Curved tail

So a comment was made on another forum that got me thinking. Is my boy's tail really that bad? I knew he carried it high, but he's so full of himself that I figured that's why he did it. It is not actually curved, as in it wont go any other way. It is straight on when he is stacked and he wags it normally, lol. He just holds it like this when he is super super excited

I found this doxie article that mentioned a "curved tail" but there is not a huge amount in the standard about tails other than the amount of hair that should be on them. So I guess my question is this, is carrying a tail high and curved when you're happy = a serious fault?? I was thinking he was going to be a good stud, especially since he has already finished his APRI championship. Really making me question myself

This is from Wikipedia, so I know it may not be the best source: The flap-down ears and famous curved tail of the dachshund have deliberately been bred into the dog. In the case of the ears, this is so that grass seeds, dirt, and other matter do not enter the ear canal. The curved tail is dual-purposed: to be seen more easily in long grass and, in the case of burrowing dachshunds, to help haul the dog out if it becomes stuck in a burrow.

And a pic of the dog in question:


Dontcha just love those "he's pretty but" comments?

Ok Karen, I tried resizing it again, but it still shows up huge and you can't see his tail

It looks good to me Ang, the pic size!!
I believe this is what they call a "gay" tail cause it is a "happy" tail!! My Rocky has the same thing but when he is stacked on the table it is correct. The only major fault is "knuckling over"! But this might not be a desired trait for in the ring. I don't show Rocky, so I have never really worried about it. He doesn't throw this on pups so far as I have seen. I honestly don't know a ton about the tails to know what the judges say about them in the ring! Ok are you confused yet, cause I am.....LOL!!!

That's a Happy tail Smile also called a Gay Tail....yes, a fault in the ring, but lets question who you are selling to and break this boy down Smile

Those that breed for the AKC show ring will say: Pull that boy

Those that breed pets will ask: how's his personality? How's his health testing? now if we have great health & a Great personality, who are you selling too? Pet customers just want a healthy happy dog.

Now, break it down further....is this your main and only foundation male? if it is and you want to get into AKC shows, you are going to probably have to re-think your program. According to the AKC standard:

Tail-Set in continuation of the spine, extending without kinks, twists, or pronounced curvature, and not carried too gaily..

Now if you are just starting out and your looking to add an AWESOME foundation male to spruce up your lines but you still want to hang onto this boy because he is your favorite, thats o.k. too.

Just remember it's your program and you will be judged on your choices in breeding, but if your o.k. with it and your breeding happy healthy dogs, some will say o.k. and some will say he's not 100% to the correct standard. Now, i will say your boy would be great in the field trials because you would easily be able to keep track of him, so yes it does have it's benefits in certain areas. He may even do great in agility. He looks like he could be a fast little guy.

You are not the only one who has been in this situation: here are a few stories:

http://www.breederweb.com/dogs/forum/62-wire-fox-terrier-board/21421

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061108140919AAmDB4J

Yes, I've heard it is called a gay tail as well. I found this on another forum awhile back and it is super useful. If you go to the link and move your cursor over the tail area it should you give you examples of the correct tail, and then the undesired ones (pump tail and gay tail).

http://www.sworab.com/d/

I love that diagram Thanks so much for sharing. Karen you can you make a sticky on just that diagram? It is so useful and really helps. I'm forever loosing it.

The reason a gay tail is undesireable is because of what happens with a dachshund when they go in the hole. It would be fine going in, but backing out? They can catch it at the top of the hole and it could break at the base.

However, some dogs carry their tail that way, but the tail *set* is fine. In that case, it's really a training issue-they need to learn to hold their tail level.

Both my pet longhairs have gay tails, and Cricket has that same curl at the end of hers when she's "on the prowl", and she carries it high sometimes. The curl doesn't bother me as long as her tail set is correct, and it is, and I'll just train her to keep it down while on a lead. I see quite a few dachies in the ring with gay tails-in fact the judges seem to like them even though they are incorrect. They see them as "happy dog tails". But the reason for a level tail is practical, not cosmetic.

I made the tail set a sticky in the Structure area!

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I went over and over the AKC standard earlier today and could not find that anywhere, lol!! Thank goodness I am getting new glasses on Thursday.

And no he doesn't have to be my foundation male. I have an awesome red male that is bred to Ireland who is definitely my best male, and quite possibly my best dog all around (toss-up between he and Ireland, lol). I was hoping for Patrick to be good for my pies, but I don't want to go backwards. That being said, Lucy has a very correct tail structure so hopefully the puppies will be correct as well. If after this litter, and maybe one more, there are still the majority of pups with this fault then I will place him in a pet home and begin my search again for a good pie.

So thankful for these forums where you can grow and learn. I certainly need it, lol!! I am comfortable with my program and hopefully anyone who looks at it can see I am making changes where needed to breed as close to the standard as possible. IMO everyone starts somewhere, and often must start over to get it right. I know I did about a yr ago, and will continue to replace when/if I need to. Finally feel good about most of my girls. And in the next year I am planning on trying to acquire a couple new boys that are better than what I have, so may as well add pie to the list! Must be why I'm so broke

Here's the statement on the dachshund standard as set by the DCA.

Tail - Set in continuation of the spine, extending without kinks, twists, or pronounced curvature, and not carried too gaily.