Is getting the tail docked on a Dog really necessary ?

Question

What good comes out of a dog having its tail docked ?

Answer 1

+ If you dog is just going to be a pet, not a show or working dog then there is no reason to dock the tail.

Answer 2

It's really no longer necessary except in rare cases where you may actually plan to work the dog is a particular area.



It's in the show standard historically - but in the Uk where we are more forward thinking (?) we now have standards for tails in all previously docked breeds and show dogs are no longer allowed to be shown docked.



There some horrific cases of docking going wrong - after all the tail is an extention of the spine!

Answer 3

Only genuine working gundogs should be docked. They work through some of the harshest conditions at a dogs level, and are more likely than ANY house pet to sustain an injury - be it tail, feet, chest.



I have personally seen a springers (undocked) tail almost destroyed as a result of hard working. The result was of course to have the tail reduced, and something which should have been done in the first place.



I don't think it's neccessary though on Guard dogs such as rotties and dobes, as now-a-days they are mainly Yard guarders or at most kept on a tight leash - so the chances of injury are pretty slim. Very few rotties are worked to the full degree of their herding background.



Oh, and when was the last time you saw a working GSD with a docked tail? Never? Exactly. The police use 'em off leash to chase/catch and pin down large "prey", and yet they still retain the wag-factor. Gun dogs though, completely different work altogether.

Answer 4

If you ever have a large breed dog that has short coat and an intact tail, you may see one good reason. I had a Great Dane years ago who was a very happy boy. Of course Danes do not have their tails docked and this dog was so happy all the time that he whacked his tail on hard surfaces enough times that he eventually cracked the tip open because there is no 'meat' on the tail tip, just mostly bones, skin, blood vessels and nerves.



Just try to stop a tail from bleeding once it has been cracked in this way! The room looked like a murder scene with blood splatters all across the walls, from the bleeding, spraying tail tip, on a daily basis! Once this starts, it just keeps splitting over and over and over.



So in answer to your question, sometimes docking is necessary, sometimes good can come of it in the form of preventing an injury or eliminating an injury.

Answer 5

I'm English i have two terriers both docked i had no choice i don't mind either way as i love my dogs as they are.... in some cases i do find it necessary like working dogs. it saves further pain in future. you don't mind when they dock sheep's tails some times people (not me as i would of liked mine with tails) have to be cruel to be kind. yes its banned in the UK but do you really think it's been stopped well guess what my 12 wk old puppy is a black and tan jack Russell terrier who as been docked before i got him i got him when he was eight wks. his tail hadn't Evan had time to heal. the vet said it most likely it was not a vet who did it. but other than that the vet was happy with him also told me it didn't matter as they can't police this ban. so they will still do it i know i won't buy naughtier dog from people who illegally dock them , his tail now is fully heald

Answer 6

In the majority of cases where the dog will live as part of the family as a pet, then no, there is no reason to dock the tail.



My friend has Hungarian Vizsla and used to dock them because of the risk of tail damage while they were out competing/working (as a hobby).Where there is a real risk of damage to the dog, then in a limited number of cases I would agree that it is necessary.

Answer 7

nope its just mean. in uk now it is illegal to dock a dogs tail unless it is a working dog. a dog shouldn't have its tail docked cause it has a curly tail, they people should admire what the dog is meant to look like, not change its tail. poor dogs.

Answer 8

The first recorded info on tail docking was in the mid 1st century from a Roman named Columella (Roman agriculturalist) who stated that 4 day old puppies should have tail bitten off and tail sinews pulled out as a protection from rabies because they believed rabies was caused by worms and the sinews look like worms.

It continued on from there out of tradition and habit.

In these times it is finally being recognized for the mutilation it is and is being banned the world over slowly but surely.

Newfoundland banned it long ago along with ear cropping, de-barking, dew claw removal etc.

Recent studies have show that being without a functioning tail can INCREASE the chances of aggression and fights because the other dog(s) cannot "read" the docked-tailed dog and it cannot in return "signal" it's thoughts back. Without what is usually clear communication, fights can ensue.

That a dog "may" get their tail caught is simply justification for allowing mutilation. As a behaviouralist and rescuer I've seen thousands of dogs and have only once seen a dog's tail get caught. Hardly a rampant problem.

Please do not dock or ear crop.

Answer 9

no some times they dock the tails on fighting dogs so they wont get bitten by other dogs however when a dogs tail is docked he has to regain his balance as the tail helps a dog keep its balance some dogs do look rather homely with out their tails and ears docked IE dobermans

Answer 10

I don't think it is necessary especially if your not going to show the dog. Its a horrible procedure (I work at a vet) and although it is said that it causes minimal pain, I don't think thats the case! Those little puppies SCREAM their little puppy heads off!! Its like cutting a finger off of a newborn!! Horrible to hear!! Don't do it if you don't have to!!



