When we think of dogs, we think of fuzzy ears and wagging tails. That’s how their wolf ancestors looked, so we aren’t surprised for them to look like that. However, overall the years of dogs being domesticated, there was a rise to dog breeds born without tails! It might be a surprise, but there are over 170 breeds with short tails, known as bobtails.

There are tailless dogs, but there are also those that naturally have what just looks like a docked tail. This eliminates the need for tail docking, which is a procedure that is increasingly frowned upon these days. This list will help you find dog breeds born without tails or with a naturally short one to avoid having to do that.

Do you have a specific question about dog breeds born without tails? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page. 

French Bulldog

This breed was bred for herding under harsh conditions. It’s a rare breed to find outside of Australia.

This dog used to have a long tail which was docked. When tail docking was prohibited in Croatia, breeders started to choose shorter tails to eventually develop and give rise to dogs born without tails. Like the Braque du Bourbonnais, this hunting dog has a naturally short tail.

This French breed has the same tail mutation as the Brittany Spaniels. They are most commonly bred in the United States and can be referred to as short-tail pointer. The French bulldog was initially developed for ratting and, like most ratters, has a short tail to avoid injury.

Some bulldog tails are short enough for you to assume that this is one of the dog breeds with no tail! A lot of the time, it’s there, but just very short.

Brazilian Terrier

This is an interesting one due to how the length naturally varies. The tail of the Brazilian Terrier can be long or not be there at all. The norm of the breed, however, is the docked tail.

In Brazil, the tail is still docked, but the tail is dense and short when left untouched. In certain countries, the cutting of tails with scalpels and scissors without anesthesia has been forbidden.

It’s a tri-colored breed with Jack Russell Terrier and Fox Terrier as its ancestors. These are smart, alert dogs.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is one of the two breeds known as the Welsh Corgi. The other is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and the tail is the biggest distinction between the two. The Pembroke is born as a dog with no tail or a very short tail, but the Cardigan Corgi has a long tail.

Today, a short tail is thought to be very attractive on this breed, so many of them are docked. In fact, the breed requirements require the tail to be docked as short as possible without creating an indentation.

They had been docked everywhere for a long time before some countries made it illegal. Some of them were bred only because the breeders wanted a bob-tailed dog.

It is also attractive because it helps differentiate the Pembroke from the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, which has a long tail.

Braque du Bourbonnais

You may be able to find parallels between the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Brittany Spaniels. It’s because the mutation of the tails of both dogs is the same. Braque du Bourbonnais is often referred to as a short tail pointer. They were bred to be dogs with naturally short tails or no tails at all.

In reality, breeders were stuck on toughness and strict color requirements. This led Braque du Bourbonnais to be a dog focused on looks rather than results. This even led breeders to lose interest in the dog, and the dog nearly went extinct. No puppies of this breed were registered for the decade from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s.

A successful rebirth of the breed took place when the standards were relaxed, the docked tails were embraced, and its hunting instincts were restored. The Braque du Bourbonnais is originally from France but is now mainly bred in the USA. Today, this is a hunting dog that likes to be busy.

This tailless dog has two possible coat colors: liver or wine dregs or faded lilac or peach blossom. It has a rustic look, and the females are typically much longer, smaller, and more graceful than the male Braque du Bourbonnais.

King Charles Spaniel

King Charles Spaniel is also known as the English Toy Spaniel. It’s a little dog that likes company and makes a big lapdog.

This is not one of those dogs born with short tails but often born with a full tail. If one of these dogs is born with a kink in the tail, the breeders like to dock it. When it has a tail, it’s going to be on the same level as its back. UKC guidelines suggest docking of this breed is optional, but if you do, you must leave at least two-thirds.

It’s a descendant of hunting dogs, but it’s no more than that. It is friendly and intelligent, but it also has a stable disposition that has made it a good therapy dog.

This one is a low-energy breed, but it can have a good relationship with children and families. Pet owners are cautioned against the rough handling of this breed. It’s a good watchdog and may even bark at the sight of the tourists.

Miniature Schnauzer

This is a sweet, loving dog who is also very alert, and therefore a good watchdog. Most of these dogs are born with tails, but some of them have naturally cobbled tails.

This is the product of mutations in a variety of breeds, including the Miniature Schnauzer. However, this mutation can be fatal as it can lead to deformities in puppies that survive the birth process.

In certain breeds, such as the Miniature Schnauzer, natural bobtails occur without a lethal gene.

This is an intelligent and obedient dog who wants to please its master. But it’s really easy to train. It’s an outdoor dog who needs to be exercised every day but can work in the city and the country the same way.

Austrian Pinscher

Dogs with working abilities were selected and bred with mixed breeds of landrace dogs. The focus was on good maternal instincts and being gentle and trustworthy with their puppies. The Austrian Pinscher was used mainly for hunting purposes, but it was almost extinct in the 1970s.

As a result, this breed appears to be more diverse than any other breed belonging to one country. So, it’s hard to tell where the characteristics of a specific dog come from.

It has a relatively short tail bent to the back. When docked, it stays short to an inch or two in length and stays upright.

However, with a lot of controversy about docking, this has been declared illegal in most of Europe.

Some Austrian pinschers have a strongly curved tail, while others almost have a straight tail. These dogs have a wide variety of body types, ears, tails, faces, coat colors, and patterns.

Jack Russel Terrier

The Jack Russell Terrier was bred by a 19th-century parson named Reverend John Russell, who had a passion for hunting. This is where the Parson Russell Terrier comes from, too.

Both of these dogs come from the same strain. Jack Russell Terrier is a little dog with a long neck. It has short legs and is used for hunting vermin and bolt rabbits.

The tail is straight and set high. If the tail is docked, it is generally too long for the tip of the tail to be at the same level as the top of the ears.

If the dog is alert or running, the tail is likely to be straight or with a slight forward curve. It may be held upright or cheerfully. The tail is likely to drop while the Jack Russell Terrier is sleeping.

Rottweiler

Rottweilers are cool, even-tempered, and optimistic. They have instincts of defense and herding, and they seem to be very strong. Unlike television, Rottweilers are actually affectionate pets for people. They’re fantastic with other dogs and kids. Rottweilers are also affectionately known as Rotties. They are considered to be medium-large and appear to weigh between 77 and 132 lbs.

The tail of the Rottweiler appears to be a round stump located high at its rear end. It can make this look like one of those dogs with no tails, but it is merely short.

Bulldog

Bulldogs are sometimes referred to as British Bulldogs. They’re kind, peaceful, and dignified. They’re not graded as very smart, but they’re loyal, and they seem to get along with children as well as other animals. 

Bulldogs are small and lightweight, capable of weighing up to 50 lbs. They have wrinkled faces and short noses, frequently resulting in loud breathing and snorting. The colors of the coats may be piebald, cream, brindle, fawn, and red. They are widespread pets, and they have a national reputation with the United Kingdom.

The tail of a bulldog can be a short nub, or it can start curling on its own to make a spiral.

Credits: thanks for the cover photo to Canva.

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