Tail Docking

[queenofmean]

Just curious. My pen pal and her partner have working dogs. One of the dogs is due pups and she has said that at 2 days old they are going to have their tails docked. I thought that this was banned or something?

Can someone enlighten me a little please and thank you

[frugalfred]

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/media-centre/issue-statements/tail-docking/

[NoMercy]

If it's a working dog, it might be safer for them to have their tails docked.

[THEMOTLEY1]

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/media-centre/issue-statements/tail-docking/

[queenofmean]

Thank you guys, cleared that up and put my mind at rest.

I understand that working dogs may need too I just wasn't sure it was allowed. My grans Yorkie had is docked and he wasn't but that was back in the 80's.
Thank you too NoM x

[Buenchico]

For tail docking to be legal, the dog must be under 5 days old and a vet has to certify that the dog is likely to be used as a working dog for the purposes of . . .
"(a) law enforcement
(b) activities of Her Majesty's armed forces
(c) emergency rescue
(d) lawful pest control, or
(e) the lawful shooting of animals"
AND
"that the dog is of a type specified for the purposes of this subsection by regulations made by the appropriate national authority"
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/section/6

Further details, including the relevant breeds, can be found here:
http://www.cdb.org/awa/

[queenofmean]

Thank you Buenchico.

They are hunting/shooting dogs.

Will have a proper look later at the breeds when my phone isn't about to conk out

[wolf63]

It sounds barbaric but with hunting dogs I understand that there may be a good reason to do it.

It isn't as back as removing a cat's claws which IS illegal in this country but not in many others.

[Prudie]

We find it barbaric now but it used to be done without a thought. My mum bred boxers back in the 60s and everyone did it then.

[jourdain2]

When I had Labradors (trained, working gun-dogs) it was necessary to remove the dew-claws from puppies within a week of birth - they were still soft - in order to obviate nasty catches and rip injuries later. I hated doing it, I think the vet did, too, but after a moment's yelp and being returned to mum for a suck they all forgot about it.

[rsvp]

what I've always found curious is that labs, retrievers etc are also working dogs but they don't have their tails docked. they work in thick bush just like spaniels too.

[woofgang]

different kind of tail rsvp...much thicker and better covered with flesh and hair....mind you, I have had weis for years and currently wei x GSP. I don't hunt with them but all of them have led “hunting” lives. They run in the New Forest and will happily press through gorse, thorn or bramble. All of them have had full tails and kept their dew claws and (touching wood) none of them have ever had a tail or dew claw injury, although over the years there have been cuts, scratches bruises and sprains and strains galore. I have rarely had to clip dew claws either. I have seen, with my own eyes, my dogs using dew claws to hold things and also to aid them to climb. Traditionally they would have been both docked and dew clawed......I am not sure either that there has been any massive increase in tail damage in dogs since docking was so severely limited.

[rsvp]

Am aware of the difference in tails Woofgang - my reply was meant to highlight the 'designer mutilations' in many breeds - boxers weimerainers, dobis, corgis and a host of others. As a matter of interest, long dogs have a huge problem with end of tail injuries even though they have a long slim 'rudder' but because they need them for balance and a lot of money is involved in say, greyhound racing, they aren't docked. We'll just have to continue to work towards a more inform decision on acceptable and realistic standards towards dog breeds.

[woofgang]

rsvp, tail docking of boxers and dobes is definitely now not legal in the UK. Pembroke corgis are usually born without tails; those who are born with a tail may not be docked in the UK. I am not sure what other designer mutilations you are talking about although I do think that the dreadful breeding of brachycephalic dogs (and cats) is a huge issue and will be the next one to come to the public’s attention.

[rsvp]

It's been proven that many canine breeds are unfortunately subject to breeding along the lines of cosmetic surgery to fulfill the new perception of the breed standard. Docking of tails, clipping of ears and lowering of the back to the point of deformity is abhorrent but apparently normal and acceptable.
I realise why Corgis (for example) are docked and would be interested to know the percentage of pups born (and sold for lots of money} actually go on to work cattle - and are they all docked 'just in case' or because Corgis have traditionally been a docked breed. To clarify I have a border collie who should have worked but has serious issues which we are getting around so I have no axe to grind.

[woofgang]

Pembroke corgis are not docked, they are born without tails. If they are born with a tail its illegal to dock it. I do agree about the way some breeds of dog are being bred...I really do.....BUT PEMBROKE CORGIS ARE USUALLY BORN WITHOUT TAILS AND IT IS ILLEGAL IN THE UK TO DOCK THOSE BORN WITH TAILS. and yes I am shouting!