what is the purpose of clipping dogs tails ?

Question

i got a little 4 month old puppy, a Jack Russell/rat terrier mix. Just wondering why they clip some breeds of dogs tails ?

Answer 1

Hi Macy,

Unfortunately the sad truth is that in our day there is not need for tail docking and it is only for show. In Australia it is completely banned (IN some States), as it is an act of cruelty. It was used back when for hunting purposes and it help keep the area clean on working dogs to stop then form getting fly blown.
As you can see now that we have domesticated our animal so much there is not need to have it done.
The undocked tails are now accepted in the show ring and soon i hope the rest of the world take on the no docking principal.
I have assisted in many tail docking surgeries and it is done with no anaesthetic at 4 days old and the Nurse hold the puppies in a certain position and the vet cuts straight thru the tail bone (as it is quite soft at this age) And they scream like anything. Then they stitch it (WITH no LOCAL) , whilst the puppy still screams.
It is awful i hated helped and assisting and the vet used to take it in turns because they all hated doing it. But thankfully it has been banned and no longer have it to it.

Sooner or later all dogs will have there tail on all breeds and it wont look like your dog is out of place. So don't do it as it is a immoral and senseless act

Answer 2

Is it cruel for a mother to have her infant's or very young child's ears pierced? Is it cruel for a guy or a girl to ask a boy or girl friend to get a tattoo?
Tail docking originated from the work each breed was bred to do. It prevented injury. As breeds went on tails which were docked anyway, were not something that was bred for. Hence some breeds don't have great tails. Some, wouldn't stand up to even normal daily life without getting damaged and ending up with a break at the end, or some other damage. Tails are docked at 3 days old. Many are even done by vets with local anesthesia and it is less invasive than piercing an adults ear, but a heck of a lot less invasive than all these nose rings and tongue piercings I have seen over the past 10 years. I don't understand it, people are all upset about a dog's ear or tail and they don't bat an eyelash at pierced noses, eyebrows, tongue and Lord only knows what else. I think all that stuff is self mutilation and if we were a humane society we would be trying to change how the pierced generation is reared. Maybe we could change in such a way that they wouldn't hate themselves so much which must be what makes them want to mutilate themselves. That would be far more humane of our society than worrying about whether a dog's tail or ear has been altered.

Answer 3

Nowadays it's just a vanity thing. I have a Boston terrier/Jack russel mix, and back in the day they were badger hunting dogs, their tails were clipped because the badgers could rip them into the holes by it. But now it is just because people think that they look funny with full tails. I asked the same question.

Answer 4

specific, some aussies are born with a needless to say docked tail. further, many canines (esp. looking a working breeds) can definitely injure their tails. while this occurs, that's totally no longer ordinary to heal, on condition that there is little blood grant to the tail. that's no longer ordinary to immobilize and bandage, and is very painful for grownup canines. further, a breeder won't be able to oftentimes tell a hundred% which doggies would be coach high quality while they're 2-5 days, so that they dock all of them. for many breeds (labs and greyhounds excluded, for occasion), they have little or no sensible desire for a tail, and that's superb to dock it youthful to stay away from harm later on. Ear cropping is a controversy of determination. carried out properly, it could no longer make a distinction to the canines one way or yet another. additionally, floppy ears are lots extra services to mites and infections, so that's extra hygienic to have them cropped and taped. no longer between the extra significant battles, IMO. i might rather human beings direct their disapproval in direction of puppy shops, BYBs and doggy generators rather than a harmless technique like docking or cropping.

Answer 5

Yes, some breeds they do. I have 2 boxers, one with a docked(which is the correct term) tail and one with a normal tail. It started with boxers because they were used as police dogs and attack dogs. people started to grab there tails, yank them off the floor, and cut their throat. They began docking so this wouldnt happen. Once the boxer was entered in dog shows with the docked tail, they made it a rule that it had to be this way. Then, people started doing it even if the dog wasnt going to be in a show, just because of tradition. Similar things occured with other breeds.

p.s IT is not cruel. trust me. the only thing thats cruel about it is that they dont know what its like to have a tail. and they do not even care. Trust me. i have 2 very happy boxers, with tails docked, (but no ears cropped). It does not hurt the dog at all, as long as its done about 4 days after its born. It cant even see at that time and doesnt know pain. Dont worry

Answer 6

For some breed it still is a practical thing. Some breeds have weak cartilage and bones in their tails and if they are a large inside dog then they can do some damage to their tails. One of my dobermans has broken her tail bad enough to need it removed but they only remmoved it just above the break so she has 1/2 a tail. She did it on a door frame while excited. Mind you she is clumsy and has broken the cartilage in her ear before(falling down steps), and has knocked herself out cold(playing silly with the hose). In most breeds of dog tail docking is completely cosmetic now and serves no purpose whatsoever. I dont consider it cruel to dock tails and ears, just unnecessary.

Answer 7

You are talking about the practice of docking tails. This is done on several different breeds. Some dogs have extremely long tails that can be damaged when they are wagging and hit a solid object with them. Other breeds have tails docked as the "breed standerd" shows them docked.

Answer 8

Well for some dogs, its for looks, and for some, like Pit Bulls, some owners, clip them so when they fight them ( I know,MEAN), they other Pits can not bite their tales, and cause damage to their dog, as well as possibly loose the fight.
You do not need to get it clipped for medical reasons, well unless there was something wrong with the tail. Its your choice!

Answer 9

For some breeds it is about looks in others like some huntingbreeds who are hunting in thick bush it is done to prevent them from damaging and breaking and possibly ending up with infected tails

Answer 10

It is mostly for looks. In a Jack the tail actually had a purpose, but since they aren't used what they were bred for it really don't matter.