2007-07-01 15:18:43 · 6 answers · asked by jobees 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Some working breeds such as heelers have their tails docked as they get nasty and in the way when they are working (debatable for some people).
Others are purely for show, such as min pins.
Here is an excerpt from a website that explains more in detail ;) :
The practice of tail dockïng started hundreds of years ago, when people were far more complacent about the welfare of animals than they are today and it became common in the Middle Ages in Britain and Western Europe. Many theories have been proposed for the beginning of the practice; these include Tax evasion, Rabies prevention, prevention of back injury, increase of speed for the docked dog as well a method of prevention of tail damage due to fighting. Some breeds of dog and cat are born without tails or with stumpy short tails due to a genetic abnormality similar to Spina Bifida in humans. Normal littermates of these breeds were usually docked to make the breed conform to a uniform appearance. Welsh Corgis are a good example. The Pembroke Corgi is occasionally born without a tail or with a short stumpy tail and littermates are usually docked. The Cardigan Corgi on the other hand has a long bushy tail and the different requirements have been written into breed standards with time.
2007-07-01 15:30:00 · answer #1 · answered by Cydney - 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docking_%28dog%29
Sometimes it is to keep vermin from biting the flop ear or tail and keeping painful burrs from sticking on the dog when in the field.
If my friend's jack had not had her tail done, I don't think we could have gotten her out of a drain pipe one time, just barely got her in time as she chased a chippy in! The leash was useless!
My Aussie has a natural docking (born that way).
2007-07-01 22:40:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read somewhere that it started with the working and hunting breeds. The tails were docked so they didn't pick up burrs and so the prey couldn't get hold of the dog's tail.
2007-07-01 22:23:07 · answer #3 · answered by 5gr8k9s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its for hunting so that they don't get grabbed. If that make sence. They say the same thing about docking the ears.
I personally like the way it looks.
2007-07-01 22:31:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am not sure of the history i know in some country it is illegal to do that but i am listing some website that might be of interest to you hope you enjoy looking at them
2007-07-01 22:28:38 · answer #5 · answered by ladylynx26 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its wrong
2007-07-01 22:24:52 · answer #6 · answered by honey babe 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