Docking Tails (dogs- want your oppinon).

[texasgirl]

I didn't know people docked horses tails
I don't have a problem with docking dog's tails, I just don't like the ears done.

 

[jacyjones]

They don't dock the tail they clip all the hair off it so that the horse has a very short stumpy bit that is no use to it at all.

 

[Mstmae]

IMHO, horse tails should not be cut or docked, they need that hair to swoosh away the flies n things.
Dog tail docking, sometimes for show, other times for pref. We docked our own mini-schnauzers litter, and it was no big deal.

 

[MrsChickendad]

I used to breed and show English Springer Spaniels. We always docked and ALWAYS used anesthetic on tails and dewclaws. We always had the vet do front and back dewclaws, and I did at least do back dewclaws on dogs I've had since (Labs & Goldens) even after they were adults. It can be a messy and painful injury to catch a dewclaw, so I think it is almost always a good idea.

As far as aesthetics go, show Springers look out of balance with a long tail, although field bred dogs usually are docked longer and the hair is left to grow as a "flag" for easy spotting in the field. On the other hand, Labs and Goldens would lose their balanced outline with a docked tail. However, it may be just what we are used to seeing. No point in docking if you're not gonna show.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Yes they do dock it, and no it is not just clipping - docking is/was pretty common among draft horses, like, actual surgical docking (amputating the tailbone a little ways down from the rump). I do not think it's legal in Europe anymore except for medical reasons (after accidents etc) but I am pretty sure that it is still done in North America, right?

Pat, having seen a kajillion docked draft horses over the years and just not having really paid attention to whether it's somehow recently stopped

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

I breed boxers and have had them as part of our family for many years - all of mine are docked ( all came that way when I got them ) when they started having thier own puppies we had thier tails docks as well -- I have a vet friend who taught me how to dock the tails myself at home when they puppies are very young.

right now we have a litter of 6 very active and very healthy boxer puppies who turned 7 weeks old on thursday, I docked all thier tails myself at home - not a signal puppy bled and no one got sick or anything like that, they look much better as a bred standard to have the tails docked along with the dew claws.

I dont have any of our boxers ears cropped - we perfer them with nice big floppy ears - they have a softer look to thier faces with the ears down.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Yes they do dock it, and no it is not just clipping - docking is/was pretty common among draft horses, like, actual surgical docking (amputating the tailbone a little ways down from the rump). I do not think it's legal in Europe anymore except for medical reasons (after accidents etc) but I am pretty sure that it is still done in North America, right?

Very true, mostly you see the draft like Percherons with docked tails. Many older photos I've seen have it done. I used to have a percheron, but her tail was super long and lovely.
I'm not sure if its still done or not.

 

[HuestisFarm]

I think docking is a personal choice.

Depending on what your breed was designed to do & whether or not you'll actually be doing this activity should come into play. I, for one, own Boxers & prefer the docked tail. It's probably because I grew up accepting the breed this way & now they just look funny with the tail. In some countries, they are now banning the docking of their tails.

All of my dogs have natural ears. I, again, prefer the cropped look, but my three are by no means up to show standard & so I found it unneccessary to do so.

Again - purely a personal choice in my opinion. If done properly, I don't see any harm in doing this. To me it's just like getting your dog spayed/neutered.

 

[gaited horse]

I don't want to sound for docking but it is needed sometimes like in my case my ex stret dog my famley adopted from the pound has a broken tail and the vet said that if she starts peeing or pooping on her tail it will have to be cut of or docked

. also a point against docking and cropping if the breed standerd wants the dog to look to look like they were breed to look like then why dock and crop.

 

[mylilchix]

I agree, docking is a personal choice. Our lab has broken his tail several times, and we feel horrible for the poor guy while it heals. He runs around with his tail between his legs, and you can tell it's sore. We also have a boxador, and we wish we had docked his tail. The darn thing is so long he takes out anything on my coffee table and small children when he gets excited. He's knocked my girls down a few times just by wagging his tail.

Sonja