tail length

[Hawthorne]

Ok. Silly question:

When discussing the breed standard with my mentor we were talking about my dog's faults. I said that Freyja and Raven's tails are too long. She asked why? I said because their tail goes beyond the hock joint. And she asked me what is the reason for that length being too long?

I have no idea...

Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

[Katlin]

Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

LOVE that movie!

I dunno, Wylie's tail is massive and long, about 4 inches past his hocks...My roomate asked me the same thing when he saw our lab's (sam) tail next to his. Sam's doesn't even hit his hock.

[Valravn]

Other than because that's how long wolf tails are? Uh…

[TerriHolt]

Y'know, i'd never looked at that before... Sam's tail bone ends at his hock joint but the fur takes it about 2 inch past that.

Never known why tho, i thought it was a wolf appearance thing....

[AZDehlin]

Y'know, i'd never looked at that before... Sam's tail bone ends at his hock joint but the fur takes it about 2 inch past that.

Never known why tho, i thought it was a wolf appearance thing....

This is how Zephyrs and Noques are the tail clearly ends at the hock the fur goes on a little further... I also think this was put in the standard cause wolves tails are about this length... not so much function or reason besides looks.

[Booma]

Baltos tail is the same.

[Ryphen]

I can envision the tail performing three main functions: thermoregulation, equilibrium, and communication. Obviously the tail isn't as plush as that of, say, a fox, but it can still be used to help keep the face and feet warm during the winter when sleeping. When moving at speed, the tail is used like a counterbalance to maintain equilibrium, especially when turning suddenly. The communication function should be self-explanatory. Whether a slightly shorter or longer tail is going to majorly impact any of these things, I don't know. Unless your Tamaskan spends the entire winter outside or needs to hunt its own food, I'd imagine not. Now, if the goal is make Tams look like wolves, I'd imagine their tail length is going to settle around whatever wolf tail length is, purely for aesthetic reasons.

[Hawthorne]

Ryphen, you are absolutely right! Length of tail as well as length of neck and size of head are counterbalances. So...if we want massive ground coverage do we want a longer tail or not? No clue. Just thinking out loud.

But has anyone really checked to see if that's really where a wolf's tail stops?

[Rahne]

I like the tail of my boy Winter:



It's not very long, doesn't go below his hocks. Konah her tail is longer and sickle shaped.

[Tatzel]

I agree, Winter's tail is pretty wolfy in all regards!

[Sylvaen]

Yes, it is a good length. The tail should reach to near the hocks; neither too short nor too long...

[TerriHolt]

Winter has a lovely tail

[Sylvaen]

Tail length in wolves (around hock height):


SOURCE: http://www.runningwiththewolves.org/Anatomy.htm