The Waving Plume
It has often been said that, when a particular breed
characteristic begins to disappear, opinions form that the trait is no longer
important. Tailset
and carriage of the Alaskan Malamute has become such a
prolific problem that it is not unusual to only find one or two correct tails
in a ring of 25 or more dogs. Ringside
observers, including some prospective judges, have frequently asked me what is
wrong with a certain dog’s tail, only to discover that the dog in question was
the only one with a correct waving plume!
The standard states that the tail is moderately set and
follows the line of the spine at the base.
It is carried over the back and is not snapped or curled tight against
the back. Likewise it is not short
furred like a fox brush. The tail should
be well furred and give the appearance of a waving plume. The 1935 standard gave the tail 10 points out
of 100 on the scale of importance. In
1982 the description of the tail was clarified, however the numerical figure
was dropped to 5 points on the scale. In
retrospect I feel that may not have been a wise decision, as it indicated to
both breeders and judges that tails were the lowest importance. The current standard no longer uses a point
scale but the description is complete and easy to understand.
Common faults include tails that are tightly curled or even
double curled, tails that lay flat on the back of the dog, and tails that hang
sharply down one side. In addition, some
tails lack sufficient fur length, and many are set too high or too low to be
carried properly. Another problem that
unfortunately is gaining notoriety rapidly is the tail that is too short or
stubby. Some actually give the
appearance of being half-tails. Many of
these short tails cannot curve towards the back at all.
The ideal Malamute tail will curve nicely over the back and
only the hair on the tip of the tail may touch the back slightly. When standing naturally, the tail may hang
down. This is not an indication of an
incorrect tailset (in fact quite the opposite), but
rather an expression of mood when the dog is bored, tired, resting, etc. When moving the Malamute may carry the tail
up in the waving plume or may trail the tail behind. Malamutes that are concentrating hard on
working at sledding or weight pulling will often trail their tails or carry
them low. Tails also perform the
function as “rudders” in balancing the dogs when making hard turns or negotiating
uneven terrain. If you doubt that statement,
watch any geriatric Malamute that is becoming weaker in the rear and is having
more difficulty walking. Invariably the
dog will use his tail like a rudder, stiffening it from side to side for
balance and steering.
The tail of the Malamute is considered to be an important
survival characteristic. A long,
well-furred tail serves as an insulator from the cold. It is generally felt that the tail should be
long enough to at least reach the hock or slightly below in order to perform
properly and efficiently. Without
sufficient length & fur, the Malamute cannot effectively use his tail to
protect his nose and other vital organs in severely cold temperatures. In extreme cold, the tail can be tucked
between or under the rear legs. The dog
then folds into a tightly curled position, covering his nose & eyes with
his tail. The tail also serves as a mood
indicator and communication tool. It
can display fear, playfulness, happiness, nervousness, and aggression, to name
a few. There’s nothing prettier than to
see a Malamute gaiting around the show ring with a
correct tail waving and wagging in the breeze.
The argument that “they don’t pull sleds with their tails”
lacks merit. It can likewise be said
that Malamutes don’t pull sleds with their coats, ears,
eyes, bites or heads, yet each of those features combined correctly give the
Malamute breed type and are important elements in the standard of
perfection.
Used by permission of the author: Vicky Jones; 295
Cannon Rd. Sharpsburg 30277
Originally published in the AKC GAZETTE – ALASKAN MALAMUTES –
July 2006
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