y do some people get there dogs tails trimed?

Question

some people actualy go to there vet and ask them to cut there dogs tails i just rememed hearing it on animal plant

Answer 1

Tail docking in this day and age is Cosmetic now. Before it was used as several things:
#1 for looks and prestige
#2 for working like the some ground terriers, they nub off the tails in order to make there tail strong enough to grab the dog from the burrow by the base of the tail. If you grabbed a long tail and pulled it out of the burrow you would dislocate the tail.
#3 some are naturally just short.
Generally people and breeders were mis-informed about medical condtions in long tailed dogs. Generally it was for Handling a dog, rather than holding the heads, the owners held them by the base of the tail.
Also in the making of certian breeds it was used as identification. Back in the "old days" when a new breed was being produced some of the offspring would look simular to the adults they were breeding from, so in order to tell the hybreds apart they started docking the tails. So then it just became habit with the new breed. Its not needed now a days and just a cosmetic reason. Some registrys and show judges will over look and reject a dog that normally has a docked tail called for, over one that doesnt.
WHPPTWMN NEWS FLASH I did say some dogs do have it done for working purposes, did I not? I dont remember saying anything against working purposes did I? Now a days if your dog is AKC registered docking is optional and not needed, even if the dog might be prone to tail breakage in the working field. If your DOG IS WORKING and in the field then its ok, but tell me why Pointers and English setters have long tails and German Shorthairs have docked? Trying to tell me they are inferior dogs and HAVE to have docked tail cause they ALL will break? Also they dont fully dock German Shorthairs fully they give them a 3/4 dock, or a 40% dockage. If you can answer that question (I know why do you?) I wont consider you rude and stupid anymore. I have been honored to help judge a field trial and participate in a Bird Hunting opener with my friends kennel club so yes I have gotten out to the "Country" lately. Considering thats where I live anyway.

Answer 2

Because if they are not docked, they break out in the field. Broken tails tend to heal poorly, rebreak easily and often end up being removed as an adult.


Texelgirl - NEWSFASH! Some people STILL hunt!!! Don't get out of the city much?


Oh, sorry, I thought you said "Its not needed now a days and just a cosmetic reason"

Oh wait....you did.

" tell me why Pointers and English setters have long tails and German Shorthairs have docked?"

Setters have plenty of hair around the tail to protect it, Pointers were originally bred to POINT, not to run out into the brush and retrieve as well. Docked/not docked has mainly to do with the dogs use and the terrain they will be doing it in, as well as hair and tail set.

Didn't mean to insult you, but I base my opinions of people on things they say, like "for looks and prestige", which is utterly ridiculous, and "Its not needed now a days and just a cosmetic reason". And this from a supposed JUDGE???

Answer 3

Docking tails are for 3 reasons that i know of. Some breeds of dogs are prone to getting cancer on their tails and docking them saves time, money and the wellbeing of the dog. Just like circumcision, if you do it early enough they won't remember the pain. Reason 2 is for show. Show dogs MUST look a certain way, makes them more prestigious. I personally don't think so. Reason 3 is for the type of work the dog will be doing. Tails really have a mind of their own. It could get caught in something and get ripped off. Mostly farm dogs.

Answer 4

My breed of choice (German Shorthaired Pointers) have their tails docked for working purposes.. although many aren't trained for field work. When my GSP smells something that gets his interest, his tail wags constantly. With a long tailed dog, the constant wagging and banging on trees, bushes, brush etc. will cause damage to tails. Bloody, broken tails are not uncommon in pointing dogs

Answer 5

I know that some breeds of dogs have their tails "docked" as puppies to conform to breed/show standards. I don't know if there's a medical reason for this; perhaps the tails have some tendancy to have problems later in life in some breeds, but I don't know. If it prevents problems in later life, then it's probably a good thing; if it's just to look a certain way, then it seems unkind to me.

Answer 6

some breed criteria call for the dimensions of the tail to be shorter than what the tail might want to be without docking. Docking of tails is done between 3-5 days of age, previously the tail has replaced from cartilage to bone. In maximum breeds, tail docking serves the purpose of protecting the lengthy tail from harm even as the canine is thinking this is given job, searching, herding, etc. Undocked tails in some canine might want to be subject to extreme harm and can want to require more effective huge surgical operation to dock later in existence even as continual harm ends up in having to get rid of the tail to stay away from repeated infections.

Answer 7

Do you mean docked? Certain breeds have their tails docked because of the type of work they are or were origianlly bred for, such as Australian Shepards are use to round up cattle and their tails are docked to prevent the cattle from stepping on them.

Answer 8

I'll tell you from experience. I'd never do that to my animals, BUT, I did have a Laborador and Doberman mix, and he had this MASSIVE, boney tail. When he was happy, he'd wag his tail and beat the living crap out of you. Maybe that is why.

Other than that, maybe it's like shaving/styling poodles.

Answer 9

people do it just for the look. and people give me a hard time about my dog, she has a naturally bobbed tail (aussie shep).

Answer 10

Hygenic reasons.