Tail Carriage

[leih merigian]

I've been watching Geyser's tail to develop a read on her state of mind. It seems that DSs carry their tails differently from GSDs (big surprise, I know).

So, what is the typical tail carriage for a DS? When she seems happy and active, her tail is way up and curved back over her back a bit at the top.

She also will carry it parallel to the ground, then curving up. This seems to me to be doing fine, but not as excited or happy or wound up.

When it's hanging below her back and on down, she's not very happy .

[Marjolein]

According to the official standard (uch..) it should not be curved, if the dog is relaxed it hangs straight down, active or happy it should be in a straight line with the back, a really happy dog/dominant dog will have it even higher, but never curved.

here's a drawing of a relaxed DS


here a bit more excited


and really happy

[leih merigian]

According to the official standard (uch..) it should not be curved, if the dog is relaxed it hangs straight down, active or happy it should be in a straight line with the back, a really happy dog/dominant dog will have it even higher, but never curved.

Thanks a lot! Great info and helpful pics.

Does it make any difference if the dog is a puppy?

[Marjolein]

According to the official standard (uch..) it should not be curved, if the dog is relaxed it hangs straight down, active or happy it should be in a straight line with the back, a really happy dog/dominant dog will have it even higher, but never curved.

Thanks a lot! Great info and helpful pics.

Does it make any difference if the dog is a puppy?

I don't know really, usually they look pretty much like they will do later, just smaller

[turnnburn52984]

My guys tail curves up and over when he's super excited/working in drive. Thats just him though.



I also think his tail is longer then the average DS- seems lighter on the hair load as well. It's almost 'thin' looking. Does not appear as FULL as Marjolein's dog.
I like the full look! This was also in his summer coat, very well (too well) groomed. (sigh, I furminatored him, got a little too much undercoat out. Oops. He's got more brindling now) - I don't know what he'll look like in a winter coat!

[KRoberts626]

Ziva when she's really excited carries her tail up and over her back. Especially if she's carrying something she's really really proud of LOL

[leih merigian]

Good to hear that other DS carry their tails curved over a bit when they're excited.

Geyser's tail seems very long to me, but I don't know what's typical for this breed, and of course, she doesn't have her adult coat yet. It's cute, just long and skinny.

@Kelly...I like the furminator, too, but man you sure do have to be careful with it<g>.

[turnnburn52984]

@Kelly...I like the furminator, too, but man you sure do have to be careful with it<g>.

Yeah- I used it, and left it out. Came back to a very happy dog, and a 6 yr old that was as pleased as punch with all the hair he got out. Yikes! I now keep them UP out of reach. Shame on me.

[icvanstra]

Cino is "up and curved" a lot..

[Marjolein]

the pics I posted are different dogs Just tried to find some clear examples.
Here we see curved tails too, but mainly we see tails like the ones I've shown. Also depends on which line they were bred from, and I do not think any of the here well known dogs have any siblings over in your country... The majority of DS in the US come from KNPV lines if I'm not mistaking, maybe they give different tails? That's what our KNPV bloodlines show a lot, although there's also the shorter tail version Ah well, as long as you like the dog

[KRoberts626]

Good to hear that other DS carry their tails curved over a bit when they're excited.

Geyser's tail seems very long to me, but I don't know what's typical for this breed, and of course, she doesn't have her adult coat yet. It's cute, just long and skinny.

@Kelly...I like the furminator, too, but man you sure do have to be careful with it<g>.

Leih,

She's also at that skinny, dorky stage LOL Ziva does too. Skinny, long legs and tail

[turnnburn52984]

the pics I posted are different dogs Just tried to find some clear examples.

Dropped an 'S', whoops!

I was watching Koenig closely yesterday, with the talk about tail carriage. His is nearly always curved.... even when he was drinking water. Interesting! Maybe he thinks he's a husky? lol.

[Marjolein]

the pics I posted are different dogs Just tried to find some clear examples.

Dropped an 'S', whoops!

ok, they're not my dogs either just some pics from the dutch forum

[leih merigian]

I was watching Koenig closely yesterday...

Isn't it interesting how you'll get something in your mind and really pay attention/focus on it? I keep forgetting to watch her tail closely when we're outside playing and tugging and etc., probably because I'm focused on other things (like making sure my presentation keeps my hands from getting clipped yet again ).

I"m glad to hear that the curved tail thing isn't unusual, tho. Had no idea, and from others' replies, sounds pretty typical, at least, in the USA.

[vneerland]

Mine all carry normal, but it is very much a personality thing. Tight: lower on the pecking order. Loose:somewhere in the middle, Up: beware. One bitch cannot seem to run without a straight up flag, but otherwise normal carriage. Others, not very different in personality,just carry like Marjolein's pics when no stimulance is happening, but it all changes when the excitement goes up. Bitework tails are of course great indicators of how they are feeling at that moment. I have a few that will easily curl their tails up, but it is directly related to what they are doing. Stanger on the premises, or working, that kind of thing. Carriage, I think, should be measured under almost neutral circumstances. Few dogs have their tails curled up in 'neutral' setting.

[icvanstra]

Watching Cino since I last posted. He is slightly curled when down and straight out. Curled even more when up.

[leih merigian]

Carriage, I think, should be measured under almost neutral circumstances. Few dogs have their tails curled up in 'neutral' setting.

Good point! I'll have to watch her closely when we're at home and she's just hanging in the kitchen with me, not doing anything on my cue...

[vneerland]

Most of mine have a handsome slight bend at the end. I guess I will need to dust off the camera and take pics.
Fun topic though. I have not done as much tail staring as today in my LIFE!

[turnnburn52984]

Koenig def. has a curl, even in a relaxed state. Its straight now, but he's dead-to-the-world asleep. (Not a common thing for him!) Its even more then a bend. I'm with you Judith, lots of obsessive tail staring going on! I think he's going to get self conscious about his butt.

[leih merigian]

I have not done as much tail staring as today in my LIFE!

SPeaking of tails...

Geyser is a little more interested in her's than I'd like, as I sure don't want to end up with any OCD behavior. It's nothing near a problem at this point, but she does sometimes want to chase it a bit, and grab and hold onto it. By "sometimes," I mean a couple of times a day.

I mostly either ignore, or redirect.

Is this the right approach for this issue? At this point, I'm just figuring it's another puppy thing, and in time, will just stop (So, Judith, INSIDE, I am not worried ...I've taken up that challenge!)