--- title: Why Narwhal the 'Unicorn' Puppy Has a Tail on His Head description: Here's what we know about the extra tail on the face of the now-internet famous Narwhal the "unicorn" puppy. canonical: https://time.com/5729987/narwhal-unicorn-puppy/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2019-11-15T21:16:30.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-14T08:43:19.759Z og:title: Here's What We Know About the Extra Tail on Narwhal the 'Unicorn' Puppy's Head og:description: "It's like a Clark Kent hair swoosh" og:url: https://time.com/5729987/narwhal-unicorn-puppy/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc8c16b011e273944/698a061f656a3f7430bd9400/narwhal-dog-tail-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2400 og:image:height: 1350 og:image:alt: narwhal-dog-tail-2 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Here's What We Know About the Extra Tail on Narwhal the 'Unicorn' Puppy's Head twitter:description: "It's like a Clark Kent hair swoosh" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc8c16b011e273944/698a061f656a3f7430bd9400/narwhal-dog-tail-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'It's Like a Clark Kent Hair Swoosh.' Here's What We Know About the Extra Tail on Narwhal the 'Unicorn' Puppy's Head > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=01ff68e0-a676-4e3d-a41f-8b38a9e865db&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: How to Take Better Photos of Your Dog [Watch (HLS stream): How to Take Better Photos of Your Dog](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/RhpBI66N.m3u8) (2:45)  _Published 2015-10-12. Elias Weiss Freidman, a.k.a. The Dogist, has photographed more than 8,000 dogs_  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Nov 15, 2019 9:16 PM UTC  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Nov 15, 2019 9:16 PM UTC Turns out the “tail” on [Narwhal the “unicorn” puppy’s](https://people.com/pets/rescue-puppy-tail-on-head-named-narwhal/) head is basically just there so we can all fawn over it. If you haven’t yet had the privilege of seeing the photos and videos of Narwhal making their way around the web, then allow us to introduce you to the now-internet famous pup. Narwhal became a near instant viral star this week after the Twitter account [WeRateDogs](https://twitter.com/dog%5Frates/status/1194656412929908736) tweeted out a series of pictures showcasing the extra appendage growing out of his forehead. The Wednesday tweet has since garnered over 603,000 likes and nearly 129,000 retweets, and soon after its posting, celebrities like Zach Braff were also tweeting about how adorable Narwhal was. > [](https://twitter.com/dog%5Frates/status/1194656412929908736) > [](https://twitter.com/zachbraff/status/1194658526406172672) Rochelle Steffen, the founder and owner of [Mac’s Mission](https://www.iampitbullstrong.com), the special needs dog rescue that took Narwhal in on Nov. 8, says the face tail serves no real function and doesn’t affect his everyday life. “It’s like a Clark Kent hair swoosh. It’s not in his way at all. It just stays right in between his eyes and has a little bit of a curl under,” she tells TIME. “For the most part, he doesn’t even understand that he has it. He just goes around and does what he’s going to do and doesn’t care.” However, Steffen says that the vet who examined Narwhal’s face tail told her there is a scientific explanation for its existence — but it may be difficult to identify. “We had the discussion the day we did the x-rays,” Steffen says. “There’s the possibility that he absorbed a twin because they do that in the womb. Or it could just be a random extra part that formed on him without anybody understanding why. \[The vet\] said figuring out the cause is probably pretty impossible.”  Courtesy Mac's Mission Steffen previously shared on Facebook that the vet had concluded the extra tail, which isn’t connected to anything, is harmless in its current state. Although it doesn’t wag like a normal dog tail. “Dr. Heuring said there is no real reason at this time for the unicorn tail to be removed (and we all wish it wagged)!!” Mac’s Mission wrote in a [Nov. 12 Facebook post](https://www.facebook.com/macthepitbull/posts/2572118142869139?%5F%5Ftn%5F%5F=-R). “The unicorn face tail does not bother Narwhal and he never slows down just like any normal puppy. He seems completely healthy other than some usual puppy worms he got meds for.”  Courtesy Mac's Mission However, for all of you wondering if this unique and adorable pup could be yours, Narwhal apparently won’t be up for adoption until [Mac’s can ensure](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2561316430610557) that his face tail isn’t going to have a growth spurt and become an issue. That doesn’t mean there aren’t people already expressing interest in giving him a forever home though. Steffen tells TIME that when she last checked on Thursday, Mac’s had received about 300 adoption applications for Narwhal. “We want to watch him grow for a little while. At the very earliest, it would probably be about a month before we post out that we’re accepting applications,” she says. “We just want to make sure that \[the tail\] doesn’t turn into like, an elephant tusk, and become a problem.” For now, Steffen says that Narwhal is just being given the opportunity to live life as the fun-loving pup that he is. “He’s just being allowed to be a puppy,” Steffen tells TIME. “He’s learning how to potty train, he’s playing with toys, he’s getting treats and everybody’s fighting over holding him…He just makes you smile.” ## Transcript I look for a moment between me and the dog. My name is Elias Weiss Friedman and I take photos of dogs around the world. I think the first rule is to get Down on a dog's level. [ MUSIC ] The next rule is to have something they want. So, that's the toy or food. [ MUSIC ] And to use that and move it around the lens. [ MUSIC ] If you give them a minute to sort of relax They'll sort of lose energy and that's when they will sit and really stare at you. [ MUSIC ] Too easy. [ MUSIC ] It's like I'll stalk the dog a little bit Can I take a photo of your dog? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I tend to perch from the dog's side, so give him a little space. Sit, sit, sit. Sit. Good girl. [ MUSIC ] Dogs are like children for a lot of people. You're asking to photograph something meaningful to them. We have to be sensitive to that. [ MUSIC ] Don't wear clothing that you don't want to get torn up cuz you have dogs jumping on you. You're gonna get slobber all over you. [ MUSIC ] But I have a back up squeaky, beef jerky, lens wipes for slobber on the lens. [ MUSIC ] No? You don't want that? Good Max. He's on. [ LAUGH ] Max, sit. [ MUSIC ] I think that what I want people to get out of my work is sort of an overall sense of happiness. These dogs. All they need is food and love. It's very simple. And you can see that in their face. [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5729987/narwhal-unicorn-puppy/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5729987/narwhal-unicorn-puppy/"},"headline":"'It's Like a Clark Kent Hair Swoosh.' 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