A natural bobtail is an animal's tail which due to a mutated
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
grows unusually short or is missing completely. The genes for the shortened tail may be dominant or recessive.
Because of legislation restricting or preventing docking, natural bobtails are growing in popularity among the
dog fancy
Animal fancy is a hobby involving the appreciation, promotion, or breeding of pet or domestic animals.
Fancy may include ownership, showing, animal sports and other competitions, and breeding. Hobbyists may simply collect specimens of the anima ...
for some traditionally docked breeds. For example, one
Boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
* Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
*Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
breeder and geneticist in England has successfully petitioned the Kennel Club for permission to cross
Corgi
The Welsh Corgi ( or Corgi, plural Corgis, or occasionally the etymologically consistent Corgwn; ) is a small type of herding dog that originated in Wales. The name ''corgi'' is derived from the Welsh words and (which is mutated to ), mean ...
s into his lines and then
backcross
Backcrossing is a crossing of a hybrid with one of its parents or an individual genetically similar to its parent, to achieve offspring with a genetic identity closer to that of the parent. It is used in horticulture, animal breeding, and product ...
to Boxers, introducing the gene into his lines.The Fantastic Account of Dr Bruce Cattanach’s Bobtail Boxers Virginia Zurflieh, boxerunderground.com, Oct 1998. This would have been unheard of in decades past. A number of these bobtail Boxers have been exported to various countries around the world.
However in some breeds, such as the Rottweiler, natural bobtails are not universally accepted in the Country of Origin Breed Standard.
Animals with a natural bobtail
Cats
More than one gene is responsible for tail suppression in cats; research is incomplete, but it is known that the Japanese Bobtail and related breeds have a different mutation from that found in the Manx and its derivatives.
*
American Bobtail
The American Bobtail is an uncommon breed of domestic cat which was developed in the late 1960s. It is most notable for its stubby "bobbed" tail about one-third to one-half the length of a normal cat's tail. This is the result of a cat body ty ...
*
Japanese Bobtail
The Japanese Bobtail is a breed of domestic cat with an unusual bobtail more closely resembling the tail of a rabbit than that of other cats. The variety is native to Japan, though it is now found throughout the world. The breed has been know ...
tails are short and kinked, but not entirely absent
*
Karelian Bobtail
The Karelian Bobtail is a breed of cat that originated in the Lake Ladoga region of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. History
The breed was first recognised by the World Cat Federation in 1994. Characteristics
Karelian Bobtails can be either sho ...
tails are short and kinked, but not entirely absent
*Korean Bobtailtails are short and kinked, but not entirely absent
*
Kurilian Bobtail
The Kurilian Bobtail is a cat breed (or breed group, depending on registry) originating from the (disputed) Russian Kuril Islands, as well as Sakhalin Island and the Kamchatka peninsula of Russia. Short- or long-haired, it has a semi-cobby b ...
Pixie-bob
The Pixie-bob is a breed of domestic cat claimed to be the progeny of naturally occurring bobcat hybrids. However, DNA testing has failed to detect bobcat marker genes, and Pixie-bobs are considered wholly domestic for the purposes of ownership ...
Experimental breeds (mostly cross-breeds of the above):
*
Alpine Lynx cat
The following is a list of experimental cat breeds and crossbreeds that do not have the recognition of any major national or international cat registries, such as The International Cat Association (TICA) in the US, Europe, and Australasia; the Go ...
*
American Lynx cat
The following is a list of experimental cat breeds and crossbreeds that do not have the recognition of any major national or international Cat registry, cat registries, such as The International Cat Association (TICA) in the US, Europe, and Austr ...
Highlander cat
The Highlander (also known as the Highlander Shorthair, and originally as the Highland Lynx) is a new breed of cat. The unique appearance of the Highlander comes from the deliberate cross between the Desert Lynx and the Jungle Curl breeds, als ...
*
Owyhee Bob
The following is a list of experimental cat breeds and crossbreeds that do not have the recognition of any major national or international cat registries, such as The International Cat Association (TICA) in the US, Europe, and Australasia; the Go ...
