Why did dog owners originally dock dogs tails?

Question

I know that more recently people do it to be in keeping with the breed standard, but why did they do it originally. For instance, why did they dock Jack Russells tails, or Cocker Spaniels? And how did they do it and did it hurt the poor things? How do they do it today?

Answer 1

Originally, Romans thought it prevented rabies. Later, if a dog was a 'working' dog, it was not taxed when the taxmen came to collect. So, in order to not have your dog taxed (in old Europe), you had to have it's tail docked to show proof it wasn't just a pet. For instance, Rottweilers herded cattle, Boxers handled bulls at the butcher, Spaniels hunted birds & game for the family dinner, many terriers controlled rats & mice on farms - so they were not taxed as they earned their keep. After those laws ended, people continued this practice on as tradition. It is mosty considered cosmetic, and is now illegal is some places such as England & Australia, along with ear cropping. It is now no longer required to be an AKC champion, but it will probably take years for it to be completely phased out in America.

It is done by a vet when the pups are 3-5 days old - the tail is obviously part of the spine, and it is done at this age when it has not developed all the nerves so it is less painful or dangerous then. The tail is clipped off with sterile clippers, then a stitch is put in (dewclaws are usually removed at this time, too). No anesthesia is used, as it would actually be dangerous in pups that young. The pups cry for a few minutes, then settle down - very much like baby boys being curcumcised. They will never have a memory of this, so it does not traumitize them for life. Some think it is cruel & barbaric, but I personally would not want to be whipped repeatedly by a tail attatched to a happy Boxer or Rottweiler - ouch! They would most likely end up breaking them until they had to be surgically removed, anyway - like happens to many Great Danes. If you look at a Great Dane 5 years old & up, many times their tails will have several 'knotty' bumps from injuries. Many vets think that is a breed that should have it's tail docked!

Answer 2

Tails are docked, ears are cropped. If you buy from a reputable, responsible breeder (and unless you adopt, this is the only other way you should get a dog), then the tails will be docked on the Boxer according to the breed standard, since docking is done at ~3 days old, must be done for conformation trials, and that age is too young to assess pup quality. Pit bull tails are *not* docked. Cropping is not required for conformation showing, but the majority are still cropped - this is done from 8-12 weeks of age, and is generally up to the owner. I do not think it is cruel, as long as it is done properly, by someone who knows what they are doing - so vets for ears, and either vets or great breeders for tails. Add: From the UKC web site (the only reputable registry in the USA that recognizes APBTs): "Disqualification: Bobbed tail."

Answer 3

Different breeds, different reasons.

Some retriever breeds had their tails removed to stop them from getting caught in bushes and being injured. This would apply to the spaniels.

Other dogs had their tails docked to make them look more intimidating. The tax collector that turned up with a fierce looking doberman was more likely to be able to extract money from non-payers through fear. If the dog was wagging its tail it wouldn't look nearly as vicious.

Just as an aside, I saw a rottweiler being walked today by her owner and she still had her tail. For me, it looked far better with the tail.

As for whether it hurts, I don't know. I've seen conflicting evidence from both sides, from fairly reputable sources. There seems to be little agreement on whether it hurts the puppies or not.

What does seem obvious is that not docking doesn't hurt the dog, and surely unless the dog is to be used for working then it's un-necessary to remove a healthy tail.

Answer 4

there are many reasons.
show- like you said

apperance- some people think it makes the dog look more aggresive or tougher.

working- working dogs have there tails docked to prevent any damage while runing in the woods=spaniels or down holes= jack russels

im ot sure ow they use to do it, prebley like sheep, by tieing a band around the tail to stop the blood suply until it comes off. but today if the pups are a few days old the vet just cuts it off as they say the pup doesnt feel it as it is soo young but many people myself included believe that pups of any age will be able to feel it.
if there older they will have to be unconsious first.

but now in the UK it is ilegal to dock tails unless it is for a madical or working purpos.

Answer 5

Most dogs tails were docked originally because their use was in field work (spaniels and the like) and guard use (dobermans, rotts). Before the humanization of dogs occurred, it was believed by communities at large that dogs did not feel pain, so the docking procedure was done at 2 days old by the breeder, without anestesia. NOW, it's done at 2 days old by a vet WITH anestesia.

Some European countries have made it illegal to dock a dog's tail or crop its ears. More are following suit. If you are considering adopting/purchasing a dog like this from a breeder, talk with them. If you don't want it done to your puppy, you can see if the breeder will leave one dog in tact. You might need to fully purchase the puppy before it's even born so the breeder is not out the money should you decide to back out later.

Hope that helped!

Answer 6

It started with breeders docking the tails of hunting Dogs.
so when the pack of dogs went out on the hunt though the fields there tails would not get caught. at the mo in the uk some people are trying to stop breeders from doing this has they feel there is no need for this unless they are a hunting Dog that is. which I got to say I am all for this there is no need a docking tails of pet dog's

Answer 7

i believe it was because these dogs were used in hunting ground animals. they would run an animal to ground then begin furiously to dig in after it. the hunter would show up and the dog would be half buried in hole and so in to the digging and continuing with the chase, that it may not respond to commands to back off. Hence, grab it by the tail and pull it out of the hole; easier to do with a stump tail than a full tail; less chance of damaging the dog they did it and still do it, by whacking the tail off with a good sharp cleaver. Probably now done more by veterinarians for city dogs
but there are still plently of country folk who do the lopping themselves. of course it hurts, the tail is an extension of the spine. but then, i imagine it hurts a baby boy like hell to get circumcised, too. do you ever worry about that? and female circumcision?what a HORROR

Answer 8

How it's done today?

When the puppy is very young, they put a clamp on one end of the tail, hold the dog down, and twist the tail off at the clamp. It's one of the most inhumane things I've ever seen (I worked for a vet, and this is in fact the accepted veterinary practice) and those dogs scream like you'd never believe. Some would say you can do it by putting a rubber band around the tail (very tightly) at the desired location, but this can lead to gangrene and sepsis in some cases.

The reason they're twisted and torn instead of cut is that tearing injuries heal better and bleed less than cutting injuries. The reason that they're done at all is because dog breeders today are slaves to the "breed image." I think it's a great thing that the kennel clubs don't require it anymore for a dog to be considered a valid member of the breed.

Answer 9

People often comment on what a fine example of a Jack Russell my dog is, then say "needs that tail docking though". WHY???? He in not a working dog getting it caught in bushes and barbed wire. Nor is he a guard dog, so no one is likely to grab him and swing him by his tail (if anyone did, they would have me to contend with, and I do not have a tail). Why should it have been docked? Dogs use their tails to communicate feelings and basic information to other dogs. To deprive them of this with no good reason is simply cruel. My dog is beautiful, and nothing could improve him.

Answer 10

The trend was started with many breeds of hunting dogs that had a perponderence of "poping" their tails (bleeding sore on the end of the tail)