Why do they cut the tails on Jack Russel Terriers?

Question

Why do they cut the tails on Jack Russel Terriers?

Answer 1

Because tail injuries can be extremely painful, and they want to minimize the chance of it getting stuck between things.  The only reason they leave any of it at all, is so you have a 'handle' to pull them out of a hole with - they chase rodents and get stuck in holes sometimes.

Answer 2

well 1 have u ever met a jack?  they are crazy hyper lil dogs!!!  lol

they dock their tails partially due to that now a days but they also do it for hunting.  but with them being psycho hyper they can easily smack their tail into something and break it.  originally bred to bolt fox from their dens during hunts, they are used on numerous ground-dwelling quarry such as groundhog, badger, and red and grey fox.

with what rosalie said about leaving a little bit of a tail for them to pull them out of holes is not true.  they have to leave a tail.  if they dont it can cause spinal trauma and lack of sphincter control, which means that they wouldnt be able to hold their bowels.  so what she said is not entirely true.

Answer 3

It has to do with hunting, what they were bred to do.

Since they hunt underground, their tails are docked at a very young age. If the tail is left at natural length, the tail could get hung underground, or be injured, broken.. etc. The same thing could happen if the tail was docked, but still left too long.

Many terrier handlers use their dogs tails as handles to pull them out of a hole. If the tail was docked too short, then it won't be easy to grab on to. This can also be dangerous, considering there may be an urgent need to pull the dog out in a hurry. Like if there was a skunk in there. The skunk could suffocate your dog by spraying it in the face. You want to pull the dog out to prevent that. If its already happened, you need to get the dog into fresh air as quickly as you can. A lot of people will clean the dog's noses of any skunk fume liquid that could be in there.

I hope that helps. I've been showing, working, and studying Jack Russell Terriers. I learned from a lot of great breeders. We also breed Jrts, since we raise litters, we've docked tails and removed dewclaws before. So we have the experience.

Have a nice day!

Answer 4

The tails are cut to the length of a "hand hold" to 1. keep the tail from being injured when backing out of a hole, and 2.  leave enough length to allow a good grip to pull the dog out of the hole in the event that they were to get stuck in the hole. Nothing whatsoever to do with injury from wagging!!!

Add: yes, angelicfury, Rosalie is right.