Docking of the tail and ears are both procedures which have been subject to controversy in recent times. Proponents state that the procedures are not significantly painful and can prevent future health problems that cause more pain and risk of infection than the docking procedure. Proponents believe that docking done almost immediately after birth ensures that the wound heals easily and properly.



Docking of less than 10-14 days old puppies are routinely carried out by both breeders and veterinarians without anesthesia.[2] Opponents of these procedures state that most tail docking are done for aesthetic concerns rather than health reasons and are unnecessarily painful for the dog. They point out that even non-working show or pet dogs are routinely docked.



Robert Wansborough argues in a 1996 paper,[3] that docking dogs' tails puts them at a disadvantage in several ways. Firstly, Wansborough argues that dogs use their tails actively in communicating with other dogs (and with people); a dog without a tail might be significantly handicapped in conveying fear, caution, aggression, playfulness, and so on. In addition, certain dog breeds use their tails as rudders when swimming, and possibly for balance when running, so active dogs with docked tails might be at a disadvantage compared to their tailed peers.

Answer 11

In any given situation, focus on what you do want your dog to do instead of on whatever he’s doing wrong. Learn how to train your dog https://tr.im/Wxmdm



For example, suppose that on many evenings, your young dog gets busy looking for trouble just as you’re digesting your dinner. He grabs a boot from the mat by the front door and gallops through the house with it. You yell at him and take it away. He grabs its mate. You yell and take it away. He heads for the kitchen and starts checking out the counters in case something tasty’s been left behind. You chase him away. And on and on, until you’ve lost your temper and torn out clumps of hair you can ill afford to lose.

Answer 12

Unless your dog is a working dog that will be out in the field doing what its breed is intended to do or is being shown than really arent too many reasons to dock if you dont want to. However, in some breeds you'll be hard pressed to find a breeder who will sell an undocked puppy.

Answer 13

Yes it is necesary. Have you ever seen a cocker flush with a tail, will the tail hits the brush and scares the birds.

Dobermans if you have seen one with a broken tail or infection on the tail well it is terrible. The infection is horrible. Gangrene sets in and they lose the tail anyways.. the broken tail well it hurts so bad for the dog that they remove the tail (how do you put a cast on a dog? You dont)

Should do some breed research on dogs that have tails docked.

Ok so you have an opinion on docked tails that is fine.

My breeds have docked tails and the standard call for them. Hence docked tails.

Answer 14

No it's not necessary. They started this years ago with small dogs. It helped them to move in tunnels to hunt rodents. Some people do dock tails in large breed dogs that are inside because these large tails can knock stuff over and they can get their tails tore up by glass or something if they break it with their tails. It is not necessary but its more of a personal preference really.

Answer 15

That depends on what the dog is going to do.



Some working dogs have their tails docked to prevent injury from (eg) running through gorse bushes.



If yours is just a pet, there's no need to dock.



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ADD: Happycamper - not ALL vegans have such an agenda, and not all who pursue that agenda are vegan!! For the most part I agree with what you are saying, but just thought I'd pull you up on that bit.



ADD2: The "thumbs down" was not from me.

Answer 16

It is cruel and barbaric. I can't understand how anyone can not only hold a pup and cut it's tail off, but to do it without pain killers or anaesthetic, it's just plain wrong.

Answer 17

A better question is why the Animal Rightist want ear cropping and tail docking banned.

To which the best answer dog specialist have come by is that Animal Rightists are in FACT againts the ownership of companion animals. Wayne Pacelle says "one generation and out"..." we have no obligation to preserve domestic animals." Read that to mean once they are ALL spayed and castrated there will be no more born. Why, one might ask; is because dogs eat meat. In other words why should we have a companion animal that uses other animals for food when animal rightist, who run organizations like HSUS and Peta, are Vegans who not only do not eat animals, (nor milk or honey) but also do not wear silk or wool.



So now back to the original question at hand:

Once tail docking and ear cropping are banned breeds will be less recognizable. they will be less apt to entice people into wanting them. Further, while all this goes on, Peta and HSUS enjoy a banter of badmouthing people who actually care for dogs - the breeders. Meanwhile they also enjoy support from the sub groups of shelters which IMPORT dogs from off shore like the North Shore Animal League and several in California and across the US. Whilst they SELL these imported dogs for between 150 and 250. The goal to stop all breeding and eventually end all dog ownership. Baby steps such as banning tail docking only serve to hasten their end goal - NO dogs or cats (which BTW need taurine and must eat meat).

Call it socialized communism if you like because it is an end to FREEDOM OF CHOICE.



Amazing that people can pierce a baby's ears for earings (although that may be illegal for a guardian of a child to do) and get no flack but crop an ear or dock a tail and society wants to jump and shout.

Why? Because the vegans - with an agenda - have society all reiled up. The truth is they want to END dog companionship.



