the tails on! And what is this I read about 'stuffing them into the cab of the pick-up'? They are from Australia and nothing is more quintessentially Australian than a Holden ute with a couple of QBHs on the back!

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), April 17, 2001.

i've had conrad,my red heeler, for 8 years and i hope for atleast that many more wonderful years. i understand the longest living dog was a heeler - 25 years. conrad does have his tail and uses it just like a rudder when making a quick turn or stopping. in addition i think that the feedback you can get by the action of the tail is a super communication device. all in all i think the tail should stay on - why hurt them as a pup,even for just a short time. by the way i think the process of docking started due to their tails getting broken by cattle in the corral.

-- dave bass (coachdbass@aol.com), July 09, 2001.


I have Australian shepherds and I dock their tails. I sell them for working dogs and most buyers want them docked. These dogs stay with their cows or goats and only come in to eat. (I had one that use to take her lunch with her..........a cat food self feeder with the handle, she'd carry that off after she ate her food)

Long tails get covered with manure and mud and are a nightmare to clean, so I dock.

-- Peg (Ashlinep@localnet.com), July 10, 2001.


I like them with there tails. I have a question of my own. My stepfathers queensland died not very long ago. I would like to get him another one. If anyone knows of a breeder in Missouri I would love to hear from you.

-- Jamee Henson (jameesue21@yahoo.com), August 11, 2001.

I have 3 ACD. All 3 have docked tails, They all have ability to swing away quick from our horses kicks, they came that way , I have no preference, so I'd have to say if it is a PAINFUL process for the pups LEAVE em' on! Alie,Upstate NY

-- Len Barr (lbarr@stny.rr.com), September 19, 2001.

I have never had a Queensland, but have been considering one for some time. I have had friends with them, some with tails docked, others without. However, I believe in leaving my pets natural. I've got two indoor cats with their claws intact, and an American Pit Bull Terrier with her original ears and full tail and dew claws.

Concerning tails, I think the most valid reasons for docking come from the working side, where the tail could become snagged or even broken with a bad turn of luck--although, you would think a dog would be aware of its tail, since its *attached*, after all. For a companion dog, the tail is definitely an aid to communication, and in my opinion that's far more valuable than the 'look' of the dog. (The only downside might be the occasional 'whipping' I might take from a happy pup's tail!)

FYI: I've no knowledge of the history of tail-docking, but with cases regarding guard or fighting dogs, such as a Doberman, or a Pit Bull, I've read that docking the ears was done to falsify an alert or dominance posture. (And, specifically concerning a fighting dog, full ears and tail would become targets in the pit.)

PLEASE NOTE, I DO NOT CONDONE DOG-FIGHTING, AND ONLY MENTION IT HERE FOR THE SAKE OF PASSING KNOWLEDGE. If you wish to gain some enlightenment on the subject, please go to http://www.nyx.net/~mbur/apbtfaqmisc.html#rules

-- Allen Heaton (heater451@hotmail.com), September 28, 2001.


We have had Queensland Heelers my whole life and we have always cut their tails. Years ago it was said that we did this because they are working dogs and a tail would only get in the way, or stepped on, etc. But as I get older and I see my dogs work I dont see how their tail could get in the way, but we continue to cut their tails. We do it for more of a preference, in my opinion they look better with out a tail. But not every one sees it this way. Even though a Queensland Heeler is pretty much a Australian Cattle dog(which has a tail) I belive that with a cut tail it sets the dog apart from them and makes it its own breed, that hopefully will one day be reconized, because they are extreamely beautiful and intelligent dogs.

-- Ashley (smashbash84@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

Australian cattle dogs and Queensland heelers are the SAME dog .Just because you cut a tail off you do not change the breed.If these are AKC registered stock look at the papers only 1 formal name Australian Cattle dog .And they are not aloud to be shown without a tail.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

Ashley, Patty is right Blue Heelers (blue roan), Red Heelers (red roan), Queensland heelers (mostly white or solid color) are all ACD's you can have all the different colors from the same mom and dad in the same litter, neither tail docking or body color change the breed. Both of mine have the tails cut, but I prefer to leave the tails on, the breeder did these before we bought them.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), February 12, 2002.

By the way I love my little red monster to death ! And she has a tail and it hasn't hurt her in working one bit.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), February 12, 2002.

I don't mean to be rude...but to dock a heelers tail is like cutting the tail fin off a fish!!! They use it in herding cattle to keep their balance. God gave them a tail for a reason!!! I had a queensland heeler for twenty years and can testify to them being great dogs. Very smart and will adapt to just about anything. Mine was almost human. She knew what EVERYTHING I said meant and had no training. Please don't ruin your dogs.. leave the tails on!

-- Jackie Powell (jh20dog@hotmail.com), February 18, 2002.

Just for the info, I am convinced that the dogs have phantom pains, just like people do. I treat mine with accu-pressure massage, along the stump and back bone. There are times when they turn to snap if the tail area is touched, but much less than before I started treating it. I have observed that many tail docked animals have a "tail tucked" body posture, and will at times have some soreness in the lower back area also.

-- Thumper/inOKC (slrldr@yahoo.com), February 18, 2002.

I am aware that they are the same breed and this argument will continue untill the end of time. But my point is that just like the Welsh Corgi's one has a tail, one doesnt.....the difference?? I have a friend who have raised both types of corgi's(Tail and no tail) and the difference that she can tell me is between the two is one, coat pattern and two, one has a docked tail. Then I was at a dog show last month and a woman walked passed me with a "Austrailan Cattle Dog" and with out thinking I complemented her on her lovly"Queensland Heeler" And so rudely was I corrected that it was not a Queensland Heeler rather than a A.C.D. So this only food for thought. Many people do not see a A.C.D's as Queensland Heelers. A.K.C does not reconize Heelers as a breed, But there is one registry that does. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder, my dogs do not have tails, and we like them that way. Like i said before it is a preference not a guideline. I am not saying I am right on this subject, but iam not saying im compleatly wrong either. Everyone has thier own oppinon this is only mine.

-- Ashley (tippinbarrels42@yahoo.com), February 23, 2002.

I have had queensland heelers for the past 10yrs and have admired their agility long before I ever owned one. I agree with the previous persons theory that it is a matter of preference. Not all of us who appreciate and love dogs think that the AKC is the absolute authority on how our pets should look and conform. I love my Queensland and she is a country dog totally unafilliated or could care less about any dog organization. She is happy (tail docked) with land to run on and animals to play with. Here is a funny thought: Their are many attributes to people that are people initiated and not natural but we find them helpful or even simply preferential. Ill advocate for leaving tails when we stop circumsizing baby boys! I wrote this not in an advesarial spirit but rather to offer another perspective.

Thanks EC

-- Edward Casillas (ecasillas@softcom.net), April 01, 2002.


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