When your dog’s breed has a tail that resembles an old fashioned pump handle, one without curl that’s carried a bit low and tapers to a point, it might be what’s called a “crank” tail. This tail is arched out from the body, then hangs down and angles out at the end. It’s a fault in some breeds, but not in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier: From the AKC breed standard: “The tail is undocked, of medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. It should not curl much and may be likened to an old-fashioned pump handle.”

Missing You by Lesley McVicar is available as a print, poster, pillow and more here.The image of a crank tail is by Dan Sayer and appears in the fabulous, must- have book that Mr. Sayer illustrated, The Encyclopedia of K-9 Terminology by Edward Gilbert, Jr and Patricia Gilbert