Does the Tail Fit?

By Steven Robinson  
Of
Darkstarr Rottweilers

In June of 1998, a law was passed in Germany forbidding the docking of tails on all breeds of dogs except select hunting dogs. This legislation created a ripple felt around the world and has been the source of a multi-facet, heated global debate. That is not what this article is about. It is about taking a hard look at the resulting saber tail design ADRK has implemented and how the changes brought about by this saber tail design has affected the tail set, the croup and the pelvic bone of the Rottweiler in Germany.

From the beginning, the German breed club had a formidable task to undertake. They had to design and create a new standard for this new tail without adversely affecting the breed type or the utility of the Rottweiler. The tail design they chose was the saber tail. A tail design most associated with the German Shepherd. One of the requirements of this saber tail is that the upper limit of the tail’s range should not exceed above the horizontal. This requirement has caused great concern among the Rottweiler community in the US. The ADRK chose the saber tail because it did not distract from the Rottweiler’s appearance. Unfortunately, by choosing this design, the structural integrity of the rear assembly has been compromised. The structure needed to support the saber tail is not present in our Rottweiler standards.

     The foundation for any tail is the tail set and the tail set determines the range of positions a tail can ultimately make. The tail set isn’t as easily manipulated as an ear set, because the tail set is not as independently determined. The ear set’s foundation has its basis in soft tissue; not so with the tail set. The base of the tail is inseparably connected to two important structures. These important structures are the croup and the pelvic bone. Because the tail set, the croup and the pelvic bone are so rigidly connected, the angle of the tail set is reflected in the angled slope of the croup and pelvic bone. The lower this tail set becomes, the steeper the slope of the croup and pelvic bone become. The Rottweiler standards do not permit the tail set required to support this saber tail. If we look at the German Shepherd standard and specifically look at the important structures it employs to support the saber tail, the differences can easily be seen. On the German Shepherd, the topline is already sloping from front to back, and from this already declining topline, the croup is required to be long and gradually sloping. The Shepherd’s tail set is required to be low rather than high. In contrast, on the Rottweiler, the topline is nearly level and is required to have a medium length slightly sloping (rounding) croup. The standard goes on to clarify that the croup should neither be flat nor falling away and the properly set tail gives the impression of elongation of the topline not set too high or too low. What is important to keep in mind is the standard is saying the tail set should give the impression of the elongation of the topline, and the topline is closer to level than sloping. Another important point, the tail set referenced in the standard is not meant to reflect an immobile position for the tail, but rather the mean or center position for a range of possible positions for the tail both above and below and to either side. From the structural details mentioned in every breed standard that has been written since the first breed standard in 1901, there are no anatomical structures described to prevent the first vertebras coming off of the tail set from angling above the horizontal, and if they can angle above the horizontal, then the rest of the tail has no choice but to follow.

The problem with selecting for a lower tail set is that along with the lower tail set comes a steeper croup and pelvic bone. Since the upper thigh and the rest of the rear assembly joins the pelvic bone at the hip joint, how steeply the pelvic bone is positioned determines the working arch or range of the rear assembly. In other words, the angle in which the pelvic bone is set, determines how far forward and how far backward the rear hindquarters can maneuver. The steeper the pelvic bone is angled, the further up under the body the rear legs can reach and the less follow through from behind. The more the rear assembly reaches up under the body, the more the rear assembly’s interference with the operation of the front assembly becomes a concern and the less affective the rear’s drive is. Our standard specifies that our Rottweiler is to be a trotter and to possess great endurance. A steeper croup and pelvic bone compromises both of these attributes. It is interesting that in the horse world, the great endurance trotters have less slope to their croups and pelvic bones.  The horses with steeper croups have less endurance and are not very efficient trotters. If these principles hold true for the horse, why would it be any different for our Rottweiler?

It is obvious from the dogs that are being selected at the Klubseiger shows in Germany, that many possess lower tail sets, steeper croups and steeper pelvic bones than winners in the past. I am, for one, not looking forward to seeing the sloping topline and rounded croup of the shepherd on our Rottweiler. All of this for the sake of a tail!  So, while we are debating whether to accept tailed Rottweilers at our shows, additionally, we need to be asking does the tail fit?

In conclusion, it is the dog that should wag the tail and not the tail that wags the dog. In other words, it is Rottweiler structure which should determine the tail and not the tail determining Rottweiler structure.

Standards of the Past

The history of our breeds croup and tail set as described in past standards.

The first Rottweiler standard 1901 - 1914

“Back short, compact and completely ………….buttocks short with high set tail and firm muscle pad.

The IRK standard 1913 - 1921

“Back firm, broad and strong, as straight as possible back to the pelvis……….. Hindquarters: Buttocks: broad short and in as straight a line as possible with the back. Pelvis, broad, in keeping with the trunk. Tail in a straight line with back like the buttocks, therefore set neither too high or too low.”

The DRK standard of 1914  - 1921

“the back  straight, compact and rather short and broad. …………..Stumpy tail: Short and set on high. It prolongs the line of the back in a horizontal direction.”

The first ADRK standard of 1921 - 1946

“The back is straight and firm, short rather than long………. The buttocks are short and broad, and do not fall away.

Tail: (stumpy tail) Carried so far as possible horizontally. It is short, set high, and prolongs the line of the back in a horizontal direction. “

The second ADRK standard of 1946 – (it was still current in 1967)

“Back straight, powerful and not too long. ………. Buttocks broad, of medium length, neither too straight nor falling away too much.

Tail: (stumpy tail) Carried as far as possible horizontally. It is short, strong, not set low.”

 The AKC standard of 1935 – 1979:

“Back straight, strong and rather short.  ………. Croup short, broad, but not sloping.”

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Current Standards

The current AKC Standard:

“Topline-The back is firm and level, extending in a straight line from behind the withers to the croup. The back remains horizontal to the ground while the dog is moving or standing. ………. Back is straight and strong. ………. Croup is broad, of medium length and only slightly sloping. …………Tail-Tail dock short, close to body, leaving one or two vertebrae. The set of the tail is more important than the length. Properly set, it gives an impression of elongation of topline; carried slightly above horizontal when the dog is excited or moving.”

The Current ADRK Standard:

Croup: Broad, of medium length, Slightly rounded. Neither Flat nor falling away.
Tail: In natural condition., level in extension of the upper line; at ease may be hanging

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