if you had the choice, would you have your pups tail docked?

Question

been thinking a lot about this, i have the choice but would need to choose the dog at one and a half weeks old as thats when they would be docked. i would like the pick of the litter when theyre older but obviously, wouldnt be able to. i have always let the dog choose me rather than the other way around.

what i want to know is.....what would you do,
to dock
or not to dock

ive no reason to have it docked apart from giving me the choice of pup as all the others will be done anyway

Answer 1

I agree with Greekman- there is a lot of hypocrisy about this topic- not only do we desex dogs for the owner's peace of mind --which takes MUCH longer to heal, and the dog is much more likely to die from this procedure.--haven't heard of a dog that has died from a tail docking procedure, either.



We also circumcise our human males- some argue that this is cruel as well



Many of these "bunny huggers" (to coin Greekman's phrase) are the same folks on here who want home remedies for a broken leg, or let their dog vomit or have diarrhea for 5-7 days because they refuse to drive an extra 30 minutes to the vet, or pay for an emergency vet visit, or whatever lame excuse they can come up with. These are also the same folks who let their 7 month old female have puppies- what in the WORLD could be more cruel and inhumane than that? Or intentionally breed mixed breed dogs without health testing- I consider it cruel to subject a pup to possible long term genetic health conditions just to make a few bucks.



So, in comparison- a second long snip that has been proven to not hurt the dog at all is, in my opinion, much more humane than all of the above!

Answer 2

Funny you should post this question when something similar has just happened to me.



Last year two much loved Dobies died, Boris to cancer and Becca to dcm. They had the most fantastic characters and I have been trying for ages to find a pup with similar lines.



Having found a reputable breeder with the lines I wanted I booked a puppy. Recently the breeder telephoned me to say that the b*tch might be taken to Southern Ireland to whelp so the tails can still be docked.



I really wanted a puppy with a tail, but I also wanted the lines behind the litter. A tough decision, as the kennel my two Dobes came from is now out of the breed, so hard to find the lines now.



In your position, assuming the pup is from a reputable breeder and you want the dog as a companion/pet I would opt for a puppy with a tail. If you want a dog to show then it would be better to wait.



Add - I do not agree with Greekman that Dobermanns appear any less like magnificent and athletic for having their tails left on or that docking in painless and easy.

Answer 3

Presuming your dogs is over 3 days previous, to dock this is tail now could advise an entire amputation with a familiar anesthetic and important submit surgical operation soreness. it somewhat is that in case you should even come across a ethical vet who could be arranged to do the technique. in case you needed a docked dogs why did no longer you purchase from a breeder who docked the muddle.

Answer 4

this is a tough one. From actually bothering to read your question un like other people, i take it that un less you choose a pup before they are a certain age they will all be docked regardless and you are thinking of asking for your pup not to be docked. Right? Depends on personal choice really. Is the dog going to be a working dog? or just a pet? i would go with your gut instinct and wait until the pups are old enough to choose you as you may end up with a complete clash of personality and be able to do nothing about it if you choose the pup really young. Good luck.

Answer 5

Dont do it, this is a needless mutilation. Some people try to justify this practice by saying it is 'a working' dog. I find it very hard to believe that having a tail or not makes any difference to a genuine working dog - and how many of those are there nowadays? A dog is quite capable of tucking it away between its legs should it sense the need. I have had a docked Jack Russell in the past and currently have a Parsons Jack Russell (bit bigger and longer legs) who remains as nature intended her. Her tail semaphores her mood to us, and to other dogs.



Personally I love seeing my 2 dogs tails' going into orbit when the magic word 'Walks' is uttered, or to greet us after we have been out shopping.

Answer 6

When I got my Rat Terrier, the breeder didn't ask me if I wanted it docked or not...she just did it. I didn't know they were supposed to do this to them. I told my husband that if I did know before hand I would've told her to leave it on. He is just a companion dog, I'm not try to impress a judge with him or anything. I would've left it on.



Also, where his tail was cut....right at the tip, it looks like it constantly bothers him. He's always biting it and sometimes it gets swollen. I would've definitly voted to leave the tail on.

Answer 7

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Weimaraner_Amigo.jpg



That's a picture of a natural tail weimaraner. I think it looks like a weimaraner still. Like with dobermans, without their tail or ears done, they don't look like dobermans anymore. That is nice and considerate for that breeder to give you a chance to choose whether or not to dock.



What is the purpose of you getting the pick of the litter? Are you planning to show or do some competitive sport with th dog? If not, not having the pick of the litter doesn't make any difference if you just want a good pet.





....people here make dumb reasons to not dock. I have a docked doberman and I have no problem reading my dog.

Answer 8

I think it's cruel. I have a boxer that I adopted from a no kill shelter and he thankfully did not have his tail docked. I like that he still has his tail. He's adorable!

