would you ever dock a dogs tail?

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Originally Posted by Twisterdog

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But, if I were to buy a puppy of a breed that normally gets its tail docked, then yes, it would be done. Tail docking is not cruel. It is done when the puppies are a day or so old. ...... It is, honestly, just like having your human baby boy circumsized.

Honestly, if someone loves their pet and provides it a good home ... who cares if they like docked tails or not? That is the LEAST of many dogs' worries.

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Thank you for that!! My thoughts exactly! Personally I prefer the look of poodles with docked tails. The pom on the end would just not work on a full length tail. If there was a non-docked poodle who needed a home, though, their appearance would not stop me from adopting them.

I immediately thought of the similarity to a circumcision. (sp?) I put my son through that and he doesn't hate me today. :p Really, like Twisterdog said, it is more about the care you give AFTER you take that pet into your home.

I voted no, but not at all because I think it's cruel (I'm very neutral on the subject, and don't really care one way or another - I feel it's up to the owner and/or breeder). I just much prefer dogs with long tails. I am against docking totally if it is done by anyone besides an experienced veterinarian, but if it's done properly, like I said, I'm neutral on the subject. I'm about the same with ear cropping too.

I also wanted to add that there isn't a whole lot that bothers me more when it comes to my dogs than when I post a thread of Winston (who is both cropped & docked, but we adopted him that way) and all I get is "that is so cruel", "he would look so much better natural", etc. This isn't anything against anyone, but really, even if you're totally against one or both surgeries, there is zero need to announce that in someone's thread about their very well loved dog (I mentioned this because I've noticed people making such comments recently in a few threads). Unless it's a docking debate thread, please keep your thoughts to yourself.

Nope I wouldn't, I love doggies natural long tails!:D

Nope never, unless it was a medical emergency that had to be done.

Of course I would never *personally* dock a dogs tail, it needs to be done at a vet. I honestly do not agree with cropping or docking, but I do think cropping is much worse. If a dog came to me docked, then that is fine. Sydney has a docked tail, actually all of the dogs we've had until Nebo had docked tails. Some breeds are very difficult to find without docked tails since its done when they are young. I don't agree with altering a dogs appearance for cosmetic reasons, if it is truely for a medical reason that's the only way I'll agree with it.

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Originally Posted by Pam

Personally I prefer the look of poodles with docked tails. The pom on the end would just not work on a full length tail.

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Duh! Pam, I just learned something - I didn't know that they docked poodles' tails! I thought they just naturally had short tails. One more cool thing I learned on PT! ;) Thanks.

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well yes but you would NOT have a dog to show
you should have a dog to enjoy care and give
it a good life not for shows

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I'm not sure if you have ever owned a show dog, but there is more to showing a dog than just taking it in a ring. A dog who is not loved and cared for and enjoyed as a pet will not make a good show dog. People who get dogs "just to show" are still taking extremely good care of their dogs and they are enjoying their dogs and loving them as much as you love and care for yours. It takes alot of patience, training and love to get a dog to do well in the ring. A dog can conform perfectly, but it is worthless as a show dog if it is shy and unconfident.

I still don't think dogs should have their ears or tails chopped off just so that they can win shows for their owners though. I mean, dogs don't give a toss whether they win or not. In fact, they don't care if they never see a show ring so showing them isn't for their personal benefit, it's all about the owner.

I'm not saying that showing is cruel as such, I just don't think it is right to mutilate dogs just so that they can win shows for you.