Dogs
A mutation in a gene called the T-box transcription factor T gene (C189G) accounts for natural bobtails in 21 dog breeds, but not in another 5 breeds, for which the genetic mechanism is yet to be determined.
One study found 17 of 23 newly studied breeds had the gene, in addition the Pembroke Welsh Corgi identified in previous research. This study counted Rottweilers as not as not having the C189G gene, but tested only five Rottweilers, only two of which were short-tailed dogs. Another study showed that Rottweilers do carry the gene, and Dobermanns (not tested by the earlier study) do as well. http://www.vetbook.org/wiki/dog/index.php/Natural_bob_tail]
Although the following dogs may present a natural bobtail, the C189G mutation often appeared after decades or centuries of docking, which is considered in many countries, unnecessary, painful, cruel or Mutilation, mutilation.br>Today, many countries ban cropping and docking
Breeds that can present C189G mutation:
*
Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is a breed of herding dog from the United States. The name of the breed is technically a misnomer, as it was developed in California in the 19th century; the breed was unknown in Australia at the time. It is claimed that A ...
*
Austrian Pinscher
The Austrian Pinscher (Österreichischer Pinscher) is a medium-sized breed of pinscher- type dog from Austria, where dogs of the type were originally farm dogs, keeping barns free of rats and acting as home guards, livestock guardians, and dro ...
*
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
The Stumpy is a naturally bobtailed or tailless, medium-sized cattle dog similar and/or related to the Australian Cattle Dog which is commonly referred to as a “Heeler”, whereas, the Stumpy is not. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was ...
*
Braque du Bourbonnais
The Braque du Bourbonnais is a breed of gundog, of rustic appearance, sometimes born with a short tail, with a coat ticked with liver, fawn, or white
History
Origins
It had been described for the first time during the Renaissance (Natural ...
(Bourbonnais Pointer)
*
Braque Francais
Georges Braque ( , ; 13 May 1882 – 31 August 1963) was a major 20th-century List of French artists, French painter, Collage, collagist, Drawing, draughtsman, printmaker and sculpture, sculptor. His most notable contributions were in his all ...
(Savoy Sheepdog)
*
Brazilian Terrier
The Brazilian Terrier is a breed of dog developed in Brazil. It is one of several terriers and one of the two worldwide recognized native breeds of Brazil.
Description Origin
One theory about the origin of the breed is that Jack Russell Terriers ...
*
Brittany
Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...
*
Croatian Sheepdog
The Croatian Sheepdog is a dog breed from Croatia.
Description
Appearance
The Croatian sheepdog is of low to medium height and the base color is always black, although there may be very small patches of white on its chest and/or toes.
A chara ...
Dobermann
The Dobermann (; ), or Doberman Pinscher in the United States and Canada, is a medium-large breed of domestic dog that was originally developed around 1890 by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector from Germany. *
Donggyeongi
The ''Donggyeongi'', also called ''daeng gyeon'' (댕견) or ''Donggyeong gae'' (동경개), is a naturally bob-tailed dog breed originated in Korea. It is an endangered breed of some 600 dogs in total, and has been protected as a natural herit ...
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell Terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting in England. It is principally white-bodied and smooth, rough or broken-coated and can be any colour.
Small tan and white terriers that technically belong to oth ...
*
Karelian Bear Dog
The Karelian Bear Dog ( Karjalankarhukoira) is a Finnish breed of dog. In its home country, it is seen by many as a national treasure. Karelian Bear Dogs will hunt a variety of animals. Its quick reflexes and fearless nature have made it very pop ...
*
Mountain Cur
The Mountain Cur is a type of working dog that is bred specifically for treeing and trailing small game, like squirrel and raccoons. They are also used for hunting and baying big game like bear and wild boar as well as being an all-purpose f ...
*
Mudi
The Mudi is a herding dog breed from Hungary. It is closely related to the Puli and Pumi, from which it was separated in the 1930s. They continue to be used in herding, as well as participating in a variety of dog sports.
History
The ...
