Tails -- to dock or not to dock?

[Sarah]

Like I said before, it's a matter of preference... I prefer them without a tail, and I had no problems reading my dogs at all.

I'm actually surprised that a trainer who trains Schutzund, would even say that.

My rotties were trained for Shutzhund [except Buddy] and I was trained to read body language, energy... no one reads a dog by the tail, because it's misleading and can get the dog in trouble... With breeds like Pit Bulls and Rotties you not only have to read their body language, and energy, you must also pay attention to their eyes. I have seen dogs of both breeds which remained very calm and would seem happy and content, but their eyes gloss over right before they attack... You have to watch a dogs full behaviour and not a tail..

I had a Rottie before Buddy named Lucy. Lucy would give a low growl when someone pet her, and if you didn't know Lucy, you would think she was giving warning. She wasn't, she had this purring thing going on with her, it was strange. I always kept my eye on her though, because their energy can change like lightening and you have to be quick. Lucy didn't give much warning, if someone was close to crossing boundaries. Sabastian on the other hand would warn people... Buddy was just a pet, he was herder and his passion was his horses. He would protect me when necessary or give warning when someone was around that was not a good person.

Perhaps things have changed, who knows.. I will stand on the knowledge of dogs that I have, because they have never failed me when it comes to reading a dog of any breed....