Pups born with short tails?

Question

Ok, my friend has 4 day old pups, the mother is a golden retriever, and the dad(s) are a redish & white hunting dog (with spots, a very long tail and legs, maybe he's a pointer, or something like that?) and a rottie. I know the pups have both dads since half of the pups look like each. None look like mom.
Some of the puppies have very short, docked-looking tails. Where did this come from, how common is it, and how could this have happened throughout the bloodlines??? I believe each of the dogs are full blooded. I know it's a crazy mix and anything could have happened, but my friend is astounded by this phenomonon.
I appriciate this help, and my friend will too! Thanks in advanced for the answers!
;o)

I told you, BOTH are the Dad!!!! Half the pups are rottie-looking, and the others are white/redidsh!

Um, people, rotties are born with tails, and people MAKE them short by docking them!

Answer 1

It's a crap shoot where he genes will fall. That 's why when you have a litter between 2 same breed dogs the breeder will look for ether the best of both parent or he or she will look for the pups that she wants to look like the either the sire or the dame.

When you have a mixed breed combo then it's a 50/50 chance where the genes fall and who the pups are going to take after. However a docked looking tail is not a gene factor it's an abnormality. They are only 4 days old and have alot of growing to do so those tiny tail just may grow to normal lengths.

Answer 2

It is just the puppy length. Like the rest of their bodies the tails will grow as time passes. If you feel a Golden's tail you'll find the actual length of the tail without the long hair is about half of what you are looking at. Don't worry the tails will get bigger, after all the are only 4 days old.

Answer 3

Australia cattle dogs, (Queensland heelers) and Old English sheep dogs, and some of the bully breeds (including Bostons) are the only common breeds born with short tails. I would suspect that one of the parents has one of the short-tailed breeds in the background.
However, I did have a female, purebred, who produced 2 puppies, one each in two litters (different sires) with short tails. Both were female pups, and both had other deformities, internally. (reproductive organs)

Answer 4

yes, a lot of dogs have short tails! You are lucky because if they had long tails like my dog Leroy you would have to watch out 4 stepping on it. It is common and with a mix like that, you never know what your dogs are going to end up looking like!!!!

Answer 5

Cockers have their tails docked at a million-3 days old. in view that they're mixes there is not any reason to dock them & it won't help or benefit them to be docked. keep in mind each and each domestic dog could have a distinctive father which you ought to be shocked.

Answer 6

well, rottweilers have short tails, so that could be your answer right there. It could also be a genetic defect, or a recessive trait - especially if the hunting dog is a mix - maybe his mother had a short tail.

Answer 7

Female dogs have several ovum at one time and their ovums can be fertilized by several different males.

The strongest swimmers hit the mark.

Answer 8

Anytime there are mixes, there are bound to be faults, or birth defects. This could be the case. I hope your friend is having the dog spayed after this....I was just at my local shelter and there were so many puppies.....so sad.

Answer 9

Are you sure the hunting dog is the father?

Answer 10

Awwwww, how cute!