10/25/2026
This is so important to read!
We never know who truly will go work on a farm or ranch. It's also useful to dogs that hike, especially in rough back country to account for modern day homes too!
The graphic for Corgis was fantastic!
Let's do it, but make it Aussies! And NOT AI. ☺️
So, who's ready for fight club? Because nothing gets people in the breed more riled up than tails. 😂
AUSSIES ARE A DOCKED BREED.
The lack of a tail is considered an identifying breed trait.
"The natural bob tail/docked tail is an identifying breed characteristic and essential to preserving breed type." — Australian Shepherd Club of America
The breed standard calls for a docked or natural bobtail that does not exceed 4 inches in length.
But there's more to it than breed type. Historically, Aussies were docked for safety while working, too.
"But Megan, there are plenty of herding breeds with tails, and they're just fine! That argument doesn't work!"
Well, actually, it does. 😉 There's a variety of factors that go into whether a breed is docked, and three key considerations are original purpose, environment, and working style.
Let's break it down.
1. PURPOSE MATTERS.
Different breeds were developed to work different types of stock. While many herding breeds can successfully work a variety of livestock today, sheepdogs and cattle dogs weren't necessarily developed to do the same job in the same way.
A 2,000-pound cow can do considerably more damage to a dog than a 250-pound sheep. That's a significant difference when you're talking about the physical demands and risks of working livestock.
Australian Cattle Dogs, for example, have tails and were developed to work cattle. Kelpies also work in demanding conditions. Their physical characteristics, including coat and tail structure, differ from those of the Aussie.
The point isn't that one breed is better equipped than another. It's that different breeds were developed for different jobs, and those differences matter.
2. ENVIRONMENT MATTERS.
Border Collies were developed to work sheep in the British Isles, where the traditional landscape and vegetation differ from those encountered in the arid regions of the American West and Southwest where Aussies developed.
Those environments can be full of vegetative hitchhikers: burrs, thorny seed heads, sticks, and other debris that can become tangled in a dog's coat or embed themselves in its skin.
And a tail can be particularly vulnerable.
The feathering on a tail is often longer and fuller than the coat on the body, creating more opportunities for debris to collect. Unlike other areas, the tail has relatively little soft-tissue padding over much of its length, leaving it vulnerable to injury.
Now add movement to the equation. A tail sweeping through brush can collect debris, develop painful mats, or sustain injuries that interfere with a dog's ability to work comfortably.
A dog in pain cannot perform at its best. And when we're talking about working livestock, compromised performance can become a safety concern for the dog, the stock, and the handler.
Before someone jumps in with, "What about Kelpies and Australian Cattle Dogs?" consider that these breeds have their own physical adaptations, including coat characteristics that can help them manage challenging environments.
Different breeds, different adaptations, different histories.
3. WORKING STYLE MATTERS.
This is another important distinction.
Border Collies are traditionally known for their strong-eyed, crouched working style. Aussies are generally described as loose-eyed, upright-working dogs.
Their working styles influence how they move, position themselves, and interact with livestock.
A Border Collie working in a crouch often carries its tail relatively close to its body. An Aussie working upright may carry its tail out and away from its body, particularly when maneuvering at close range.
That difference in carriage and working style can affect a tail's exposure to potential injury around livestock.
Neither style is inherently better. They're simply different approaches to herding, developed through generations of selection for different working characteristics.
And when we look at the whole picture—purpose, environment, and working style—we can begin to understand why historical practices developed differently among breeds.
BUT WHAT ABOUT TODAY?
I know the argument: Most Aussies today are bred to be companions and will never work livestock.
And that's true for many of them!
But preservation breeding isn't simply about producing dogs for the lives they will live today. It's also about preserving the characteristics, history, and function that define a breed.
For preservation breeders, the question isn't just whether an individual dog will ever need to work cattle or sheep. It's whether we're committed to maintaining the breed as it was developed, including the traits that have historically been considered essential to breed type and function.
Docking isn't just about appearance. It's part of a much bigger conversation about breed history, working function, and preservation.
We can acknowledge that breed practices deserve thoughtful discussion while still recognizing the historical context behind them.
Because preserving a breed means understanding why it became what it is—not just what it looks like today.
Now, who's bringing the popcorn to fight club? 🍿😂
*Photos used from Google. If you know the original owners, please let me know so I can credit them!