*
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (; Welsh for "dwarf dog") is a cattle herding dog breed that originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is one of two breeds known as a Welsh Corgi. Pembroke Welsh Corgis descended from the Spitz family of dogs. The other i ...
*
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
The Polish Lowland Sheepdog ( pl, Polski Owczarek Nizinny, also PON), is a medium-sized, shaggy-coated, sheep dog breed native to Poland.
Description
Appearance
The PON is a muscular, thick-coated dog. The double coat can be of any color or ...
*
Pyrenean Shepherd
The Pyrenean Sheepdog, the Chien de Berger des Pyrénées in French, is a small to medium-sized breed of herding dog from the Pyrenees Mountains region of France. It is found herding flocks of sheep throughout the Pyrenees alongside the much larger ...
*
Rottweiler
The Rottweiler (, ) is a breed of domestic dog, regarded as medium-to-large or large. The dogs were known in German as , meaning Rottweil butchers' dogs, because their main use was to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered mea ...
br> *
Schipperke
A Schipperke (; ) is a small breed of dog that originated since the 1600s in Belgium. There has been a long informal debate over whether this type of dog is a spitz or miniature sheepdog. In their home country of Belgium they are considered a sm ...
*
Spanish Water Dog
The Spanish Water Dog () breed is used in Spain as a general purpose sheepdog and guard. It is also used sometimes as a gundog, and is skilled at retrieval from water.
Description
Appearance
The SWD is a medium size, athletic, robust dog that ...
*
Swedish Vallhund
The Swedish Vallhund, also known as the ''Västgötaspets'' and Swedish cow dog, is a Dog breed, breed of dog native to Sweden. The breed's name, ''Vallhund'', when translated into English, means herding dog, as the Swedish Vallhund was origi ...
Breeds without C189G mutation and presenting natural bobtail:
*
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier is a breed of dog originating in the United States of America. This "American Gentleman" was accepted in 1893 by the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting breed. Color and markings are important when distinguishing this breed f ...
*
English Bulldog
The Bulldog is a British breed of dog of mastiff type. It may also be known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog. It is of medium size, a muscular, hefty dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose.Boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
* Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
*Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
Dog breeds where natural bobtails have not yet been tested for C189G mutation:
*
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
The Entlebucher Sennenhund or Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a medium-sized herding dog, it is the smallest of the four regional breeds that constitute the Sennenhund dog type. The name Sennenhund refers to people called ''Senn'', herders in the S ...
Hmong bobtail dog The Hmong bobtail dog ( Vietnamese: Chó H'Mông Cộc đuôi), is an ancient medium size spitz dog breed and one of Vietnam's Four Great National Dogs (Vietnamese: tứ đại quốc khuyển). This dog was primarily used a hunter, herder and guar ...
Miniature Fox Terrier
The Miniature Fox Terrier is a small, fine, lightweight working terrier developed as a hunting dog and vermin router. It is known colloquially in its native Australia as the “Mini Foxie”.
Appearance
A balanced, smoothly-muscled dog b ...
*
Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is a large breed of dog that emerged in England from early types of herding dog. Obsolete names for the breed include Shepherd's Dog and . The nickname ''Bob-tail'' (or ''Bobtail'') originates from how dogs of the breed ...
*
Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier is an American dog breed with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion. They share much ancestry with the small hunting dogs known as feists. Common throughout family farms in the 1920s and 1930s, they are now recognize ...
*
Tenterfield Terrier
The Tenterfield Terrier is a dog breed developed in Australia. They are a strong, active, hardy and agile dog, their smooth short coat making them 'easy care' family companions.
Appearance
Tenterfield Terriers come in a variety of colours, ...
Breeds in this sub-list often have full tails.
References
{{reflist5. https://www.orivet.com/store/canine-trait/natural-bob-tail-short-tail-phenotype-
6. https://www.animalnetwork.com.au/tests/index.php?testid=14
7.http://www.vetbook.org/wiki/dog/index.php/Natural_bob_tail
Dog anatomyFelidae anatomy