Anti Docking

[guster girl]

The only one that really looked odd to me with the natural tail was the American Cocker! WOW!! Now that's a difference. I've always thought danes, dobies, pits...looked better with floppy ears and long tails. I'm not necessarily anti-docking, but, I don't see the point with certain dogs. I got my cat declawed, and, a lot of people have issues with that, and, I totally see their point. But, because I had Lock declawed, I don't get too passionate about the docking of the ears and/or tails of dogs. Just my two cents.

[Lissa]

I've never been around any of those but pits so I can't say anything about their health with tails, but I fully believe that it is completely health for a pit to have its tail and have yet to know one that has had a problem with hurting their tail. Some dogs may need their tail docked for that reason and that is fine, but I know some breeds do it for cosmetic reasons and I don't like that personally. But like I said your opinion is yours, just like mine is mine, and they are all different. I am not against it in the sense that it should be banned as long as it is done correctly and in good clean envirnoments. I heard some do it with with toe nail clippers just like they are cutting toe nails and that to me is wrong.

[Lissa]

Oh and I know herding dogs get docked so their tails don't get trampled by the cattle or sheep. I think that is a fine reason again, as long as its done properly.

[Cheshirekatt]

Well, considering docking their tails at this point would be a huge orthopedic surgery I'd never do it unless it was a health issue. Fat lips and occational bleeding here or there is managable.

I recently saw a Rottie with a full tail and he looked beautiful!

[Lissa]

My dream dog is an all natural dobie, red and rust color. I think that all natural rotties and dobies look a lot less scary and peoples opinions would change some what since they don't look so aggressive.

[Moose]

OMG I love the Rotties with natural tails!!! Just gorgeous!!

[Cheshirekatt]

Originally posted by Moose
OMG I love the Rotties with natural tails!!! Just gorgeous!!

I heard that what they're starting to do in Germany.....leave Rottie tails intact! Yay!

[Lissa]

I hope it starts more here. It seems from what I read, its still mostly in Europe.

[K9soul]

That was an interesting link and I really enjoyed the pictures. I LOVE the schipperke tails. I'd never want a docked schip hehe, they are like little curled Akita tails.

I think I prefer them all with natural tails really. I thought the rottie's tail was very handsome too.

[DogLover9501]

I know lots of pits with their natural tails

That was really interesting, do pits even get docked?? I have never seen nor heard of a pit with a docked tail.

[ramanth]

Thanks for sharing the link Lissa. I love seeing pictures of dogs with natural tails. There was a rottie at the Ren Faire who had natural ears and tail. He was so adorable.

[Lissa]

Pits get docked in Michigan a lot because you see a lot of fighters. If you watch something like Animal Cops Detroit on TV , it seems like half the show is breaking up dog fighting rings. I don't know about Kalamazoo, but I've heard its pretty bad. I've seen some with cropped ears too. Most people who own them as pets only have them natural, but I've seen a few not. We were walking my friends 3 pits and were offered 2,000 for the group. They said they would offer more but they wanted cropped and docked. Of course we told them where they could go, those dogs are their babies, but I see it a lot to because it looks more aggressive. It is one trend that seems to be slowing though, as I haven't seen it lately.
Maybe it was just happening in our area, but thats what someone told me they were doing it for.

[wolfie]

Originally posted by Lissa
I know lots of pits with their natural tails and in three years + years of their life, waggin their tails like mad, they have never hurt themselves. So there maybe something, of a lot of things, knocked off the table, oh well, it happens. Layla has done it tons.

I agree Lissa. Just because it's a big dog (like a dobie, boxer, rottie) doesn't mean that it should have its tail docked. Stuff getting knocked off the tables just happens. Plus, the two biggest breeds, great danes and mastiffs, don't have their tails docked.

And I agree, the rotties with tails are very pretty! ^_^