Docking - Should it be allowed

[Wolfie]

Our experience is similar for dogs in rescue. Most adopters want a docked tail. With rare exceptions, we will amputate the tail when the dog is out for spay/neuter.

Bruce Rogers
Doberman Rescue of North Texas

There are two questions to accompany this statement:

A) Would you want a rescue to amputate the tail of an adult dog?
B) If you were adopting a doberman (or any breed of dog who might have its tail docked), would you be put off by an undocked tail?

[MYSTI]

B, most definately. I am a real activist, and I've not done many things on docking of the tail. In fact, I've done none. But I looked this up in an online encyclopedia. Take a look. The important parts are colored red:

What is Tail Docking?
There are over fifty breeds of dog, which have had their tails docked, since the inception of the breed. The original reason for docking some breeds is well documented, for some, the reasons have been lost over the fullness of time. The vast majority of breeders and prospective puppy purchasers continue to want these breeds docked for a variety of reasons. Many reasons are given for the different breeds and range from the need to protect certain breeds from tail damage, for hygiene reasons, or to protect breed standards.

Tails are normally docked at 2 to 5 days of age without anaesthetic being used. When carried out correctly, the procedure causes no more than momentary discomfort since the neonate puppy does not have a fully developed nervous system. When the pup is placed back with its littermates, it quickly falls asleep or starts feeding from mum again. This is in contrast to a puppy in pain, who would exhibit continuous crying, restlessness, crawl around in pointless circles and fail to suckle.

The older the animal, the larger the tail, and therefore the more traumatic the procedure becomes. If the puppy is more than 5 days old, the procedure should only be performed under anaesthesia, preferably not before 8 weeks of age. Many undocked adult animals undergo the tail docking procedure out of necessity when their tail has been traumatised.


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How is docking carried out ?
There are two methods of docking. The majority of breeders used the technique known as "banding", in which a ligature, normally an orthodontic band, was placed over the end of the puppies tail at 24-96 hours old. This effectively cuts off the blood supply to the end of the tail, which comes away within 3 days.

Most vets used to cut the tail with surgical scissors but in the UK, are now more likely to use the banding method too

More detailed information can be found under the Case for Docking


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What are dewclaws?
Dewclaws are like thumbs. They are the first digit on a dog, and, unlike digits 2,3,4 and 5, are not used for walking. They are located a short distance up the leg on the inside surface. They are usually removed at the same time the tail is docked, at 2 to 5 days of age. At this age, the bones that make up the toes are tiny and soft so that snipping them off is easy. If the dewclaws are not removed at 2-5 days of age, like the tail dock, one should wait until the pup is old enough to anaesthetise safely.

The removal of dew claws is still legal in the UK, even AFTER the implementation of the new Animal Welfare Acts in 2007

Removing dewclaws from an adult animal is much more difficult than snipping them off of a days old puppy. Recovery time is also longer and many adult animals will bother the incision excessively because it is so easy to reach. This usually necessitates the placement of an Elizabethan collar, a funnel shaped plastic device that surrounds the animal's head, so that it cannot lick or chew its sutures out. Dewclaws serve no purpose to the dog. They are easily snagged on things and often traumatised.

Source


1. Though the reasons have been lost over fullness of time: If the reasons are lost, why continue? Why do something without a real reason?

2. to protect certian breed standards: like Flash says below, it's like cutting of my arm if you think it makes me more attractive.

3. 2-5 days of age: 2-5 days of age is usually a good method if youa re going to dock. Most are inexperienced and do this after the fifth day is over.

4. This is in contrast to a puppy in pain, who would exhibit continuous crying, restlessness, crawl around in pointless circles and fail to suckle: Just wanted to make this point clear, unless anyone else has something to say about it.

5. Most adult dogs go under the procedure of docking when the tail has been traumatised: Right now, I have absolutely nothing to say. My mum is a vet. I'm going to be asking her about this, and very soon.

6. This effectively cuts off the blood supply to the end of the tail which comes away in three days: Docking of tails should be banned... Bite me.

7. cut the tail with surgical scissors: at least they use banding now.... because there'd be a lot more blood with the scissors, and a lot more discomofort.

8. The dog's 'thumbs' serve no purpose, but they should be cut off? (insert colourful language here)


Now onto cropping of the ears. (It's not docking, it's cropping)

Well, cropping of the ears is imensely unnessacary. A dog's ear folds serve a purpose. They shield the dog from the noises that would otherwise be to loud for them. They say that it makes guard dogs more fierce, but it makes them scared, and they are more likely to bite you if you clap or whistle then an uncropped dog would be. Most cropped dobermans have trouble with loud noises as I have noticed. The cropping needs to be stopping!

[Flash]

I refuse to believe that docking or cropping is ever necessary or beneficial to a dog.

In England, I'm pretty sure that both practices are illegal unless carried out by a veterinary surgeon, and personally I find the idea repulsive. It has no benefits for the dog, and causes them a great deal of pain just so the owner can have a 'pretty' pet. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is quoted as saying that tail docking is "an unjustified mutilation and unethical unless done for therapeutic or acceptable prophylactic reasons", and to be honest I think that sums it up rather nicely. Tail docking is normally done for aesthetic purposes only - so basically, it would be like me cutting off your arm because I thought it would make you look more attractive.

Cruel, much? |:

In answer to the two questions, I would not want a rescuer to amputate the tail of any dog, unless there was a medical reason for it. If I were adopting a Doberman or a similar breed, I would not be put off by an undocked tail - I cannot imagine not wanting a dog merely because he or she has a tail. Similarly, I would not be put off by a docked tail - but I would certainly question the rescuer/dog shelter as to how and why the dog's tail was docked in the first place.