Fine for Docking Tails

grahamrobinson · Old Hand

Fine for Docking Tails

max · Enlightened One

It,s a new law so they have to show that it is being implemented, as for the greys, well to them it is old news.

Just beggers belief. hmm

Nora

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Glad to see action on this outdated, barbaric practice. I look forward to the day when docked tails are seen as abnormal everywhere.

weejake · Master

I used to work in a vets who docked tails before the law was changed and as we were docking the tails of a litter of boxer pups, which I always HATED doing BTW, the breeder apparentley been coming for years. He was going on and on about how brilliant boxers were and how he had always been a Boxer man, then in the next breath come out with "this will be the last litter though, now the law is changing, I mean a boxer isn't a boxer with a tail, who would want one not docked" I actually gasped at him and instead keeping quiet as the vet always wanted us to do, I said "but..but I thought you loved the breed?" he had the decency to look embarassed. I got my a@*e kicked later on from vet though.

Had to do a lot of things I hated in that job...

evilshiddenclaws · Old Hand

i totally disagree, i dont think theres anything wrong with docking tails and i'm really p***** off that its now illegal.

my favourite breeds are docked breeds and that boxer breeder was right, they just arent them with a tail. i was going to get into breeding dobes but now that they will all have tails i'm really put off the idea.

Indiana · Guru

I think there's a lot wrong with docking tails. It isn't natural and takes away an important means of communication for a dog - hence why it has been made illegal. There's nothing better than seeing a wagging tail and I'm quite sure those who are used to the docked tail will become used to a dog with a tail over time and ultimately choose a dog because of temperament rather than looks.

grahamrobinson · Old Hand

Dobermans are an excellent example of why so much of the pro-docking noise is just hot air. The same things were said when they banned ear trimming - "they won't look right, who'd want one, nothing wrong with it". Can't remember the last time anyone mentioned ear trimming, and in a few years, docking will be the same. Gone and forgotten.

Cheers,
Graham

weejake · Master

No way in a million years I would've said that would've been your response Helen. You are so pro dogs. A Boxer with a tail is just that.. a boxer with a tail. And as for the teeny wee stumps they leave rotties it's just mad. You can't say that your dogs would be any less lovable and gorgeous with a tail wagging like crazy instead of what they have. It makes no difference to their looks and helps them commmunicate with other dogs also for all the numpty's out there that are scared of them and I know that that upsets you, would'nt it help if they had a tail to help them read them. It's HUMANs that somewhere down the line have decided that certain breeds look better without a tail, just like they decided on all the other alterations to certain breeds. A dog is a dog, that's it, it's not there to look pretty for us.

If you want to breed dobermans then do it, just dont decide not to because of a few extra inches of bone, nerves, skin and fur. If you like a dog you like it.

Jackie
x

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

I remember last year at Crufts there was a boxer with a long tail which had come over from a country where it had been banned for a few years. Yes it looked odd because we're not used to it but I'm with Graham, just because we're used to it doesn't mean it's okay, like ear trimming it will in a few years be the norm not to do it.
Just think of the way the next generation will look at us when we say we used to cut off dogs tails!
Marie

midas · Master

Interesting debate,some dogs tails don't look as if they suit them but that's just because we're not used to seeing them,I.think working dogs should be able to have docked tails if they repeatedly get their tails damaged as happens from time to time with gun dogs for example,long ago before all breeds were fashion items they were working dogs and were docked because they worked, going after vermin,rats, foxes,and perhaps for food,so the practice is outdated and no longer required,we didn't have thousands of dogs being bred for breeding showing and for cash as happens now.Interesting remark about reading signals ie dogs wagging tails,not all dogs wag their tail in pleasure a lot can be read into a dogs body language,and tails are as good a sign to watch as any.

weejake · Master

Yes exactly. All my greys have had to have their tails taken off before I got them, and my Rufus is a very dominant type dog, I know when he is being tense as his "stump" is wagging like mad completely erect, but it's not the happy wag. That's cos it's my dog, so I know. But it's difficult for other dogs/owners to know, I always know when to call him back. (yeah like he comes, so i mean drag him back). I think taking off tails for looks, is not unlike putting a bow on it's head then popping it into your expensive handbag. Different looks, different tastes. They are companions and maybe work for us but not to make us look better.