Just curious on your thoughts on tail docking..?

Question

I have three welsh corgis (pembrokes) and have had two litters with them. All 3 of the adults came to me docked. I had no intention of going into the show ring (two have been used as therapy dogs and one has been trained as a companion animal for an autistic child), so the tails would not have been an issue. All three dogs have good bloodlines and outstanding personalities and are AKC registered. The litters were bred with the intent of being pets and all the pups had takers before they were born. I asked each potential owner if they wished to have the pups tails docked. Cardis of course have their tails all the time, so I knew the docking was purely cosmetic. I made it clear to the owners that if they had any intention of showing the dogs, the tails would have to be done by the third day of life. No one opted to dock from either litter.

I actually like the tails...what do others think of docking and is it ever for other than cosmetic purposes??

Answer 1

used to be when dogs were used for what they were bred to do . now days dogs are companions and the look is just breed standard and for the show ring. feel Free to dock or not its all in how you want to see your dog for the next 15 years. it is done without any pain meds what so ever.at 3 days old they dont have all their nerves in the tail but they certainly have some.

Answer 2

It is done because they tend to break out in the field (and sometimes in the home). An adult broken tail is painful and messy. They often don't heal and have to be removed as an adult. Some people do still use their dogs for the job they were bred to do, me included although my breed is not docked.

To the person who said removing dewclaws is cruel - How many torn dews have YOU seen? Again, painful and they don't heal real well, often needing to be removed anyway as an adult.

Not everyone has dogs that spend their days laying around on a couch. There are REASONS for docking and removing dewclaws.


Why do all the ARlites on here think docking or removing dews is 'cruel', but to put a dog under for a major surgery to be spayed is great??? Makes absolutely NO SENSE!

Answer 3

If no one wants it docked then dont do it.

I think that 99% of the time its only for cosmetic purposes, (i ve seen dogs who needed it cut because it was too big and dragged etc , also u could never step on it or have it get caught in anything.. ive seen that happen very sad )either for them to look meaner - rotties/dobermans, etc or for show because maybe some are too long for standards

I think it depends on the breed, some look stupid with tails, others without

My husband knew many people who docked their own dogs tails when they were newborn by tying a string around it, he said there wasnt any blood or anything and it would eventually fall off,(this was in colombia, i dont recommend doing it, its illegal here)

Answer 4

I have a Miniature Schnauzer and he's the most beautiful baby I could ever imagine having waging his no tail havin booty at me every morning when I wake up. Don't let all these people scare you with the cruelty nonsense. If it were cruel don't you think the humane society would speak up? If you like it then do it if you don't then don't. Some dogs just won't look right with tails. All these people who are saying if God wanted it that way he would've made them that way had better not groom their dogs or mow their lawns or they're hypocrites!

Answer 5

Most people dock the tails just bc of the breed of the dog. I think it is up to the owner. If u decide later that u want it docked most vets will do it.

Answer 6

I believe that God created dogs as they are for a purpose. They use their tails for communication..and as a rudder for balance...Only the vanity of man would try to re-create the dog..and call it an improvement..

Hammer v. American Kennel Club, 758 N.Y.S.2d 276 (2003), the appellate court
acknowledges that tail-docking might be considered cruel for numerous reasons. The
procedure is generally performed without anesthesia and assertedly causes great pain to
the young puppy. Id. at 279. The court goes on to acknowledge that many experts hold
that dogs use their tails for communication and cites to articles on the subject in its ruling and that tail-docking necessarily interferes with that natural communication ability.
10.
The court notes (in response to defense arguments) that although there are some New
York laws that specifically address certain procedures, such as ear-cropping for dogs and tail-docking for horses, the fact that there is no statute specifically dealing with tail-
docking for dogs does not mean that it is a permissible form of mutilation, its permissibility depends on the issue of whether it is justifiable, an issue that the court
acknowledges there are numerous reasons to find against.
11.
In fact, even more decisive language on whether tail-docking violates the cruelty law is
advanced in the cases dissenting opinion. Citing the majority as holding that the issue
turns on whether the pain and mutilation caused by tail-docking is justifiable, Justice Ellerin, joined by Justice Lerner, responds to defense arguments that tail-docking protects
dogs from injuries during field trials and hunts by asserting that even assuming that the
protection of hunting dogs against tail injuries justifies docking the tails of hunting dogs,
it is not a justification for docking the tails of non-hunting dogs, for purposes of AKC
competitions. Id. at 284.
12.
Therefore, tail amputations, when performed not for medical necessity, but strictly for
cosmetic reasons, cannot be justified.

Answer 7

well i have nothing to say against it or for it , alot of places now days will accept dogs that dont have their tails docked or ears croped for shows , some countrys like austrilia or switzerland has out lawed it completly saying its very in hman , i believe that it should be left up to the owner of the pups but , it needs to be done before the pup is 3 days old as for the ears they want u to wait longer so im against the ear croping , i had minpin pups adn i did have there tails docked adn there dew claws removed as well they were 2 days old when this was done so lil pain but boy did there mom miss them

Answer 8

I think the days are coming when they will be forced to change the standards because of people feeling it's cruel. Although I have to agree that it is a rather barbaric practice. For now, as it is required in the show ring for certain breeds, I will support it but only as long as required.
I agree that certain breeds look better with the tail although can you imagine a Doberman with a long tail?!

Answer 9

tail docking is not for the dogs health or looks..its for the owners to pose and show off there dogs..as "they THINK" they look sooo good with there tails docked...i used to work at a vets..and you wouldnt like it if you were to watch a dog being docked...and theres a pumping blood stream coming from its docked tail...like something from a horror movie..please dont have the tails docked...they were born that way..its natural for them to have a tail for balance..and to wag...i think however there should be a few men docked at birth !!!!

Answer 10

docking is mostly for show it dont do any thing but it makes the dog look fancy like if u are going to show off your dog but a 100% no ones going to give u a blue ribbin for your dogs tail unless u r in a dog show j/k lol but if u like it then keep it the way it is or if u change your mind dont wate until there are grown cuz there tail gets thicker it dose hurt if u wate too ling