All About the Corgi Tail: Do all corgis have tails?

Do corgis have tails? This is a question that many people ask. The answer is yes, corgis do have tails. In fact, the corgi tail is one of the most fascinating and unique features of this breed of dog. Corgi tails are long and fluffy, and they wag energetically when the dogs are happy or excited.

In this blog post, we will discuss all about the Corgi tail – the natural way it appears, the differences between Pembroke and Cardigan corgi tails, and their tails’ characteristics. We will also explore the controversy around docking corgi tails. So read on to learn more about this interesting topic!

Do Corgis have tails?

The short answer to this question is yes, corgis do have tails. Corgi tails are long and fluffy, and they wag energetically when the dogs are happy or excited. In fact, the corgi tail is one of the most fascinating and unique features of this breed of dog.

Corgi tails come in two different varieties – the Pembroke Welsh corgi tail and the Cardigan Welsh corgi tail. The Pembroke Welsh corgi has a short, bobbed tail, while the Cardigan Welsh corgi has a long, full tail.

Corgi tails are very characteristic of the breed and are one of the things that make corgis so easily recognizable. Corgi tails have been described as looking like “a fox’s tail” or “a lion’s tail”. They are long, fluffy, and wag energetically when the dog is happy or excited.

The natural way that a corgi’s tail appears is determined by its genes. If a corgi’s parents both have long tails, the corgi will likely also have a long tail. If one of the parents has a short tail, the corgi will likely have a short tail. However, there is some variation in this, and some corgis may end up with a tail that is somewhere in between the two extremes.

Pembroke vs Cardigan Corgi tails

The difference between Pembroke and Cardigan corgi tails is due to a genetic mutation that occurred many years ago. The mutation caused the tail of the Cardigan Welsh corgi to become longer and fuller than the tail of the Pembroke Welsh corgi.

The mutation is a dominant gene, which means that if one of the parents has a long tail, there is a high chance that their offspring will also have a long tail. This is why there are more Cardigan Welsh corgis than Pembroke Welsh corgis – because the mutation is more common in the Cardigan Welsh corgi population.

The difference between the two types of corgi tails is very noticeable, and many people believe that the Cardigan Welsh corgi has the “better” tail. The long, full tail of the Cardigan Welsh corgi is seen as being more elegant and stylish than the short, bobbed tail of the Pembroke Welsh corgi.

However, some people believe that the long tail of the Cardigan Welsh corgi is more prone to injury and is therefore not as desirable as the short tail of the Pembroke Welsh corgi.

Although both are supposed to have tails and are born with them, Pembroke corgis used to get their tails docked at around 3 days old.

Natural bobtail corgis

In Corgis, naturally occurring bobtails do exist. This happens when the puppy has an inherited mutated gene, which causes its tail to grow unusually short or be absent entirely. About one in every ten Corgis is born with a naturally occurring bobtail.

These corgis are not penalized in any way by the AKC, but are seen as a positive thing. According to the American Kennel Club, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s docked tail is required. The tail should be “as short as possible” without creating an “indentation” in the tail region, according to the standard.

A tail of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi does not have to be extremely short, as long as it is within the breed standard. A tail length of up to two inches is acceptable for the breed standard if the natural bobtail is shorter than two inches. However, if the natural bobtail exceeds two inches, the breed standards require more docking.

The practice of cutting a Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s tail isn’t recent. For several decades, it has been happening to these dogs, and sadly, it has become a “tradition.”

Bobtail Corgi genetics

The gene responsible for natural bobtails is called the autosomal dominant gene.  Genetically the only requirement is that one copy of the gene passes on to offspring, so it’s just one parent who needs to have it.

This means that a dog only needs to inherit the gene from one parent in order to have a bobtail.

However, if a puppy has two copies of the gene (one each from both parents) vets consider it embryonic lethal. Sadly this means that if the embryo receives two bobtail genes it won’t make it to full term. This also means that there is no way to 100% make sure you’ll receive a bobtailed corgi just by breeding practices.

Reasons for docking a dog’s tail

One of the most controversial topics when it comes to corgis is tail docking. Corgi tail docking is the process of amputating a dog’s tail shortly after birth. There are many reasons that people chose to dock the tail of dogs in the past.

Hygiene

Tail docking has a long history. According to historians during ancient Roman times, Corgi tails were hacked off for a variety of reasons including hygiene.

To provide the canines with protection, the Romans started snipping their tails back as an ancient Roman superstition held that dogs with long tails were more likely to catch rabies.

Preventing injuries

Another reason that came later was that tail docking prevented the dog from acquiring injuries while out hunting and retrieving in the fields. Hunters believed that a docked tail would be less likely to get caught in brambles and thickets, and would be less likely to suffer an injury if it was chased by a prey animal. So this way they wanted to ensure a longer lifespan for Corgis by preventing tail injuries.

Performance improvements

People also thought that a shorter tail meant an increase in speed and performance as well, so it gave breeders and dog owners another reason for docking.

Tail docking has a long history and was once common among many different breeds of dogs. However, it is now less and less popular and is banned in some countries.

