To Dock Or Not To Dock

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savethebulliedbreeds

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#1
So we got on a topic on another thread about tail docking. As to not hijack that thread to much I wanted to make a new one.

I would like to know what reasoning there is for docking a dogs tail. Isn't it much the same as cropping? I get that some say it is tradition, but why keep doing it? Is there a need? Just wondering.
 

Babyblue5290

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#2
Just search "docking" You'll get a ton of reasons why to and why not to and everything. It's been discussed many times before.
 
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#4
The short of it is that most people still do it for tradition BUT it was started for a reason and many still continue it due to that reason. For example, people who still hunt still dock tails because it started due to tails being sliced and broken from running through all the underbrush.

Also breeds with very thin tails like the AmBull can break them very easily or have them split open and start bleeding everywhere simply by wagging the tail and having it thump against a hard object repeatedly like a wall or cabinet.

A breed like the CAO began the tradition of a docked tail to reduce the chances of it being grabbed when fighting off a threat (same reason for the ears to be done). Pet owners of the breed often don't even have a choice in the matter since the whole litter tends to get done all at the same time and often the breeder doesnt know yet which pups are going to a pet home and which will be going to a working home and it is better to get it done sooner than later.
 
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savethebulliedbreeds

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#6
But besides working dogs there really isn't a reason as to why people do it besides looks?
 

MafiaPrincess

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#7
To me an american cocker looks like a mutt often with a tail.. I like my dogs docked. If it became illegal I'm not sure I'd own them.. but after 2.. I may in future want other breeds.. Not because of the docking issue though.
 

noludoru

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#8
Jaclyn, as was said above.. some dogs have tails that are just prone to getting hurt on things. Thin, long, whip-like tails more so than others. (<--- I managed to misspell every word in that sentence.) Think a greyhound tail on a dog constantly wagging. Accidents and pain are bound to happen.
 

Cassiepeia

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#9
Great Danes have long, thin, constantly wagging tails...but they're not docked. ;)

And to say you wouldn't own a breed of dog you love if it had a tail is a bit harsh. I'd question how much you actually like that dog breed if that's what matters to you. Tail or not, it's still the same dog.

Real working dogs (ie: dogs who are actually doing the job they were bred to do) should be exempt from docking bans IMO.

Cass.
 

Maxy24

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#10
I think I heard that Dobermans tend to have the long thin tails that get injured on the usual house hold stuff. I think if your dog is not working and does not have the type of tail that is very likely to be injured around the house then why dock, except for cosmetic surgery (looks). I like a dog with a natural tail but I don't think I would get mad at somebody who docked and cropped even though I feel it is unnecessary it's the owners choice and they are only hurting the puppy a little, I almost like docking more than cropping since it is done so early and healing does not take as long. I would not do it to my dog unless he worked.
 

taratippy

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Jaclyn, as was said above.. some dogs have tails that are just prone to getting hurt on things. Thin, long, whip-like tails more so than others. (<--- I managed to misspell every word in that sentence.) Think a greyhound tail on a dog constantly wagging. Accidents and pain are bound to happen.
But greyhounds arent docked and have very waggy tails so Im confused on that one!
 

Dekka

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#12
My guys are docked. JRTs tails are docked to nice handle length for grabbing :D But if it became illegal, I would still own the little white monsters. I love them for their personality, athletisism, and intelligence, more than the exact look anyway. (what I mean by that, is that I was originally drawn to the breed because of the personalities of the dogs I met at barns, and they were often way out of breed standard)
 
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#13
Greyhounds belong in an open field ;)

There is a difference between them and a German Shorthair which works in much thornier conditions. There is a (sweedish?) study that shows that undocked shorthairs do have many tail problems later on in life.
 

Buddy'sParents

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#14
To me an american cocker looks like a mutt often with a tail..
Wowza. And the problem with this would be? :confused:


Most people crop and dock because they want to, it's the look they like. Purely selfish aesthetic reason. Period.

Other people crop and dock because they have actual working dogs that have the potential to greatly injure themselves. But this number is very small compared to the other.

And the notion that people want their breed to be "natural" - if they were meant to be cropped and docked.... mother nature would make it so. Cropping and docking is a manmade "natural' look that so many people want.


