FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
“WHEREAS THE ANGULATION OF THE CROUP DEPENDS UPON THE CURVE OF THE SACRAL AND TAIL VERTEBRAE, THE ANGULATION OF THE PELVIS DEPENDS UPON THE ANGULATION FORMED AT THE SACROILIAC JOINTS, WHERE THE SACRUM ARTICULATES WITH THE ILIAC OF THE PELVIS.”
to also have a flat pelvis. But it is also possible for a dog to have a flat croup with a high tail set, and yet have a steep pelvis. This actually occurs quite frequently in my breed, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, with its flat croup and high tail set, and yet the pelvis is steep and therefore, in motion, the dog cannot follow through behind. THE TAIL The tail is formed by a line of coccygeal vertebrae, usually twenty in number, which gradually become smaller toward the end of the tail. The first vertebra of the tail is about as wide as it is long. From this vertebra, the body of each following vertebra gradually lengthens to about the middle of the tail, and then the following vertebrae shorten toward the end of the tail. As to the function of the tail, one may often look to the tail to determine the mood of the dog; happy, aggressive, stressed, etc. Dogs communicate with body language and the tail is no exception. A tail held high and wagging back and forth usually means a happy dog. A low, wagging tail may mean the dog is insecure or worried. A tail held horizontally to the ground may depict interest in something, and a tucked tail may mean the dog is unsure of the situation, is frightened, or is indicating submission. A dog with a tail held upright and rigid may be feeling challenged or threatened. Not only does the dog use his tail to demonstrate his feelings, the tail is also used to spread the dog’s personal scent wherever he has been. Each dog has his own unique scent excreted from the anal glands, which can be widely spread by the motion (wagging) of the tail. The tail may also be used as a counterbalance to the weight of their body when in motion. Many dogs learn to use the tail to do just that in tight turns or when crossing narrow areas when working in search and rescue or competing in agility. Many breeds seem to be using their tail as a rudder, especially when working in water retrieving—whether it be waterfowl or bumpers. When watching the sighthounds running down the lure, it is often a lovely sight to see a long tail streaming out behind the dog. However, having lived with a tailless breed for over 45 years, I have never seen a Corgi suffer from the lack of a tail when working livestock or zipping around an agility arena—or even when swimming. I believe that any dog, even if born with a tail, can learn to adjust without one. The many muscles and nerves associated with the tail of the dog are also associated with the rectum, the anus, and the pelvic diaphragm, and they contribute to bowel control and movement. So, there you have it. The tail is the end of this tale! If you have any comments or questions, or to schedule a seminar on structure and movement, contact me via jimanie@welshcorgi.com.
Figure 3. Sacroiliac Joint of Sacrum to Pelvis
Figure 4. Pelvic girdle showing pelvic slope and croup (darker area) from the side.
Whereas the angulation of the croup depends upon the curve of the sacral and tail vertebrae, the angulation of the pelvis depends upon the angulation formed at the sacroiliac joints, where the sacrum articulates with the iliac of the pel- vis. The pelvic girdle is formed by three primary, symmetrical bone pairs. On each side are (1) the ilium, (2) the ischium, and (3) the pubis bones (see Figure 4). The pelvic bones are joined directly to the three fused sacrum vertebrae by the sacroiliac joint. The angle in which the pairs of bones are attached to the sacrum is called the pelvic girdle slope. This angle varies from dog to dog. It is very important to know that the angulation of the croup and the angulation of the pelvis are INDEPEN- DENT of each other. Most often, the angles of the croup and pelvis are similar—a dog with a flat croup most often tends
184 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2021
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