The Corgi looks cute and gluttonous, but it is Queen Elizabeth II's favorite dog breed. There are also many owners in Taiwan who like to raise Corgis with short limbs, funny expressions and short tails. (not to mention Talk about the cutest corgi butt...)
In fact, no dog breed has a short tail. All dogs have their tails docked or even clipped due to certain factors after birth.
The reasons why Corgi tails need to be clipped are divided into two main points: work and health. One is that they are one of the shepherd dogs, and their long tails are clipped for work and convenience.
The second is to reduce the dirt caused by the long tail. But now that they are pet dogs (Corgis are also very expensive in pet stores), do they still need to have their long tails cut off because of these factors?
Reasons for cutting off Corgi's tail
1. Corgi's tail reveals emotions
Because the original function of the Corgi is to chase cattle and sheep, but when it is scared, it will tuck its long tail, revealing its timid attitude towards the current situation, which will make the sheep herding work half the result and make it difficult to manage the grazing group.
Therefore, the long tail is cut off so that Corgi can do his job well without showing emotions.
2. Prevent Corgi's tail from being stepped on
As mentioned above, Corgi will need to shuttle between the cattle and sheep because he needs to drive the cattle and sheep away from grazing and urge them to return to the fence.
A tail that is too long may accidentally get stepped on and get injured during herding. In order to avoid this situation, the Corgi's tail should be cut off first to reduce the chance of injury.
Editor's note: A dog with enough personality can herd, otherwise it will not be able to be the boss of the herd!
3. Reduce bacterial infection in Corgi's tail
Because Corgis have short legs, but their tails are so long that they drag the floor, they can easily become contaminated and breed bacteria. Moreover, when excreting, it is also easy for excrement to be stained on their tails.
If not treated immediately, infection problems may occur. For the sake of health and convenient cleaning, people used to choose to cut off their long tails.
4. Reduce the risk of spinal injuries in Corgis
Corgis have long bodies, short limbs, and tend to gain weight due to their gluttony, so they often suffer from herniated discs.
There is a saying that the corgi's long tail is very heavy, which will cause excessive pressure on the spine when running, making it more likely to cause spinal compression, bone spurs and hip joint problems. Therefore, the tail of the Corgi is cut off when it is a puppy, in order to make the Corgi grow healthier.
Editor's note: Want to raise a Corgi? Then you must know how to protect the Corgi's most fragile joints.
The above four points are the reasons for cutting off the corgi's tail, but is the tail completely unnecessary? What will be the impact of not having a tail? Provide the following situation analysis.
Effects of tail docking on Corgi dogs
1. There is no way to drive away mosquitoes
There are many mosquitoes that like to circle around small animals, and their tails have a great repelling effect. However, Corgi cannot repel mosquitoes with only a short tail, and can only be bitten silently without being able to react.
2. Difficulty maintaining balance when running or swimming
Although Corgis have short legs, they are still able to run at a certain speed as shepherd dogs. When they need to run around curves, they are prone to falling and wrestling because they do not have a tail for balance.
This is not because they are stupid, but because their long tail that maintains a sense of balance has been cut off, and the same is true when swimming.
In addition, some scholars pointed out that the lack of a tail in Corgi puts extra pressure on the leg joints, which will have adverse effects on health in the long run.
3. Difficult to spread odor
Because dogs are born with short-sightedness, they rely on their sense of smell and hearing to sense the surrounding environment. The smell when they are in heat needs to be spread by fanning their tails to attract the opposite sex and reproduce the next generation.
On the contrary, pheromones in estrus can make the same sex hostile. They can use their tails to cover the smell emitted by the anus and stay away from danger.
4. Causes pain and is susceptible to infection
Generally speaking, the corgi tail docking method is to use rubber bands or other binding methods to stop the blood circulation of the tail within 3-5 days after the corgi puppy is born. After the tail becomes necrotic, it will fall off naturally or artificially twist it off.
It has long been said that this method is more painless and does not harm Corgi puppies because their nerves are underdeveloped.
However, WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) stated that the puppies' nerves have been fully developed, and the tail docking process is a chronic torture for them, but they just cannot express the pain!
In addition, if the tail section is not properly treated, it can easily lead to infection and systemic problems!
Taiwan's Animal Welfare Law clearly stipulates that "except for sterilization, no unnecessary or non-medical surgeries shall be performed on pets." Violators may be fined not less than NT$ 15,000 but not more than NT$ 75,000. Fine. In addition, there are also many countries that ban tail docking, such as Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Spain, etc., which have all regulated tail docking.
At present, more and more owners in Taiwan do not dock their Corgis' tails, but let their tails grow naturally. With careful care, there will be no problems with dirt and infection! However, this also allows the Corgi's cute peach butt to maintain its natural and healthy appearance, and grow up with him like a hidden treasure.
Editor's note: Besides the cute Corgi butt, did you know that there is a mysterious and cute legend about the saddle-shaped coat of Corgi? It's related to elves.
After reading the Corgi articles we compiled, do you know more about Corgi babies?
If you want to raise a breed dog, you can actually adopt one! There are many platforms where you can find dog adoption information.
