no tail cause problems?
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| There are several posts here about tail vs no tail.......it can be a subject people get quite passionate about.
But as far as problems with BM's I don't think the lack of tail causes any problem. ALthough I think you'll find that many (most?) sheepies do what is affectionately called the poop walk, the tend to walk in circles while pooping. I never really thought about it before but I wonder if that doesn't help with the elimination process. BUT one absolute necessity is keeping the hair around the bum hole clipped short to prevent what we affectionately call dingleberries. The read about the horror of dingleberries read the post below 
http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=11216 |
I had my first OES for almost 15 years and having no tail was never a problem for him - except that it was not cropped properly and that in itself was a problem. I think without the tail is a plus for poop issues  Imagine all that hair in the way!
And Ginny ( tasker's mom ) I am so glad you mentioned the "poop walk"! My puppy does that and I thought something was wrong or he was having difficulty going! So, it isn't just a puppy thing? My friend's Westie pup does it too... |
| It seems to be a sheepdog thing. Barkley is 7 1/2 months now and he's been doing the poop-walk every day since we brought him home at 8 weeks.
It's kinda cute, but I just have to laugh at myself walking around in circles with a plastic bag.  |
| We keep our 4 clipped shorter with a coat length of no more that 3 1/2 to 4" which makes for easier maintainance. But no matter what length coat, you need to make sure the fur around the anus (also the vulva in females) is trimmed shorter. It's not only for hygiene but for the health of the dog. Poor Jackson, the sheepie rescue Nancy Hakala with Minnesota OES Rescue is currently working with, is a very sad example of neglect (and neglecting to maintain the fanny area)- http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/dis ... id=7744004.
The only time "stuff" ever got stuck on mine was if they had diarrhea. And if a quick fanny wash is needed, we simply put the back half of the dog in the tub and wash them off with a hand-held sprayer. Jaci |
| Thanks everyone!
I will pass on the poopy circles information - it sounds like a good indicator of what may come Its interesting to note that my mixed pom and ? only brings in twigs and grass! I'm sure I sound like a real pesky grandma but I have told my daughter and husband how crucial good grooming is for a number of reasons as you have referred to. Its also not easy for visitors to feel affectionate toward a stinky or matted dog or cat of any kind.  |
| Boy do I know the poop walk! When I moved into my new neighborhood, everyone thought I was a bit weird walking behind a dog, bent over, with a walmart bag over my hand. Now the neighbors know it's just a Sheepie thing, and I'm weird.
robinj, You sound like the best grandmom an OES could ask for. |
| LOL...I'm out in my yard at night with a flashlight trying to find what to pick up because we start at one place and end at another!
By the way, I use little sandwich baggies...easier to handle than a big Wal mart bag! |
Ashley wrote: By the way, I use little sandwich baggies...easier to handle than a big Wal mart bag!
I like the sealable baggy idea! Especially since feeding holistic food. Certainly has added a new level of odor.  |
Ashley wrote: By the way, I use little sandwich baggies...easier to handle than a big Wal mart bag!
Sandwich baggies would be too small for Barkley.  |
Sheepie Heaven wrote: Ashley wrote: By the way, I use little sandwich baggies...easier to handle than a big Wal mart bag! Sandwich baggies would be too small for Barkley. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! What a MAN!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Dingleberries is not a sheepdog trait. My Pyrs also have problems. It's the fluffy hair back "thar." Pyrs do have a good tail for cranking and yes, I think it helps them stay in one spot.........unless they have bad hips and are ancient. Fox now travels more than a sheepdog, except he goes in a straight line 
Clippers allow for easy "poop shoot" sculpting and an easier discovery zone for possible problems. |
| I have a sheepie with a tail and one without.
