Curled tails in puppies?

KLCecil · 07-06-2010, 08:03 PM

Ok so I have been reading about tails and how a curl is undesirable. The pup I picked out carries her tail up and over like a malamute puppy, she is only four weeks and I know in some breeds the tail drops down as they get older but I don't know about this breed. I really don't like tails that curl over the back on GSDs, so could someone give me the straight about this?

onyx'girl · 07-06-2010, 08:16 PM

Are you certain your pup is purebred? Two of my dogs carry their tails high, but not curled over their backs. They didn't do it as young pups, however.
Maybe your pup is trying to establish dominance in her litter, so carries tail high to show her position?

sagelfn · 07-06-2010, 08:28 PM

When Sage was a tiny pup he carried his tail high but it was never curled over his back(pics below). He may still be pure bred, could it be a gay tail?

**JKlatsky** · 07-06-2010, 08:33 PM

You're right in that in the showring, a lower tail set with a longer tail is preferred. Be careful though...picking for a puppy that displays a low tail can be indicative of temperament.

Argos carried his tail up as a puppy. Actually still does, as a display of dominance- it's certainly wasn't/isn't that high all the time. He also has a fairly high tail set- which I don't think is uncommon in the working dogs. As an adult dog Argos tends to carry his tail level with his back, not real low like many of the show dogs, but it rarely curls over his back unless he's posturing at some other male dog.

Argos at 7 weeks with a curled tail.

And running with a straighter tail (puppy on the right)

Running at 1yr. Excited and with curled tail.

Argos as an adult- Tail laying straight when relaxed.

Lilie · 07-06-2010, 09:15 PM

Hondo carries his tail high, and sometimes curled when he is overly excited. When he is searching for a cat, or playing in the rain. When we are working, it's always straight and low as well as when he is in a relaxed state. Hondo is a long haired GSD, and the tip hairs of his tail nearly reach the ground.

holland · 07-06-2010, 09:40 PM

Rors tail curls when she is excited too...she doesn't seem to do it as much though maybe she needs some more excitement in her life

FuryanGoddess · 07-06-2010, 09:46 PM

Murphy carries his kinda high. higher than Zeva did at this age. Her's will go up or straight out, depending on how PO'd she is or excited.

Jessiewessie99 · 07-06-2010, 09:59 PM

Molly carries her tail high and curled like a husky, but sometimes she has it down.

Here is Molly with her tail:

Her tail was normal as a puppy, but Molly wasn't from a particular breeder or anything.I heard it means they are happy.

shilorio · 07-06-2010, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiewessie99

Molly carries her tail high and curled like a husky, but sometimes she has it down.

Here is Molly with her tail:

Her tail was normal as a puppy, but Molly wasn't from a particular breeder or anything.I heard it means they are happy.

aww thats super cute! is she a pure?? ive never seen that

FuryanGoddess · 07-06-2010, 10:05 PM

My sister's dog carries her tail curled and we believe she's pure. no papers and she's on the small side, but it's curled. She's 13 yrs old now... living off Dog Chow, GASP! it is what it is. No since in changing her now... you know?

07-06-2010, 08:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
KLCecil Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Randolph AFB, TX Posts: 244	Curled tails in puppies? Ok so I have been reading about tails and how a curl is undesirable. The pup I picked out carries her tail up and over like a malamute puppy, she is only four weeks and I know in some breeds the tail drops down as they get older but I don't know about this breed. I really don't like tails that curl over the back on GSDs, so could someone give me the straight about this? __________________ ~Kimberly Cecil~ Cataclysm von Dagg "Jaina"

07-06-2010, 08:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	Are you certain your pup is purebred? Two of my dogs carry their tails high, but not curled over their backs. They didn't do it as young pups, however. Maybe your pup is trying to establish dominance in her litter, so carries tail high to show her position? __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

07-06-2010, 08:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
sagelfn Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,748	When Sage was a tiny pup he carried his tail high but it was never curled over his back(pics below). He may still be pure bred, could it be a gay tail? __________________ -Brandi Sage 6-5-09 Facebook

07-06-2010, 08:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
JKlatsky Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,985	You're right in that in the showring, a lower tail set with a longer tail is preferred. Be careful though...picking for a puppy that displays a low tail can be indicative of temperament. Argos carried his tail up as a puppy. Actually still does, as a display of dominance- it's certainly wasn't/isn't that high all the time. He also has a fairly high tail set- which I don't think is uncommon in the working dogs. As an adult dog Argos tends to carry his tail level with his back, not real low like many of the show dogs, but it rarely curls over his back unless he's posturing at some other male dog. Argos at 7 weeks with a curled tail. And running with a straighter tail (puppy on the right) Running at 1yr. Excited and with curled tail. Argos as an adult- Tail laying straight when relaxed. __________________ Argos vom Eisernen Loewen VPG1, CGC, TC 3-3-07 Bianka vom Eisernen Loewen BH, CGC, TC 1-3-08 Cade vom Eisernen Loewen CGC 3-25-09 D'Artagnan (Tag) vom Eisernen Loewen 2-2-10 G Aiko von Burkndeiros SchH 3, IPO3, FH, TC, KKL2 9-17-02 Last edited by JKlatsky; 07-06-2010 at 08:35 PM.

07-06-2010, 09:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
FuryanGoddess Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,298	Murphy carries his kinda high. higher than Zeva did at this age. Her's will go up or straight out, depending on how PO'd she is or excited. __________________ Zeva Female GSD 10/02/2009 http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1090361 Waiting at the Bridge: Buddy ~ GSD/Husky mix 1/00 Sadie ~ GSD 10/05 Lady ~ GSD 5/09 Pepper ~ Beagle 12/09

07-06-2010, 09:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lilie Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,273	Hondo carries his tail high, and sometimes curled when he is overly excited. When he is searching for a cat, or playing in the rain. When we are working, it's always straight and low as well as when he is in a relaxed state. Hondo is a long haired GSD, and the tip hairs of his tail nearly reach the ground.

07-06-2010, 09:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
holland Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,630	Rors tail curls when she is excited too...she doesn't seem to do it as much though maybe she needs some more excitement in her life

07-06-2010, 09:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jessiewessie99 Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lakewod, CA Posts: 6,807	Molly carries her tail high and curled like a husky, but sometimes she has it down. Here is Molly with her tail: Her tail was normal as a puppy, but Molly wasn't from a particular breeder or anything.I heard it means they are happy. __________________ Jessica-Shelter Volunteer Molly-GSD ✔ Certified Ninja Dog Tanner-GSD ✔ Certified Lovebug RIP: Max & Simba "No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible."-George Chakiris, as said by Agent Derek Mogan

07-06-2010, 10:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
FuryanGoddess Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,298	My sister's dog carries her tail curled and we believe she's pure. no papers and she's on the small side, but it's curled. She's 13 yrs old now... living off Dog Chow, GASP! it is what it is. No since in changing her now... you know? __________________ Zeva Female GSD 10/02/2009 http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1090361 Waiting at the Bridge: Buddy ~ GSD/Husky mix 1/00 Sadie ~ GSD 10/05 Lady ~ GSD 5/09 Pepper ~ Beagle 12/09

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