Tail Docking ?
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Well, after having lived with Rotties for years and helping whelp 5 litters over the course of 20 years. We always docked oour rotties tails right after they were born. It is done for show purposes now and personally I don't like the au natrual look althouhg there are some very nice dogs that are natrual, in fact our last litter was from a dog with a tail.
This is a true rottie! Not mine but a friends. He is a german Bred dog with phenomenal working ability!
This is a true rottie! Not mine but a friends. He is a german Bred dog with phenomenal working ability!
I find undocked tails "look funny", but I MUCH prefer natural, floppy ears! Both of my danes have natural ears and both dobies I had had natural ears as well. Nothing like seeing those 'wings' (along with jowels!) flopping in the wind as 120ish lbs of pure muscle (and sometimes fat!) comes flying through the air towards you!
Here is a pic of a Central Asian this is the typical dock.
I do prefer them without the appendages .
Note the ears are done too. However I hope they dont ban this practice any time soon they tried too in NY this year with a bill and i was on the tel for days trying to stop it. Thank god it did not get a sponsor.
The woman told me the aide for the congress woman said I was ruining my dogs chances of living as a tripod with a docked tail and that I want to cause the pups pain. She was a young kid who had no idea of what some dock cropped breeds are used for... All she knew was show dogs..
I do prefer them without the appendages .
Note the ears are done too. However I hope they dont ban this practice any time soon they tried too in NY this year with a bill and i was on the tel for days trying to stop it. Thank god it did not get a sponsor.
The woman told me the aide for the congress woman said I was ruining my dogs chances of living as a tripod with a docked tail and that I want to cause the pups pain. She was a young kid who had no idea of what some dock cropped breeds are used for... All she knew was show dogs..
I have a working breed and 3 day old cropping more so than docking same age makes for less injuries and infection.
Also can save their lives when figthing a predator.
I would not do it for show purposes had a working doberman as a sentry guard dog and the criminals did not push it with him all because he had ears and tail. It confused the hell out of many what he was but Satan did not mind the attention.
Also can save their lives when figthing a predator.
I would not do it for show purposes had a working doberman as a sentry guard dog and the criminals did not push it with him all because he had ears and tail. It confused the hell out of many what he was but Satan did not mind the attention.
Well it comes down to predator control my breed has had tails cropped and docked like this for 4,000 years long before Westminster was created.
When a wolf pack attacks one wolf grabs the ear and pulls the opposite way which allows the throat of the dog to be exposed thus the other wolf rips the dogs throat out.
My breed comes from a part of the world where the nearest Vet is thousands of miles away. When they fight bear , tiger , Hyena etc if they survive.
Their is no antibotics ,the deserts of the Karakum are deadly more with bugs and heat than the predators...
Workings can mean herding, protection work, draft etc.
Livestock dogs even the ones we know of like ASD Kangal Akbash CO CAS Tatra all were either cropped or docked in native lands at one time or another.
One of the reason was for the tail to tell the dogs from the wolves they were bred to hunt back 100 years ago. So the hunter does not shoot the dog instead of the wolf during nite raids.
This crop is done at 3 days so we dont know which pups is going for work vs pet until temp and structure start to show themselves at a later date too late to do this on wholes litters.
Some lines of this breed have NATURAL docked tails thus it tends us to believe years of cropping and docking had its reasons.
IN my pack of 10 if they had ears I would be at the Vet Daily..
Tails few times of year when they would be broken in accidents.
Again not for all working breeds.........
When a wolf pack attacks one wolf grabs the ear and pulls the opposite way which allows the throat of the dog to be exposed thus the other wolf rips the dogs throat out.
My breed comes from a part of the world where the nearest Vet is thousands of miles away. When they fight bear , tiger , Hyena etc if they survive.
Their is no antibotics ,the deserts of the Karakum are deadly more with bugs and heat than the predators...
Workings can mean herding, protection work, draft etc.
Livestock dogs even the ones we know of like ASD Kangal Akbash CO CAS Tatra all were either cropped or docked in native lands at one time or another.
One of the reason was for the tail to tell the dogs from the wolves they were bred to hunt back 100 years ago. So the hunter does not shoot the dog instead of the wolf during nite raids.
This crop is done at 3 days so we dont know which pups is going for work vs pet until temp and structure start to show themselves at a later date too late to do this on wholes litters.
