Last Updated on September 1, 2021 by
We all know dogs have floppy ears and beautiful tails that they love to wag; did you know some dogs have naturally short tails?
Some breeds are born with a short tail or without a tail totally.
Traditionally, tail docking was done to prevent the dogs from getting injured when working. Most breeds like Boxers, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers were not born with naturally short tails, but their tails are docked shortly after birth.
This procedure is legal in the United States but still banned in many countries and is highly controversial. However, gene mutation in some of the dogs continues to give results of bobtailed dogs.
Many people think the short-tailed dogs look weird, but others love them. If you like the stubby tail, there are many naturally born dogs with short tails. Dogs born without tails or with small ones fall under the category of bobtailed dogs.
Table of Contents
Here are some of the top dogs with naturally short tails!
The Rottweilers
Yes, naturally bobtail Rotties do exist!
Though they are very rare, they did not have to go through the gene mutation. The ancestors of Rotties had long tails yet the puppies developed NBT at birth.
The cause of this is likely to be a spontaneous developmental abnormality or sporadic mutation. These causes suggest that they are not hereditary but congenital.
Today, most breeders prefer to breed for the gene that causes NBT in Rottweilers, therefore, resulting in naturally short-tailed Rottweilers.
The French Bulldog
The French Bulldog has a short and stumpy tail covering its anus. French Bulldogs were originally used for selective breeding that bore the result of short and cute tail dogs.
When thinking about dogs with short tails, the French Bulldog is usually the first breed to come to mind.
Australian Shepherds
The Australian Shepherds have no long wagging tails but short ones. These athletic dogs have a strong work drive and cannot tolerate indoors only.
They love the outdoors, and if you are getting these dogs to ensure you don’t have a sedentary lifestyle, they will drive you up the wall.
This is one of the choicest top dogs for people who love the outdoors and hiking.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Known as the state dog of Louisiana, the Catahoula Leopard Dog is a gorgeous breed resulting from mixing numerous breeds.
It is popular for its patterned coat and striking eyes. This breed is born with a beautiful and natural bobtail. This breed is energetic, hardworking, and dependable.
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
This dog breed signifies exactly what its name implies. This breed is a close relative of the Australian Cattle Dog, but with natural stumpy tails.
Just like the Australian Cattle Dog, this breed has a little bit of dingo blood in them. This breed has tough dogs with lots of energy and love taking the trails with a man beside them.
Bourbonnais Pointer
The Bourbonnais comes from France and is known by the French hunters as the tailless breed, with pretty fawn and liver ticking. Their tails naturally come in both long and short versions and have the tailless as a common one.
These dogs are great companions both at home or in the field, with a serious but affectionate demeanor.
Brittany Spaniels
This breed has long tails, short tails, and even tailless varieties. Among all these, the natural bobtail is the most common.
These dogs are smaller than setters but are quite leggier. They have gorgeous fur and a boldly patterned coat.
These dogs are fun-loving and make great companions for an upbeat, outdoor family life that most dog lovers adore.
Croatian Sheepdog
The Croatian Sheepdog is popularly known as the humble shepherd. It is a loyal dog, hardworking, and loves the outdoors.
They are sometimes born with no tail at all or with natural bobtails. These are medium-sized dogs with black wavy fur and fox-like face.
These puppies have a high level of intelligence, agility, and trustworthiness that is a noticeable character of the working sheepdog.
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Polish Lowland is a lively herding dog known for its shaggy coat and scruffy look. They often have a fringe flopped over their eyes that makes them look so cute.
Their tails are naturally bobbed, which complements their good looks because they are shorter than usual.
They are super fun to hang around with and are best for active families, as they love to run and walk around.
Schipperke
This breed is a little ball of energy!
These pint-sized puppies have natural bobtails and sometimes longer tails that are curved up.
These dogs are commonly referred to as the Tasmanian Black Devil. They are always running, which is unlike other breeds. Their never-ending need to run is noticeable and fun to join in.
Schipperke does not ever give you a dull moment. They are always up and about and ready to play or run at any time.
Miniature Schnauzer
This breed naturally has a long tail that needed docking. But after docking became illegal in Germany, where this breed hails from, they opted to do the natural mutation of genes, which resulted in a bobtail Miniature Schnauzer.
This breed has lots of fur that almost covers its eyes. It’s fun to hang around and play with and enjoys good cuddles.
English Bulldog
The English bulldog is one of the few dogs born with a short tail naturally. Their bobtail is either straight or curved.
Other dogs in this breed are born with long tails, but they are scarce. Most breeders favor the straight tale that they screwed, making them more popular. But the screwed ones remain rare and unique.
Brazilian Terrier
The Brazilian Terrier started with a long tail that gradually grew short with time. Today, this breed is recognized as a bobtail breed due to its short tail.
This breed comes from Brazil, but his ancestors are not known. It could be Jack Russel and Fox Terrier roots, as some people speculate.
Braque Du Bourbonnais
This is a French dog, originally called the Short-tail pointer. Breeders believe that his bobtail comes from the same T-gene mutation that affected the British Spaniel.
This dog is bred more in America these days than in France, its origin. These dogs are brilliant and very active. They have calm and affectionate cuddles that make them easy to love.
Their bodies are covered by unique spots and could be confused with a Dalmatian if they had more spots and a longer tail.
Conclusion
Looking at all the above dog breeds with short tails, one thing stands out – they love playing outdoors. We will find that out another day! After all, maybe the docking in the traditional days had something to do with bobtailed dogs becoming more active than long-tailed ones.
Read more about: Dogs Similar To Rottweilers: A Definitive List