Tails -- to dock or not to dock?

[lauzon ranch]

This is a matter of some concern as we raise both Pembroke Corgis and Mini Aussies. We have a corgi girl that we were planning to keep. She had a little stubby tail, as do many of our babies from our male Winston. Because we were going to keep her, I elected not to have her tail docked. It has set me wondering why it would be advisable to dock tails at all -- stubby tails or otherwise. In England it is now forbidden to dock tails or crop ears on any breed of dog. I have studied the history of docking and find no health related concerns -- only taxes. So -- would people not want a puppy with an undocked tail? Would people generally prefer an undocked tail? What would be the consensus of this forum?
Thanks!

[Gail]

I have a Rottweiler male who still has his tail
I never really thought about it until I had the option of purchasing him and he still had his tail at 1 year old
I researched tail docking on the internet and found when I looked into it I didn't really like the idea of docking the tail
I purchased him and when I got a female puppy I asked the breeder not to dock her tail
People who see the dogs like the tails
In that litter she was the only one with a tail
The next litter the breeder had all the tails were left on the puppies and they had no trouble selling the pups
I think that docking tails will go out of style

[madmax]

I have been breeding English Cocker Spaniels for the last 10 years and have NEVER docked their tails.
Now its is illegal to dock in the UK but people are finding ways around the docking ban. Which I think is CRIMINAL if dogs where meant to have no tails then they would be born without them. I did have ONE puppy born with OUT a tail.
I now breed Cockapoos and they have lovely waggy tails.

[mia]

Hi Everyone,

I am loving all of your comments.I bought a 5 month old Yorkie from someone who could not take care of her. She has a docked tail and if I ever get another direct from the breeder as they are born I will definately keep the tail. I think it is cruel and serves no purpose to dock tails and ears.

Lets all keep fighting this procedure and maybe we can save our little babies from this horrible thing people are doing.

Thanks,

Mia

[Sarah]

Docking is done during the first 24 hours that puppies are born. The nerve hasn't fully formed in their tails yet, and they cannot feel it.

They do not dock tails so people will not be afraid of dogs such as Rottweilers,Dobies etc.

If I were to have Rottweilers again and I'm sure I will, my dogs tails will be docked. It's a great look for the breed, and you cannot professionally show them if they have tails.

I believe it should be a preference...

Just my 3 cents

[Gail]

The CKC allows you to show Rottweilers with or without tails but there are still some judges who don't like the tails
If you go to shows only for Rottweilers you see more dogs with tails than without
Rottweilers with tails appear to be the way things are going

[Sarah]

Thank you for that Gail, I did not know that. But like I said it's a personal preference, and I love the breed with a docked tail... However, If I were to adopt a Rottie that had a tail, I certainly would not put him through that pain of docking the tail.. If it's done as a new born before the nerve is completely grown into the tail, then yes I certainly would dock the tail...

[Gail]

I have to admit when I think of my former Rottweiler it makes me smile to think of her little stub of a tail wagging
It was so cute
You very quickly get used to a tail on a Rottweiler and now I like it better

[Sarah]

That's what I loved about mine, their little stump of a tail wagging. Buddy was a happy dog all the time, no matter what we went through. He was a joy... I will always have a Rottie with a docked tail... It's is what a Rottie should look like. Buddy was a herder, and loved to be around horses. They kick, and I think [it may not be true] that Buddy not having a tail, saved him from being kicked. If a horse got kicked Buddy just right, the power of the kick would have turned Buddy around to be injured by the horse. I don't know about your Rotties, but Buddy jumped like a deer, and there was on occasion where the owner of the horse would have a difficult time with moving a horse, and I have seen Buddy jump and kick that horse on the hind leg by the rear to move it. It worked, but it also made the horse mad and kick a lot.

Perhaps owners who like to live in the City, and the dogs don't have a job per se, a tail would be ok. I would also not dock a tail of a Rottie mix. But a purebred, absolutely.

Like I said, it's a matter of what you like.

[Gail]

I attended a 2 day dog training seminar conducted by a couple who specializes in training Rottweilers for Schutzhund.
This consists of tracking, obedience and protection
This couple often attend world competitions as part of the U.S. team
That would be like an olympics for dog athletes
He said that when he first saw a Rottweiler with a tail he hated it
Now all his competition Rottweilers have tails
He said that it is much easier to read the Rottweilers when they have tails
Acccording to him they also move better and have better balance with the tails