Our Great Dane Bender has had "happy tail", bare spot from hitting something while wagging. It healed and was just a bare spot for a couple of years. He did it again 2 months ago--we have tried ointment, wrapping with guaze, and taping it over--he won't leave it alone and 3 days ago it looked like a massacre all over the backyard as he chewed the tape and bandage off as well as the tip of his tale--bone showing. Took him to the Vet and he now has a 4 inch tale, but is not recovering as quick as we hoped--hopefully we can bring him home tomorrow while we wave goodbye to vacations for the next 2 years--he's now more expensive than all the dogs I've had in the last 50 years.