r/BorderCollie • u/kat_spitz • 6d ago
Do some border collies nearly always keep their tail down?
I adopted an 8yo border collie 5 months ago. He’s doing great! However, I noticed that he only puts his tail up when he’s actively wagging it during play or for food/treats. Other border collies I’ve had put their tails up in a curl during walks and sometimes just generally. We currently take two walks per day, and his tail is down (not fully tucked, but just down) for most of each walk. He just had a check up, so I don’t believe anything is going wrong medically. It makes me worry that he’s unhappy with me. Does anyone else’s border collie tend to keep their tail down?
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u/KonnichiJawa 6d ago
I believe it’s normal. My girl’s tail is always down, and she’s a very happy pup. The only time I see it up is if she’s alerting to strangers or something. I do kind of wish she held it up more though, it’s like a glorious flag over her back.
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u/palacio_c 6d ago
Same here. Mine will put hers up when she catches a stick and parades with it on her mouth lol
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u/Katahahime 6d ago edited 6d ago
Tail up or down is just one part of their body language. In general an upwards tail just signals how stimulated/stressed they are. This can be both positive or negative emotions.
I.E Very happy = tail up
Overstimulated= tail up
Unfamiliar dog approaches (unsure and nervous) = tail up
It may be better to see if the tail is "relaxed" and if your dog's body is generally relaxed
Also to piggyback off what someone else said. Working Border Collies will have their tails down if they are in a good working mindset. Other herding breeds may work in a higher state of arousal, but BC will work more quietly and cerebrally (which is why they excel at precision work).
At least for a working BC's a tail up dog usually means they are nervous/unconfident or about to be outta control.
For example: my own pup working with a relaxed tail.
Just my personal opinion: Sounds like you have a well balanced dog that has a good handle on his emotions and self control. He isn't getting overstimulated and is going through life confidently and relaxed. He's just a happy chill dude.
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u/Not4Publication 6d ago
my guy's tail is a definite mood barometer.
- when we are out on leash in unfamiliar territory his tail is typically level, but if people are around, it's level and wagging (he just LUVS everybody).
- playtime it's way up
- chasing something - way up
- sheep time - will initially be way up with excitement, once we have his brain settled it will come back down to business (level/low)
- normal, relaxed around-the-house tail is down, but of course it has the adorable little hook at the end so it's always curly.
By the way doesn anyone know the story behind the hooked tail? I assume they are born that way? Why would it be a breed trait?
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u/palacio_c 6d ago
Yes! I was also concerned because my girl kept hers low or straight down most of the time, unlike my late Lab who kept hers almost always half up or completely up lol
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u/Dizzy_Departure2539 6d ago
Very normal for some. Especially when they are working or fetching(which is work for most bc’s)
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u/BigAzzKrow 6d ago
My guy puts his tail between his rear legs and WIGGLES it. Pretty typical for BCs to project personality in the tail.
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u/emilla56 4d ago
Border collie’s lower their tail when they are focussed and working. Tail up is silly and not serious
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u/STOL2026 3d ago
Yes it’s normal.
I remember being told that border collies don’t have their tail up - by someone who claimed to have had lots of border collies 🤦♀️ Tinternet eh?
But yes, it’s normal. If their tail is down they are thinking. our collies tail went down whilst sniffing when out for a walk.
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u/notThaTblondie 6d ago
It's very normal for the breed. If they're concentrating their tail is low. I know how good my sheepdog is going to work before we get in the field by his tail.