My tailed boy poops and walks, but lifts his tail nice and high so we never have any problems on the actual tail. He takes his time, and often takes 2 or 3 jobs... My bobbed gal does not poop and walk...She runs around till she finds a spot....pauses, crouches, drops then runs off....All is done nice and quick! |
Sheepie Heaven wrote: Ashley wrote: By the way, I use little sandwich baggies...easier to handle than a big Wal mart bag! Sandwich baggies would be too small for Barkley. Exactly what I was thinking! |
| Too small for my beast too!
My maltese has dingleberries. It's like she's afraid of her own poop and has to run for it. The problem is her little poops get wrapped in MY hair, so what's "stuck" is the end of my hair.  |
| hahahahaha - us too. Quart bags would be about perfect most of the time. |
| I didn't realize the Poop Walk, what we fondly refer to as the Travelling Poop is a Sheepie thing. We kept thinking this was just one of Fred's quirks.
It is very difficult to follow the trail at night; in the morning I have to return to the scene of the crime for fear I have missed something. |
| Our 7 lb min pin Tazz is the king of the circling poop walk. He moves real quick and jerky, with his legs all stiff and straight. very funny looking! |
| We use the vegetable bags you get at the grocery stores. |
| I just bought one of those pooper scoopers with the rake. Works great! I used to go around with a bag, but thought there has to be any easier way. Now he generally goes in one or two areas of the yard, so it makes cleaning/picking up at a later date not a big problem.
Obe does not do a walk, he will just go smell find a spot and do his business. Sometimes afterwards he will walk a foot or so away and go again. Dont understand that one. |
| I have a Mini Australian shepherd. She has NO tail at all (not even a stub to lift) and lots of fur. She is the queen of dingleberries! She also poops in a circle. round and round she goes. Where the dingles drop... (in the house and on the stairs).. nobody knows.. The fur is an issue, but most importantly, a tail helps to "lift" the area where the waste can drop clean and clear. Without a tail, it just goes into the surrounding fur. Big design flaw.. I have to keep the backend cut very short to avoid the dingles from clinging to the fur.... Mini Aussies apparently also do the "circle and poop" dance.. |
| Haven't seen this post before and finally I know Monty is not a weirdo dog when he does the poop walk, I thought it looked so strange. There are no other sheepdogs on our walks to compare to. Drives us crazy as there is a poop trail of about 6 poops, no sandwich bag to use as pick up for us. Also does it three times on a walk. No issues with cropped tail and pooping, just need to remember to keep the butt hair trimmed or there is a nasty present bought back into the house. Buster has a sit down poop, you see nothing come out, and you would swear he was just sitting there accept he looks away. He is so polite, and only goes once, mind you it is a very large handful and usually miles from the path we are taking so it is a long walk to get there  |
| Dunno about poop walk? Archie complete with tail picks a spot normally a distance from me when off the lead, does an extremely tight circle several times with an almost embarrassed look on his face, almost like he is checking making sure no one see's him go, tail out covering his dignity from casual observers! Great fun picking it up from long grass! When on the lead I can tell when he is about to go his pace picks up for about 15 yards then stops immediately (no circling) and goes then stands aside while I pick it up checking that I get it all. Only time there was any mess on his coat was when he had the puddle poos.... |
| both our OES have/ currently doing the poop walk, glad to know it's normal! our first one had his tail removed and it gave us tons of problems. He had this 3" scar you could see and it was so jagged and horribly done. he had anal gland issues his whole life, difficulty going poop and was always rooting around back there with his nose. His scar would always get raw and red when he would attempt to scratch it. our present OES has about a 2 inch tail stump which he can wag- so funny to see. we have only had him 2 months but so far no issues with having a stump tail, pooping and glands all seem normal. in my opinion for the 2 dogs we have had, the tail/ no tail makes a huge difference. but maybe if the first one's tail was docked better (maybe by someone more skilled) we wouldn't have had any issues. |
| We have noticed Sprocket rear end stays cleaner than the previous 3,he has a tail and the others didn't. As for the poop walk,he isn't so bad as our last one tho first morning one seems to be done in 2 halfs so we don't tie the bag to quick now we know.x |
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