I was just wondering, why do people dock tails? Is it only certain breeds that can have there tails docked? If a dog, lets say a rottweiller, is going to be registered does it need its dail docked? How do vets dock tails?

Just some questions I was thinking about.

A lot of it is breed standard. I think some working dogs get them docked so they don't get injured (stepped on etc). Some guard dogs have docked tails mainly to hide the tail wag.

They dock tails pretty early in life - really no later than 4 days (at least at my clinic). We inject marcaine freezing, locate the space between the vertebrae, snip snip and glue.

In the guard dogs, most are docked to prevent a "handle" being available. Ear cropping was started for the same reasons.

Dobermans' tails are thin enough they can fracture them by wagging. Unlike the greyhound breeds, the straight tails on Dobies get a terrible whiplash at full speed.

I've never heard of any docking being done after more than a week. The marcaine is a wonderful development, obviating the need to band them for a couple of hours before cutting.

This is a touchy subject and one that I'm very passionate about, so I hope that everyone knows that I respect their right to do whatever they want, but I may not agree. Hugs to all. :)

I will never dock. I had a poodle, his tail was docked at 4 days of age, we got him at 5 months of age so the deed was already done and frankly, at the age of 11 (that's how old I was when we got him) I didn't even know that poodles were born with long tails.

He had back problems for his entire life. I understand the need for some working dogs, but just because it's a breed standard for show dogs, I don't agree with that. Show dogs do not need their tails docked and many countries now ban docking even for show.

The tail is part of the dogs spine, so you are in fact cutting off a part of the dogs spine.

I just don't agree with this practice at all.

If this is something you're planning on doing, do your research, Google it, read all the articles, because I think you'll be shocked at what you find.

Why do cocker spanials get there tails docked? There not a working dog (are they?) and there also not guard dogs...

And alty, I'm not planning on doing this, I just had some questions. My friends cocker spanial had pups and there tails just got docked and I was wondering what the point was.

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Originally Posted by Emily94

Why do cocker spanials get there tails docked? There not a working dog (are they?) and there also not gaurd dogs....

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Some hunting breeds have their tails docked for safety and so it won't be in the way of doing their job. Particularly those who worked in brushy terrain.

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Originally Posted by Emily94

Why do cocker spanials get there tails docked? There not a working dog (are they?) and there also not gaurd dogs....

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Sadly in Canada (I see that's where you're from, same here) that's still the breed standard. If your friend is a breeder then she's most likely docking the tails because her dogs and pups will show better with docked tails.

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Originally Posted by Cat1864

Some hunting breeds have their tails docked for safety and so it won't be in the way of doing their job. Particularly those who worked in brushy terrain.

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Had to spread the rep, but I agree, that is a legit reason to dock. But, unless your dog is going to be used to work in that job, there really is no reason to dock just for show standards. That's my opinion anyway. :)

I agree with you alty, if a dog is going to be a pet, why dock it's tail. Hers are registered so from what I'm reading here, they have to be.

The only real issue is that since they are docked so early, unless you request it, chances are if you buy from a breeder your dogs tail will be docked if it's a breed that generally gets it done.

Granted you can request to not dock the tail of one puppy, but then that eliminates you from getting to 'choose' your pup as it ages and personalities come through if there's only one pup with a natural tail.

Alty, come move to Tasmania with me, it's illegal here :D

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

This is a touchy subject and one that I'm very passionate about, so I hope that everyone knows that I respect their right to do whatever they want, but I may not agree. Hugs to all. :)

I will never dock. I had a poodle, his tail was docked at 4 days of age, we got him at 5 months of age so the deed was already done and frankly, at the age of 11 (that's how old I was when we got him) I didn't even know that poodles were born with long tails.

He had back problems for his entire life. I understand the need for some working dogs, but just because it's a breed standard for show dogs, I don't agree with that. Show dogs do not need their tails docked and many countries now ban docking even for show.

The tail is part of the dogs spine, so you are in fact cutting off a part of the dogs spine.

I just don't agree with this practice at all.

If this is something you're planning on doing, do your research, google it, read all the articles, because I think you'll be shocked at what you find.

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I agree totally. They just passed a law where I live, in Nova-Scotia and tail docking and ear cropping is illegal(also the removal of dew claws). And it was the veteranarians who wanted it to be illegal.(Now if only they could make declawing illegal). I'm glad because my brother was thinking about getting his rottie mix's tail docked. I had told them it was unnecessary, but they wanted the rottie-look. Anyway I think this is really good.

Although I am wondering don't certain dogs need their tails docked for back reasons?

They banned dewclaw removal too?
That's one thing that in some breeds I think should happen. I've seen too many dogs get their back flappy dewclaws caught on things and have to be removed later in life to wish that more people got them taken off when they were pups.

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Originally Posted by Sariss

They banned dewclaw removal too??
That's one thing that in some breeds I think should happen. I've seen too many dogs get their back flappy dewclaws caught on things and have to be removed later in life to wish that more people got them taken off when they were pups.

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I couldn't understand the banning of the dew-claws either. When we got Rex neutered we got his removed as his nails were really bad for splitting and the vet said it would be a good idea.

I'm not against tail docking at all. I don't even think its cosmetic anymore. Tails have been docked for centuries..

In my breed.. you can actually see the dent in the tail where the tail should be taken off.

Also... I own hunting dogs.. The english pointers who have long tails, in the field, their tails are very motionless. The German Shorthairs, their tails are very active. If they had long tails, the would chase away pray, not to mention hurt themselves.

Some of the dogs that come through rescue don't have their tails docked... Their tails are always bloody and its very hard to clot. Sometimes, the dogs never get rid of their bloody tail tips, which I would think would be painful.

The dew claws have to be removed from my breed because they will break them off. Which I think would be more painful then infant docking.

Ear cropping is a cosemtic thing. And its mostly done in the guard breeds to make them look more fierce. It's a procedure that doesn't have to be done, it's a choice by the owner.

But I have to agree with Sariss on this one.. If you buy from any type of breeder, the tails will more than likely be done.

There is nothing wrong with tail docking as long as its done right. I don't like the idea that Farmer Joe took the butcher knife to young puppies and called it good. And I do see a lot of that.

I just wanted to add, that I heard Canada is now going to ban docking and cropping!

We had a rescue come in last month with dew claws intact, they were scabbed, raw and infected. Poor little bugger. I am not against dew claw removal at all. I think it is a health hazard to keep them intact.

Both my Poodles have had their dew claws removed.

My Crested has his intact.

For large breeds I think it is necessary, smaller breeds not so much.

Ahh good point Shaz! I forget what it's like to have a smaller breed dog.

Hey Rex, I live in NS too!