No tails a hindrance??

[Chip's Mom]

Debbie

I agree - Corgis kick butt tail or no tail.

[Michael Romanos]

I think the writer of the article was using Corgis only as an example - probably because the Pems are extremely visably short of a tail and because in NZ Pems/Corgis in agility is a rareity

[MattC]

I hope this is helpful info...I spoke to my vet and she said that it is true that dogs do use their tails for balance however there is no proof that dogs without tails are less agile. I think this theory should be considered to be along the lines of the "Mustard Seed" theory.

[Michael Romanos]

A dog with less balancing ability will be affected in agility competition though the problem will not appear to make them any less agile. I think that if you loped off the tail of a dog who has been a good agility exponent, that dog may very well be slowed in ultra quick turning maneuvers in agility. But if the dog had no tail from birth or within a couple of weeks of his/her life, then any balancing disadvantage would not be apparent. It could be that generally a tailless dog can run faster in a straight line than a tailed dog of the same breed because they are not 'weighted' down by a tail that could be significant (long and well coated).