While it's true that on rare occassions OES are born without tails, the vast majority of them still have their tails bobbed/docked at a very early age. Their tails aren't short, but are regular "dog length". Gayle & the Hooligans! http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=6&uid=4294023 - Link to The Hooligans Albums -- "Norma Ramey" <gsdramey@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Yeaaa, for some ODD reason, my earlier post wasn't noted concerning this as well. OESs are born without tails - but I understand some aren't accepted as there may be 1 or 2 vertebrae and they cut anyway -- I gave a trivia info that docking & circumcising is done BEFORE 2 days of age because of less blood flow. Tails were originally done on hunting breeds to protect the short furred dogs as they go thru heavy brush etc. I've seen some tails get bloody while working. The ears were originally docked on guard and/or fighting dogs, like I saw Jackie mention, to avoid being grabbed by the ears. Who knows -- Norma and the critters wondering about cyberspace etc. etc. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues ============================================================================