Answer 9

I would never opt for a docked tail, how cruel can people get. Docking has been banned for very good reason.

Answer 10

A puppies tail is docked when they are 2 or 3 days old. At that time the tail is just cartilage, with in the next couple of weeks it turns to bone.



After it turns to bone it is very painful to have the tail docked.



Now many countries are banning the docking of tails & the cropping of ears. It is considered to be cruelity.



I would opt out of tail docking if it wasn't done at the proper age. I wouldn't want my dog to be in pain just because of my vanity.

Answer 11

I did have the choice (my breeder asked what I would prefer). I said absolutely not...she's an American Bulldog and I see no reason for it. She's au natural and beautiful, and I love her tail!

Answer 12

I have a working Rottweiler and he has his tail docked and if i had another one i would ask the breeder to dock it and yes that is allowed as it would be a working dog. You are still allowed to dock tails but if you do then you cannot show your dog. I also have a Jack Russell puppy who isn't a working dog and has her tail but i wished i had asked the breeder to dock it. This is my personal opinion.

Answer 13

We chose to have two of our dogs tails docked as they were to be working dogs - they could have their tails hurt on barbed wire or bitten by foxes or geese.



I wouldn't dock them if they were not working dogs, its just not necessary and its a huge stress on a puppy, plus I think its made them more susceptible to anal gland problems.



I think its actually illegal now to dock a dogs tail if they aren't working. This bill was passed only two years ago or so. And I also thought you had to dock the tail earlier than a week and a half. Are you sure you have a good breeder there?

Answer 14

Either the breeder is breeding purebreds and is going to follow the standard for the breed and dock or not. I have never heard of optional docking, that sounds really weird.

What kind of dogs are these?

Answer 15

Well, if it's a breed that typically has it's tail docked, then yes I would go that route. That's *my* own personal choice and it would be mine to make.



Considering my huge coonhound has a massive tail that can (and has) caused serious infections to certain parts of the male anatomy..... I'm all for tail docking!

(and I'm not even a man)

Answer 16

Dogs are neutered under anesthetic people!! This is not like circumcision it's like chopping a babies arm off. It's cruel and barbaric.

Answer 17

i wouldn't do it - what's the point? appearance?



personally, there are some days when i think about how nice it would be if my dog didn't have a tail - purely for selfish reasons. i've got a great dane and that tail HURTS! it's sort of like a whip. i'm sure the guys that have been whipped by her were wishing she didn't have a tail too! i would've never gotten her docked though. too painful for the dog.

Answer 18

I hate docked tails it looks bad to me

Answer 19

The only reason to have its tail docked is if they are intended to be gun dogs. This is incase there tails get caught as there running on (for example) barbed wire were it may brake the tail and casue seriouse pain or go infected so it would have to be removed anyway. In the end its for there own good other then for vanity reasons.

And it realy dosent hurt the pups much and they will be so younge they will forget it so its purly up to you but as a working dog it will hurt less now then if it was to get damaged later on. (Ive seen some very nasty brakes in tails, mainly in spaniels who have somehow or another got them caught or damaged on a shoot and they have had to have there tails removed because of these injeries and some do die due to blood posioning etc)



The owner may also be keeping up to breed 'standards,' by haveing the tales docked as some pure breed breeds have to be docked to have the right criteria to be shown. I belive that if the dog is only going to be a pet then there is no need to be docked (and i also think people who set the standards for dogs shows such as 'crufts,' should re-think docking for vanity reasons)



but as you have said hun, over all it isnt up to you and the only way to let the pup chose you is to wait till they have grown more. This may mean haveing a pup with a docked tail and we had a weimaraner with a docked tail and she never mined, but i must stress she was a working dog and weirmaraners have very thin and wippy tails which can VERY easily be caught. So on a working Weirmaraner definatly yes, on a pet no.



EDIT: If you intend to show the dog later on it would have to be docked to reach standards (im not encoraging this as i thinks its stupid to have them docked for vanity but cant condem it due to show rules). But if you want to wait to let it pick you this will also give you the chance to see what other qualities it would offer to be a show dog.

Answer 20

Personally? No - my German Shepherd would look pretty silly with a docked tail.

I agree with Greekman - how many of the answerers who say it is mutilation have had their dogs castrated & spayed - far more intrusive surgery which can cause far more serious health issues than leaving them alone!

Answer 21

The most important thing is that you are able to pick your perfect dog, not that you get a dog with a natural tail. I think you should let the breeder dock all of the dogs and pick yours out when it is older and you will actually be able to make an informed decision. That is what I did with both of my Standard Poodles.



And I know I'll probably get thumbs down for this, but I love their cute docked tails.

