Tail set

Justicemom

Justicemom

Forums Celebrity
I have a questions for breeders here.

What is the genetics of a gay tail? Is it dominant, recessive or more complex? Is it related to tail set or steep or flat croup? When do you call a tail gay? If the tail base goes higher than horizontal or does it need to break over the back?

Thank for input.:smile2:
 
Not a breeder here, but my Lucky has a gay tail. I didn't realize what it was called either until a breeder on Everything Sheltie, stated the sheltie had to go to a pet home, because of a gay tail. Then I looked up about the gay tail.

Lucky's tail curls up onto his butt when he runs. It almost looks like a spitz's tail, but not that severe.

Hopefully one of the breeder's can explain better then me on this one.
 
I'm not a breeder either..I never thought about if the tail was set high..I thought it was how they carried their...curling it up high..

My Clancy has a 'gay tail' he prefers for you to call him metrosexual tho..:lol:

Julie
Clancy & Abby
 
Barbara Thompson of Bar-Wood told me a gay tail is one that is carried over the plane of the back. THis applies when the Sheltie is still or moving.
 
Do you know how many weird sites come up when you type "gay tail" in a Google search?!!!!

Good One Julie!
 
RonandJan said:
Do you know how many weird sites come up when you type "gay tail" in a Google search?!!!!

Good One Julie!
Click to expand...
I hate to think! I'll just take your word for it.

Julie, I dare you to attend a breeder's standard seminar to lobby for a change in terminology. :wink2:

Now, I hope some of our breeders weigh on the original question. I'm interested to find out what part tail set plays in tail orientation.
 
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"Gay" is when the tail actually curls over the back - pointing towards the head. However, any tail-set that causes the tail to go higher than the plane of the back is faulty.

You start to see bad tail-sets with flat croups. The tail seems to "break" out of an odd place, instead of just being a natural extension of the spine.

I'm inclined to say it's dominant, but, like most structural faults, there are numerous causes, and probably numerous genetic ways to get the trait. It's definitely something that you don't want getting into your line.
 
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