Are Corgis Born Without Tails?

The corgi, according to Time, is a popular breed of dog that is adored by many. They are short, small dogs around 10 to 12 inches long at the shoulder and weighing around 25 to 30 pounds. According to the Lakeshore Pembroke Corgi Club site, they are sometimes born without tails but more often have them docked at an early age for the sake of appearance.

There is a unique story to how the corgis came to be known and preferred without tails. According the the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club Reserve, corgis were originally kept by peasants to help destroy vermin in the 10th century. To preserve royal game, however, it was decreed that all dogs were somehow mutilated to prevent poaching. Herdsman were required to have the tail docked, or "cur-tailed," and so the corgi began to be recognized this way. This tradition is kept alive today.

In 2007, a ban was issued on the docking of any corgis tail in England. This led to a decline in breeding, as many corgis were found undesirable with their tails intact. Many breeders gave up breeding corgis as anything more than a hobby. Today, the numbers of corgis have declined so that they are now on the native endangered breed list and the Britain Kennel Club's "at watch" list.