[yorkietalkjilly]

From what I have read, Yorkies were bred for working down low chasing rats through every crevice, crack and hole in often very primitive living conditions. When a Yorkie is chasing prey, it stops at nothing. They would catch their tails on things, scratch them on wood splinters, exposed nails, cut them, other animals, including other dogs, and the rats themselves, would bite tails as they raced in and out, over and under whatever happened to be in the barn or outbuildings, farm yard, mine - you name it, and in the end-game fight. A Yorkie will squeeze into and put his body in the most precarious positions when he's scenting something or chasing.

Broken, ampulated tails, tails stomped by farm animals, lacerated and shredded tails were a problem as Yorkie's always were and are extremely prey-driven and won't stop for anything when on the trail of small prey. Many Yorkies also have fragile tails as opposed to the Lab, whose tail is much sturdier. Many other terriers have docked tails for the same reason. I have never met a Lab, Bichon or Shih Tzu who are as prey-driven as a Yorkie on the scent - maybe they are but I, for one, am glad Tibbe's dail is docked as he thinks he is still a working dog and would go through a shredder on impulse to get what he is after! He has no impulse control at all where real or perceived prey is concerned and is up and gone and into whatever B4 I can look up, let alone stop him.

If we did have mice or rats here, I hate to think what this dog would do to get to one and am pretty sure no broken tail would stop him! For that reason, even though most of us don't live in primitive conditions, there are still many perils for a racing, driven dog diving under rocker recliners or any low-to-the-ground yard furniture, fences, gates, bicycles lying on their sides, stored garden equipment, etc. I am glad Tibbe has a docked tail, little prick ears and no dew claws as he still chases things as if he were a working dog back in the mines or something.