Some lines of this breed have NATURAL docked tails thus it tends us to believe years of cropping and docking had its reasons.
IN my pack of 10 if they had ears I would be at the Vet Daily..
Tails few times of year when they would be broken in accidents.
Again not for all working breeds.........
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I have 2 Rotty mixes and I love their tails.... Our 8 year old, Nina is 1/2 rotty 1/2 chow and altough her tail is beautiful curled up like a chow, she tends to bite at the base of it, we are always watching her to make sure she doesn't chew herself raw, if we had been givin a choice we would have had her tail docked just because of it bothering her.... Our 4 1/2 old rotty/ ? mix has not had a problem with chewing at his (knock on wood) we got both dog when they were 7 weeks old and far past the age of docking....... although I love watching them wag their tails I see why rottys are docked......
Yorkies tails are docked. Since they are so tiny when born (some 2 to 3 oz) I usually wait until they are a week old to do it. When I first started breeding Yorkies the tail was supposed to be docked at the beginning of the lighter colored hair. Now the tail is being left longer and it is a lot harder to figure out how long to leave it. I like the tail left a little longer myself. It is easier to get ahold of when you need to trim the hair around their anus.
personally i think if you have a working dog (that is more than just a pet and actually has work to do) then docking and cropping is a good idea. If not i don't see why it is necessary since it is a surgical procedure (not sure how invasive docking is) but i don't think the dog is too happy about having his ears cut off if it's not necessary. But it"s just my opinion.
Many, many breeds have artificially docked tails: Rottweilers, Dobermans, JRTs, Poodles, Boxers, Corgis (although some are now breeding for naturally bobbed tails), Yorkies..................
I have to say that in the majority of breeders, it's their own personal wants & desires that come into play on then length of tail left. In my line of work, we've noticed a correlation b/n your typical byb gotta have dog that looks "tight" wanting the much shorter docks than those more interested in showing & preservation of a breed.
When we ask our clients how short they want the tails, most of those that don't have a clue & are worried about the coolness factor, for instance want Rottwieler tails basically completely off with it seeming like we'd have to go up into the spine to dock. We NEVER EVER do these so short basically non-existant crops. If the owner doesn't like, we tell them they are more than willing to leave & go somewhere else. We try to do all our crops according to those pictured on dogs that are the ideal breed standard......regardless of what the owner/breeder wants. In docking, you can go too short & drastically increase the chance of infection.
Plus, we will ONLY do docks on pups between 3 & 5 days old. Any older & they must wait until at least 4 months & have it done as a surgical procedure.
I have to say that in the majority of breeders, it's their own personal wants & desires that come into play on then length of tail left. In my line of work, we've noticed a correlation b/n your typical byb gotta have dog that looks "tight" wanting the much shorter docks than those more interested in showing & preservation of a breed.
When we ask our clients how short they want the tails, most of those that don't have a clue & are worried about the coolness factor, for instance want Rottwieler tails basically completely off with it seeming like we'd have to go up into the spine to dock. We NEVER EVER do these so short basically non-existant crops. If the owner doesn't like, we tell them they are more than willing to leave & go somewhere else. We try to do all our crops according to those pictured on dogs that are the ideal breed standard......regardless of what the owner/breeder wants. In docking, you can go too short & drastically increase the chance of infection.
Plus, we will ONLY do docks on pups between 3 & 5 days old. Any older & they must wait until at least 4 months & have it done as a surgical procedure.
The only work Skye has had to do her whole life is to be my friend so she has her natural ears and given the choice I'd have left her with her tail too though that's neither here not there. What I want to know is...
What did that mean - living as a tripod? Is it to do with the natural balance of ears and tail? Excuse my denseness. The loss of her tail does not affect Skye's balance at all and I've never heard that phrase before.
What did that mean - living as a tripod? Is it to do with the natural balance of ears and tail? Excuse my denseness. The loss of her tail does not affect Skye's balance at all and I've never heard that phrase before.
I am sure all the "naturalists" will all have a field day with me, every one here seems pretty oppinionated and don't like any ones oppionion that doesn't fall with theirs. I don't like an undocked tail, I can live with natural ears, but not the tail, they look like mutts! If I wanted a mutt I would go to the pound. If they make docking illegal (not that they will ever outlaw declaws
) I don't think I would ever get a boxer, rottie, ect breed again. I would just go get a mutt or a GSD or some thing like that.
