would you ever dock a dogs tail?

[dab_20]

No one should personally dock their pup's tails themselves. It should be done by a vet at 2-3 days old in sterile conditions. If I had the choice, I would never have my pups tail to be docked. Sammy's tail was docked as a pup, but I didn't choose it, and it would not stop me from getting him.

Now, with ear cropping, it's a whole different story. I'm totally against that... can you imagine how painful it is?

[Kalei]

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

[Lori Jordan]

I have an Australian Shepherd,And her with a tail would not be the same,With the breed some have Natural Bobs,Which Lacy does.

But the thing i do not understand,A friend owns Rotti's and they put elastics on there tales,Is this what they all do now???

[Canis-Lupess]

When puppies are docked, they tend to do one of two things. The first is simply to chop the tail off with scissors, the second is to tie elastic bands around them so tight the blood circulation is cut off and the tail dies and drops off. Can you imagine doing this to the little finger of a human baby?
I can't imagine the pain being much different really. They can't use anaesthetic on puppies that young so they have to deal with whatever pain they feel.

In the UK, most vets won't dock and they can't anyway because the royal college of veterinary surgeons is opposed to it and will strike any vet off their register if they are found to have docked puppies for non therapeutic reasons.

Docking by the lay man, unqualified person, is illegal but thats mainly who docking is done by here now because most of the vets refuse to do it. Breeders do it themselves and insist they are doing it right but, how would they know, they aren't qualified or had any professional training?

At the end of April, docking is being banned in England apart from certain working dogs that are being exempt. Scotland has gone for a complete ban. They'll not be allowing dogs to go over the border into the UK to be docked and taken back either.
No docked dogs will be able to be shown at any paying dog show either.

I don't mind dogs that are born with naturally bobbed tails because they don't have to actually have it chopped off. I know there are some breeders in Europe breeding specifically for naturally bobbed tails in several breeds in countries that have already enforced a ban on docking. If it turns out ok, then all's well but I do worry a little about what other impacts such select breeding could have on the dogs.

[cassiesmom]

I have a former co-worker who kept her Great Dane's ears un-cropped. I wouldn't do either unless there were some medical reason for having it done.

[lute]

But the thing i do not understand,A friend owns Rotti's and they put elastics on there tales,Is this what they all do now???

NO WAY! they should take the pups to a vet and have it surgically done! What they are doing with the elastics is cruel.

[applesmom]

No I wouldn't have an adult dogs tail docked for cosmetic reasons, and I would never attempt to dock a puppy's tail on my own. That's a vets job.

However there are some breeds whose tails are docked for valid reasons and I support their reasons for docking.

Here are a couple of links to the other side of the discussion.

Vizla club on docking

Scottish study on tail docking

[Kfamr]

No - I would never have a dog's tail docked. However, If a dog's tail was docked and I were to adopt it, it wouldn't stop me.

It's just not a procedure I agree with having done for cosmetics. If a dog needed it's tail amputated, that's fine.

[Twisterdog]

I have never had a dog's tail docked. I have several dogs with docked tails, because I rescue a breed (smooth fox terriers) that have docked tails by breed standard.

Most likely, I will never buy a purebred dog as a puppy that gets a docked tail, so the point is rather moot. I will probably end up always getting my dogs through rescue or adoption as adults.

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 very quick, like two seconds, literally. I've seen it done. It heals quickly, and the puppies are too young to lick it and cause problems. I am quite sure the 24 hour old puppy has absolutely no recollection or lasting trauma from the two second procedure. It is, honestly, just like having your human baby boy circumsized.

I like the look of docked tails on certain breeds. IMHO, a cocker spaniel or a Jack Russell or a fox terrier simply does not look the same with a long tail.

I am, however, not in favor of ear cropping, for me personally. That is an entirely different thing, IMO. Ear cropping is an involved, painful procedure done when the dog is much older. It takes a long time to heal, and the dog must be kept from scratching or rubbing its ears. In many case, this requires wearing an elizabethian collar for some time.

To each their own. 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. If you don't like it, don't do it. But if you do like it, go ahead. It's not cruel, it doesn't make you a 'bad pet owner' by any means. IMO, docking is a very, very small issue in the global issue of animal/pet problems.

[Pam]

I
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.

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. Really, like Twisterdog said, it is more about the care you give AFTER you take that pet into your home.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

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.