A gay tail turns back towards the head, a squirrel tail almost lays on the back. The standard says that the tail is carried slightly higher than the back but it's illustration for a correct tail has the tail at between a 45 and 90 degree angle, quite a bit higher than slightly. Chandler has a fabulous and correct tail set and carriage. I like to see it when the hair is flowing back when in movement but not carried like that of a setter.
When I cut tails I measure them by the line of demarcation under the tail, 1/8 inch into the black. I've occasionally gotten one that is a bit longer or shorter as an adult than I would have liked but it's pretty accurate. Tail carriage can be physical (pelvic angle or length of croup) or it can be tempermental. Submissive dogs will often tilt the pelvis and make the set look low.
As we see more and more dogs with full tails we may have to breed for gay tails so that the long tails don't end up looking like that of some of the sporting dogs. I prefer a gay tail on a full tailed dog, it looks more balanced to me.
__________________
Tami |