Why do so many dogs have white tip at end of the tail?

Question

Is there any purpose for this?

Lumber Jack, what the hell is your problem?

Answer 1

Security. It serves as a reflector at night, in fog and also in case there is a dogfight, to view the tip...to see if it's still there.

Answer 2

Several of the hunting breeds, such as bassett hounds, have the white at the tip of their tail for safety reasons.

Since a bassett is short and will typically assist a hunter in tall grass, it is desireable to have a dog with the white tipped marking so that you can see their tail floating above the grass and not accidentally mark it as a hunting target.

Answer 3

In early stages of embryo development the cells that determine color start out along the spine and then move over the puppy's body. The tip of the tail, as well as the toes and feet, are the farthest away from the starting point. Many times the color does not make it that far.

Answer 4

well, to be completely honest, i didn't really know, so i clicked on to answer so i could read everybody else's answer and hopefully learn something-2 of my dogs have white tips and i thought it would be interesting to know (1 is a beagle). i have to say adrienne and imrielle's answers made the most sense to me -and terpster's answer was so scientifically full of crap that i bet someone could believe it--but i'd really like to know what lumberjack's problem is too---lol

by the way: the white tip on a beagles tail is called a "brush".

just wanted to share that little bit o' dog trivia with ya'all.

Answer 5

It's all about genetics and chromosomes.It depends what traits the parents have.they will have both but only one will show up ,the one you can see

Answer 6

well beagles have a white tip so the hunters can see them in the tall grass and so they don't lose them

Answer 7

That's a lame joke. It's not even funny.