With that said, to each their own. I'd never do it to any of my dogs but people will do what they want to do.
 
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#15
Personally I don't understand that theory of "if the breed was meant to have docked ears and no tail mother nature would make it so" because most breeds are man-made anyways (man slectively bred for certain traits) and then when someone does actually step up and try to make bobtails natural, they get pooed on for crossing breeds....Kinda a catch 22, eh?

And regarding why people don't crop a Greyhound's tail, when the greyhounds are sprinting they NEED that tail for balance when taking corners. Just like a Cheetah uses her tail for balance when chasing down prey. I have a video somewhere of a Saluki bringing down a Gazelle and another of the same dog going after a hare and you can really see how the dog uses its tail when taking the sharp unpredictable turns when following it's prey while running at top speeds.

A German Shorthaired Pointer doesnt reach top speed of running when hunting therefore it is in his benefit to dock his tail and avoid brush injury.
 

Buddy'sParents

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#16
Personally I don't understand that theory of "if the breed was meant to have docked ears and no tail mother nature would make it so" because most breeds are man-made anyways (man slectively bred for certain traits) and then when someone does actually step up and try to make bobtails natural, they get pooed on for crossing breeds....Kinda a catch 22, eh?

To get certain breeds we just bred different dogs together.. we didn't go in and physically alter them to fit an aesthetic purpose- it was for working purposes (with the exception of the lovely designer breeds we have these days and well, non-working dogs that don't need to have cropped this and docked that). It's not like we can wave a magic wand and have all dobe's born with cropped ears- someone has to phsyically do that to them, it can't be bred.
 

smkie

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#17
A person should say would i have this done to myself? if the answer is no, then......you shouldn't do it to your dog.
 

Romy

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#18
There are dogs born with naturally bobbed tails though. I think that is what oc is talking about. And if being born with a bobbed tail is beneficial for a line of working dogs so they don't need their tails chopped off to avoid injury, then that could be a beneficial thing to breed into them.

Personally, cropping and docking doesn't bother me as long as it's not one of those messy home jobs. If I had a choice I would not get it done unless it was for a working dog, just because it doesn't seem necessary in that case. Goats and cattle are dehorned on a regular basis, to prevent them from getting caught in fences or accidently hurting each other. You know how it's done? You take a hot iron, or sometimes a strong acid, and burn the horn buds off when they are born. It's horribly painful, but saves them a lot of potential pain and suffering later on, not to mention makes them a lot more safe for people to handle. People still circumcise male human babies for goodness sake. Really it's not terribly different (and lets please not get into a debate about that!).
 

Aussie Red

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#19
Many of my breed of choice the ACD are docked for various reasons.
These guys when they are bored have a tendency to chase their tails.
Some chase them and end it there and others will cause injury to themselves. After they have injured it they continue to do so until there is little choice but to remove it.
Some ACDs who are work dogs only are docked for a less chance of injury to their tails.
ACDs have beautiful tails but I do know that in many cases of docking there is little choice.
I am neither pro or against docking. I feel that if it is the owners decision to have it done as with cropping so be it.
I think that if we can do their dew claws and spay them etc it is not a big issue but I would never do it unless it had to be and was done while they were puppies. Tail docking as dew clawing should be done very very young before the bone in the tail is large and makes a more serious amputation. I agree with OC here some breeds we have created need to have it done to them for the fact that they are breed for a specific reason and some dogs do suffer ill effects because they are not. I don't like the fact that we put an animal in pain for cosmetic reasons but if the dog is healthier for it then I am for it. Whiskey had little choice in his tail dock and saving it would have put him in greater pain then having it removed. I know people on another forum who are having to dock their ACDs tails because the dog is chasing it and biting it to the point of no return. It happens and to dock or not to dock may not be just a choice on looks. There are breed types and actions and health that warrant it.
 
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#20
I know people on another forum who are having to dock their ACDs tails because the dog is chasing it and biting it to the point of no return. It happens and to dock or not to dock may not be just a choice on looks. There are breed types and actions and health that warrant it.

Unfortunately, removing the dogs tail may have no affect on his behavior. That is obsessive complusive behavior. I realize they are docking for a health reason, and I do suuport that, but I sure hope they take behavioral action as well.
 

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