wgg (03/22/83)
Rottweilers are not born tailless. They come by it surgically as pups. This is true of all bobtailed dog breeds -- at least, I am not aware of any naturally tailless breed. The Rottweiler is an interesting dog. The Doberman Pinscher was bred from this breed, largely. As you might expect, they come in your basic Doberman color scheme -- black with tan muzzle, ears and feet. However, they are a good deal heavier than a Doberman. In fact, one good Rottweiler weighs about a Doberman and a half. Back in the old country, (Germany, Belgium and some in Holland,) they used to use them to pull wagons. The story goes that the canny farmer, on his way back from market, used to tie his purse to the Rottweiler's neck. The highwaypersons who used to abound in those days found it distinctly poor for the health to try to remove the purse from such an animal. Fortunately, they are good natured, in general. If your dog has the full tail, he probably isn't purebred. The breeder always has his tail docked before he is sold. Of course, as Thurber once said, it may only be a hysterical tail and will go away if you can get the dog's mind on something else.