ADD 2: People please think. Are the tails of all breeds the same in their natural state? Is the tail of a Doberman which is thin more likely to sustain damage than that of a German Shepherd Dog? Not only do breeds have different qualities and susceptibilities in their tails but it becomes even more dramatic when discussing individual lines or dogs themselves. It always amazed me why we as a society assume that we know of what we speak when experience limits us to a given set of circumstances. Not all breeds are the same. There are many non docked breeds like sight hounds which sustain quite a few breaks. If sight hounds had the temperaments of sporting or working dogs they would surely see an ER for tail docking as adults in high percentages. Why individuals within society assume a supportive position on topics they know little about without observing the underlying objectives of the position's proponents I do not understand. People with limited canine experience assume a one size fits all rule should apply to all canines simply because a good argument is heard without considering all the facts and circumstances within given breeds. Think and get some hand on experience before passing laws which will make dog ownership less enjoyable, and dogs suffer adult tail damage and ear infections.







ADD: Terrier you are correct. However the major players in the groups that are trying to sway legislation both in Europe and the United states make them Vegan organizations. In fact the largest of these groups promotes Veganism to the ranks of their organizations and even hosts of talk shows they appear on. (LOL if it were not for a weight problem swaying Oprah would have taken quite a bit more.) That does not mean that ALL Vegans are extremist to the point of creating Political Action Committees or joining Peta in campaigns. In fact some do enjoy having pets although it would be more than extremely rare to find a Vegan that allowed their pet to reproduce. That said, simply the fact that the common denominator of these powerful political groups is that they are Vegan plainly shows that they are extremists and do not represent the moral positions of main stream society. However these groups do not tell people that they are Political Action Committees (PACs) when they collect funds. The public assumes that donations are used to help animals while they are NOT. Donations are used for advertising and political goals, which do NOT necessarily represent what the donors believe. It is high time that the public becomes aware of what their money is being used for.

Answer 18

Have you ever seen a dog with a broken tail? An infection in a tail? Probably not.



Many working dogs still have their tails docked for this reason. Herding breeds specifically. They can get a tail stepped on, ran over, tangled in barbed wire, covered in briars and ripped off.



However, some dogs (like Aussies) sometimes have naturally cropped tails, unfortuantely they can't be bred to another that has a naturally cropped tail because this causes spinal problems.

Answer 19

its not necessary but if its a show dog, some breeds do require it to be done to participate in like an akc show. but its not a requirement to justhave a good pet. The vet where i work only does it between 3 and 5 days old.... so if you cant get it done in that time period then your just going to have an undocked pet, which in my opinion is much cuter anyways :)

Answer 20

I don't think it's necessary. Here in the US, it has to be done if you are going to show a dog. That is the only reason I find acceptable to dock a dog's tail. But a dog's tail can really tell you a lot. Hopefully, things like docking and cropping will be banned in the US.

Answer 21

there's no good out come for the dog. Don't do it

Answer 22

There's no reason to dock a dog's tail. It started with hunting breeds to keep them from getting injured in the thick brush and got completely out of control.

Answer 23

I thought that it was illegal in Britain unless the dog was working.

I know for a fact that ear cropping is.



It appears to me that we in G.B are getting too many U.S people interfering with our answers.



They think they know best and give thumbs down for our perfectly logical answers.



I was recently given that treatment for saying that it is barbaric to crop ears.

It seems that they do it frequently.

Answer 24

No it's not necessary and is detrimental to the dog.

Answer 25

only people who use these dogs for hunting reasons as the tail gets in the way, its there for a reason if you notice it wags it when they are happy and to keep themselves cool, also balance

Answer 26

would you like having something of yours cut off? i dont think the dog would, my shih tzu has a very funny fountain tail and it looks good on him.

Answer 27

It's done to protect the ornaments on people's coffee tables. A dogs requires it's tail to communicate and i am sickened to think that people would amputate thier dogs tails instead of just moving thier ornaments.

Answer 28

in the OLD DAYS, when the dogs worked, it was so that their tails, wont get in the way, nowadays its just for fashoin, and is banned in some countries.



Lulu xxx

Answer 29

No good for the dog.

Answer 30

for me its not that necessary maybe if u leave it undocked it will be unique its just people dock it because that is the way the breed is supposed to "look"

Answer 31

Well this depends on a few things, the type of dog... A Rottweiler, if their tails aren't docked they will knock over everything and give you a nasty bruise with their tail. My father has a rottweiler mix and he's tail wasn't docked... I have had my share of bruises from his tail whenever he would get excited.



Breed standards for show, to be able to use a certain breed in show it has to have a docked tail...In my opinion that is stupid but thats just how it goes.



And in some cases its is best for medical reasons. like in a rottweiler, they can break their tails.

Answer 32

It's banned in the UK for good reason

Answer 33

Its not really necessary.

Answer 34

no not really but if you show dogs then may be if the breed sujest it.

Answer 35

no its not.