518 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



breed, and in the best-bred specimens it is not a stump or 

 a short tail, but absolutely no tail at all, the extremity of 

 the spine being free from any lump or vestige of a tail. 

 Half, or even whole tails are not at all uncommon, even in 

 well-bred litters, but this is to be attributed to a cross of 

 foreign blood at some period; and these long- tailed puppies, 

 mated with others naturally long-tailed, will throw short- 

 tailed or tailless puppies. I know a dog, the produce of 

 litter brother and sister, both naturally long-tailed, who is 

 bobtailed naturally, and never got a full-tailed pup, although 

 tried with mongrels with full tails, Black and Tan Terriers, 

 etc. ..The common supposition is that this short tail is a 

 relic of the days when dogs with shortened tails were 

 exempt from taxation, but this is clearly inadmissible. 



Cropping the ears of Terriers and Boarhounds, docking 

 the tails of Spaniels, Fox Terriers, etc. , and shaving the coats 

 of Poodles has been practiced from time immemorial, yet 

 no change in the natural conformation of either breed has 

 been the result. The cats of the Isle of Man are naturally 

 tailless, and so must the bobtailed dog have originally been. 



It is for practical work that the bobtailed dog stands 

 unequaled. Apparently his uncompromisingly ugly looks 

 have saved him from being a victim to the pranks of 

 " fancy," and having no use but use, he has naturally been 

 bred for use alone. It would be but natural that the owner 

 of a good working bitch should select a good working dog 

 as her mate, and thus the instinct of work has been kept 

 alive in the breed, and in fact stimulated to the highest 

 possible degree. Then the breed has been more used around 

 households than the Collie. In Scotland, sheep-farming 

 has been carried on on lands remote from habitations, and 

 the shepherd and his dog were often separated from human 

 associations for a considerable time. Thus the Collie is less 

 a household dog, hence his shy and suspicious nature; 

 while the Bobtail, being employed to herd, drive, and watch 

 stock, to guard his master's premises, drive trespassing 

 stock away, and being in general the friend and associate 

 of his master's family, has developed that charming dispo- 