Let the nasty remarks fly! I know there comming.
) I don't think I would ever get a boxer, rottie, ect breed again. I would just go get a mutt or a GSD or some thing like that.Let the nasty remarks fly! I know there comming.
I have aussies, some are born with a natural bob tail, tho not many..I like my docked tailed aussie w/floppy ears *vbg*
my male was docked for a bob tail, maybe because he is out of working lines,
while my female is tail-less.
Alot of agility enthusiasts are now going for the "tailed" aussies as they reason the tail gives better balance.
Diane
my male was docked for a bob tail, maybe because he is out of working lines,
while my female is tail-less.
Alot of agility enthusiasts are now going for the "tailed" aussies as they reason the tail gives better balance.
Diane
I hate when government comes in to dictate citizen's lives, including how their animals should look. Next they will tell us what kind of dog food we must feed and at what time and so on. It is scary.
I understand the docking/cropping for work purposes. But if we stop docking/cropping like to afore mentioned breeds (doberman, rottweiler, hunting breeds, etc.) why do we even have a breed standard? We might as well do away with any standard and just breed how each breeder wants to, or maybe as government dictates. Maybe it is cruel to breed the Chihuahua because he is too tiny to properly defend himself and it infringes in his "doggy" rights. I know, I'm reaching.
Now personally, some breeds look fine with or without docking or cropping. But, because these breeds have not been bred to have a specific tail, when we start non docking, we end up with all sorts of different and funny looking tails. A boxer just isn't a boxer without a docked tail.
My dog has a gorgeous tail; he is a large mix, but sometimes I wish it was docked as it swooshes and knocks everything over, including small children.
I understand the docking/cropping for work purposes. But if we stop docking/cropping like to afore mentioned breeds (doberman, rottweiler, hunting breeds, etc.) why do we even have a breed standard? We might as well do away with any standard and just breed how each breeder wants to, or maybe as government dictates. Maybe it is cruel to breed the Chihuahua because he is too tiny to properly defend himself and it infringes in his "doggy" rights. I know, I'm reaching.
Now personally, some breeds look fine with or without docking or cropping. But, because these breeds have not been bred to have a specific tail, when we start non docking, we end up with all sorts of different and funny looking tails. A boxer just isn't a boxer without a docked tail.
My dog has a gorgeous tail; he is a large mix, but sometimes I wish it was docked as it swooshes and knocks everything over, including small children.
Huh?? The breed standard should be for traits that are bred into the dog. Not cosmetic alterations made after birth. A two-year old boxer with an undocked tail is the same dog he would be if his tail was docked. Just as well-bred.
Meg has a docked tail because that's what her breed is supposed to have. Yes, her little "nubbin" is adorable - but I wish she had her whole tail. There is just no reason for her not to. (I rescued her as an adult, in case that wasn't clear. I did not dock her tail.)
I'm not sure the government saying "you can't amputate a dog's tail" is really overstepping their bounds.
I don't think tails should be docked, although I don't mind the look of them. I think cropped ears always look odd. I'm a big fan of floppy ears!
Meg has a docked tail because that's what her breed is supposed to have. Yes, her little "nubbin" is adorable - but I wish she had her whole tail. There is just no reason for her not to. (I rescued her as an adult, in case that wasn't clear. I did not dock her tail.)
I'm not sure the government saying "you can't amputate a dog's tail" is really overstepping their bounds.
I don't think tails should be docked, although I don't mind the look of them. I think cropped ears always look odd. I'm a big fan of floppy ears!
To me any docking or ear clips are because the owner wants them to look like a pure bred ......yes, were are used to it now . I saw a Boxer with natural ears and tail at the vet's a while ago . I gave him high 5s !! I'm bothered when I see a show Golden with square cut tail hairs ! Love the way they were born .
I have to agree Grammy. I wish I could bring back Amos and Lola's little tails and Lola's expressive ears. At least Amos's ears were left natural. Except for extreme cases where it is absolutely required for a working dog in order to reduce the risk of injury doing the job he was bred to do, I just think it's unnecessary.
JMO of course, but I never had my son "cropped" either...and now at 21 years old, he's glad I didn't.
JMO of course, but I never had my son "cropped" either...and now at 21 years old, he's glad I didn't.
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