Do Tails Serve a Purpose in Herding Breeds?

Question

I just saw a picture of an adorable Australian Shepard with a docked tail. I believe that this breed of dog is bred for herding.

I have a Rough Collie and could not imagine her with a docked tail, nor could I imagine a Border Collie or a Bearded Collie dog with a docked tail.

My question is this...

Don't the herding breeds need their tails for some aspect of herding?

Answer 1

Aussie's have a natually docked tail... some are born with tails but not all

Tails aren't needed for anything other than wagging!

The dog heards w/ or w/o a tail.

Answer 2

Some dogs don't have tails, or at least not long ones.

The tail would probably help for balance and stuff, but then tails are also prone to injury, so it might be easier for the dog to not have a tail.

Some working dogs have their tails docked. I don't know about herding dogs, but I think some livestock guardian dogs get theirs docked to keep predators from biting them (same reason that they have clipped ears, I think), and some hunting dogs get their tails docked to prevent injuries that can lead to infections and stuff.

This isn't completely relevant, but I read somewhere that Old English Sheepdogs traditionally had their tails docked so their owners wouldn't have to pay taxes on them, because that proved that they were working dogs.

Answer 3

Nope. Tail or no tail a herding dog needs the drive to do the job, the intelligence to follow the commands given and the knack for knowing the sheep/cattle/pigs better than they know themselves.

Answer 4

Luckily tail docking for cosmetic purposes has been banned in the UK.

A tail serves a purpose otherwise the dog would be born without. It is used for balance, showing happiness, fear and many other emotions.

Tail docking is evil.

Answer 5

Tails are helpful in the agility of any animal who has them (not just dogs).  They help with balance, among other things.

However, not all dogs who do not have tails actually had them removed - some are just naturally tail-less.

They are still perfectly capable of working without them.