Natural Bob Tails

Many Tenterfield's are born with Natural Bob Tails.
Provided one or both parents are Bob Tails.

 

The length of tail is the Tenterfield Terrier’s most unique feature. It is the only terrier breed with tails that come in natural bob tails of various lengths, ranging from full tails through to no tail vertebrae at all, which is referred to as a “rumpy”. They also come in a range of lengths in-between as shown.



 

The natural bob tail results from a gene that has never been known to cause the breed any health issues (ie not a form of Spina Bifida).

The length of tail is not important - the set on and carriage of the tail must still be correct (as per the standard), as it acts as the indicator of the Tenterfield Terriers mood and temperament.

For many years now, certain bloodlines within the Tenterfield Terrier Breed have been carrying the bob tail gene.  Sometimes entire litters are born with natural bob tails. If you have not had a bob tail occur in your lines, then you will have to look at bringing in the gene by mating to a known bob tail sire/dam in order to obtain one. Mating two non bob tails cannot produce a bob tail - genetically one must be a bobtail, but remember tailed dogs are just as important to our breed.

 

Some newborn puppies showing bob tails.
These three came from a litter of 5 puppies all Natural Bob tails.
When one parent or both are Bob Tails, litters can vary in the tails, from all Bobs to all longs and anywhere in between. (Some long tails and some Bob Tails)

 

These two pages, 43 and 44 are taken from the Power Point Presentation on Tenterfield Terriers and is available from your State TT Club.

 

 

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