Some people believe that it is cruel and unnecessary to dock a dog’s tail, as the dog can still lead a happy and healthy life with its natural tail. There are also concerns that docking a dog’s tail can cause long-term health problems for the animal.

There are many pros and cons to both docking tails and not docking tails, and it is a decision that each individual needs to make for their own dog.

Corgi tail docking

You can dock a corgi’s tail in several ways. You can either do it surgically or by using an elastic band to tightly restrict the blood flow to the tail until the tail falls off.

The reason that people dock a corgi’s tail is that they believe that it is beneficial for the dog’s health. Docking a corgi’s tail can prevent injuries to the tail and it can prevent the dog from getting his or her tail caught in things, such as machinery or doorways.

Some people also believe that docking a corgi’s tail makes the dog look “better”. They believe that the long, full tail of the Cardigan Welsh corgi is not as aesthetically pleasing as the short, bobbed tail of the Pembroke Welsh corgi.

However, there are many people who believe that docking a dog’s tail is cruel and unnecessary. They believe that a dog should be able to keep his or her natural body part, regardless of whether it is “pretty” or not.

Sadly the main reason that people still dock corgi tails is solely for aesthetic reasons. As Pembroke Welsh Corgis had their tails docked for so long it slowly became the norm for the breed’s look. There is no real medical benefit to docking a corgi’s tail, and it is becoming an increasingly unpopular practice.

The tail docking ban

In 2007, the Welsh Assembly passed a law that made it illegal to dock a dog’s tail in Wales. This means that it is now illegal to dock a corgi’s tail in Wales.

The country passed the law as a result of the debate over whether or not docking tails is cruel and unnecessary. The Welsh Assembly decided that it was and therefore made it illegal to dock a dog’s tail.

The law applies to all dogs in Wales, regardless of breed or size. This means that it is now illegal to dock a corgi’s tail, as well as the tails of any other breed of dog, in Wales.

Although the law is currently active, there are still some people who believe that docking a dog’s tail is beneficial for the dog’s health and they continue to do so. However, it is illegal to do so and they should expect a fine if they got caught.

Does Tail Docking Hurt your corgi?

The most common question about this issue is that “Do Corgis feel pain when their tails are being trimmed?” It’s not an easy question to answer, and there’s been a lot of passionate discussion over it.

Pro tail dockers claim that docking a Corgi’s tail in early in their life isn’t painful at all as their nervous system hasn’t fully developed yet up to this point.

Opposers, on the other hand, point to evidence suggesting that a puppy’s basic nervous system is capable of feeling pain similar to that of an adult dog.

To dock or not to dock?

Docking a corgi’s tail takes away all of these advantages and leaves the dog at a disadvantage. It can also lead to long-term health problems for the animal.

A 2017 research done on risk factors for tail injuries in dogs in Great Britain shows that t only 1 in 500 dogs get their tails injured. This means that the main historical benefit of tail docking: preventing injuries to the tail is long gone. Or at least there are fairly low chances for it to happen.

Besides their impaired social skills and the practically nonexistent injury risks, there is one huge reason to refrain from corgi tail docking: it can cause chronic pain for your puppy.

In extreme cases, some corgis may experience long-term pain and discomfort as a result of the surgery. This might be caused by nerve sensitivity across the region or secondary spinal tumor growth.

Why you shouldn’t dock corgi tails?

Corgis, like all dogs, require a tail. A tail is an integral part of a dog’s spine; if it weren’t meant to be there, they wouldn’t be born with them altogether.

Balance and movement

There are many advantages for corgis to having tails instead of docking them. For one, they act as a rudder while swimming and help the dog to move more quickly through the water. They also provide balance and stability when running, and help the dog to make quick turns.

Communication

Corgis use their tails to communicate with other dogs; when a corgi wags its tail, it is often an invitation for play. A corgi’s tail is also important in helping the dog to regulate its body temperature.

Corgis wag their tails for a variety of reasons. It’s an important element of how they interact with you.

Wagging their tail does not always indicate happiness. They might be expressing other emotions as well, such as anxiety or dread. The key to deciphering their tail wags is to combine it with all of the other contextual clues they’re providing you. What are their ears doing, what are they looking at, and how are they standing? It will take some practice, but eventually, you’ll be able to read your corgi’s tail like a pro!

How to groom your corgi’s tail

A corgi’s long tail needs more maintenance and grooming than a short-tailed counterpart.

The majority of keeping your Corgi’s tail well-groomed is going to be regular brushing and the use of a de-shedding tool. It’s critical that you keep it well brushed so that dirt, burs, and other debris don’t build up in a Corgi that likes to play outside.

Pro Tip: Having a grooming kit at home can help you maintain your dog’s beautiful coat and keep their tail looking nice and tangle-free! 

Corgi tail FAQ

Conclusion

Conclusion paragraph: So there you have it – everything you ever wanted to know about corgi tails (and more)! We hope this article has been informative and that you now have a better understanding of the unique characteristics of the corgi tail.

As I mentioned earlier, docking is an unnecessary procedure that can cause health problems for your dog, so please don’t dock your corgi’s tail! Instead, celebrate its natural beauty and enjoy watching it wag with joy. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!