Answer 22

Have to know the breed to make a decision. As for agony they go thru or not being sedated....neither is a male baby given sedation when circumcision is done...and that is a human being. Docking is usually done at 4 days....there is a little squeak and it's over.....no big deal. Same for dew claws....a toe is actually cut out. No sedation...and usually not even a squeak. I like tails, but our Aussie does not have one, unless you count the 3" she wiggles so madly when she wants to.

Answer 23

Puppies will show personality that young, you will just have to watch a bit closer and spend a little bit longer with them to see how they interact. I would just pick your dog out early and get one that isn't docked.



If you aren't showing the dog there is no reason for it to be done.



And really, people. You can't call it animal abuse unless you call circumcision child abuse. Calm down.

Answer 24

no way that is soooooooo cruel to the dog

it is mean and its like having your hand or something cut off without you being able to say no

Answer 25

i would never do it. all dogs should gave a nice long tail to wag

Answer 26

I personally would leave it on unless its going to be a working dog of any kind.

Can i just ask what country are you in? and also what breed are you planning/hoping to get?

Answer 27

It is a personal decision you need to make yourself. If it is breed specific then I would lean towards docking the tail.

Answer 28

Of course not, no more than i would want one of my limbs chopped off at birth

Answer 29

If the standard calls for it, than I would do it!!! It is a personal decision, but, in my opinion they do look better when docked.

Since they no longer do it in Europe you have Dobies and Rotts look like coonhounds...not for me, thank you.

As far as it being barbaric...please, give me a break, people here advocate taking out a dog's reproductive organs, but, a simple little snip of the tail is a criminal offense!!!!

Do as you please and whatever you will be happy to live with for the next 10-15 years. Good luck!!



ADD: isn't the hypocrisy of some people schocking? They advocate and condone all types of procedures that would make their lives easier, but, become total bunny huggers when the 1 second procedure of docking comes up...AMAZING!!!!



ADD AGAIN: Shanook...I am out of the dark ages, you need to see the light, if you can desex a dog for YOUR benefit so that he/she will not be able to reproduce and take all the responsibility out of your hands, a simple 1 second snip will not even be felt by afew days old dog. WAKE UP!!!

Answer 30

If you want to dock your puppies tail, it depends on whether you think the puppy would enjoy that. put yourself in the puppies place and think of what he may think about docking his tail and how much it would hurt.

Answer 31

An emphatic and absolute NO.



It's barbaric, cruel and totally unjustified.



Shame on you if you do it!



Added: Well, personally I wouldn't buy a dog from anyone who thinks it is ok to dock puppies tails, but that's me. I feel very strongly about animal cruelty - sorry.



I'm in the UK. And nearly every animal welfare authority, including most vets, believe that docking is plan wrong. If dogs were supposed to have short tails they'd be born with them!!

Answer 32

what kind of dog is it? i wouldnt do it to my dogs, pit bulls, they look so much better with their tails and ears.

Answer 33

No, would you have your smile surgically removed?

EDIT Greek...Come out of the dark ages...desexing is a heath issue, a moral issue (too many unwanted dogs out there) and totally different than removing a tail.

Answer 34

dont dock, you won't know what dog is the pick of the litter until there ready to leave there mum anyway. I think docking is cruel and there is no need for it.

Answer 35

my opinion is god made them that way (Tail, floppy ears etc.) so I think they should stay that way.

However I do know that on Pit's it can be beneficial to have there tails docked due to damage that can be caused to it by how strong it "wags" (Corners and such can cause it to break.. etc)

Answer 36

i would love to dock my dogs head. but i wouldn't dock his tail he needs that

Answer 37

only if it was part of the breed standard and I lived in America

Answer 38

No, I would never do it. Docking is cruel and unneccessary. And it's illegal in the UK because it is cruelty to animals.

Answer 39

It's really all about purpose. If a dock is in the standard and you plan to show the dog, or work the dog, than I would have the dock, as it serves it's actual purpose. If the dog is going to be a companion only, than why not leave it natural.



EDIT: Ahhh...thumbs down from a bunch of people who don't know the purpose that docking and cropping serve, or the procedure itself. It's not all about vanity, folks!Sheesh............



EDIT II: If you plan on possibly showing the dog in the future, than you have your answer...let the breeder dock the pup.

Answer 40

No. not for cruelty reasons, simply cos dogs show a lot of character through there tails

Answer 41

Dogs are suppsed to have tails, they look so much better with, and they can show how happy they are

Answer 42

in this case i would just say you don't want to choose your dog right now...



if you think about it the puppies hardly feel it and don't even remember it...I know that sounds mean but it's true!

Answer 43

isn't it against the law now to get dogs docked?????

Answer 44

Cruel even to think about it. If you saw what agony they go through you would strike the very thought out of your mind.

Answer 45

Nope!

Answer 46

No way, isn't that painful or something, from my perspective no......

Answer 47

I wouldn't... It's horrible.. They don't even sedate them when they do it!

Answer 48

NO!!