to judge people whose dogs'

[Fabulousfreaks]

tails have been docked? Is there ever a justifiable reason for this?

[JeezyOrangePips]

YABU. You don't know who docked the tails. The owner may have got the dog from a rescue centre.

[MrsRhettButler]

What jeezy said. Yabu to assume that was the person who did it.

[Fabulousfreaks]

That is true and that of course is not the owners fault but they are not all from rescue places (just thinking of some people I know).

[LST]

Springers a exempt I think because of 'working'. I don't know what they'd be getting in the way of though.

My friend has a beautiful rottie and her tail
Is lovely. It goes into a big bushy curl on her back. Why people would want to chop that off I'd never know.

But YABU to judge everyone yes. Because some people reduce dogs with docked tails.

[Fabulousfreaks]

Why are springers exempt?

[bumperella]

If you've seen a gun-dog with tail damage then maybe you'd think differently.
But for dogs where not necessary (the absolute majoroity) is horrid.
IMO is a slight "cruel to be kind" for a teensy minority.

[LST]

Rescue*

[LST]

It might be all working dogs actually.

[bumperella]

Springers exempt - because they are typical beaters' dogs but have impractical exuberant tails which DO get shredded.

[freddiefrog]

YABU, it's usually nothing to do with the owner

I have an undocked springer, we specifically didn't want one that had been docked. It took ages to find one though, they're working dogs and are predominantly docked as tiny puppies by the breeder.

One of my neighbours has a docked springer, she got him from a shelter.

And, actually having seen the damage done to an undocked working springer's tail (which had to be amputated) I do understand why some people do dock

[Fabulousfreaks]

So out of genuine ignorance why do working dogs need it done?

[LST]

Do guard dogs get there tails docked so they look scary even if they aren't?

(my mum used to tell me the dobie on the scrap yard would be wagging his tail if he had one when I was little)

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

I live in NI and heard the other day its now illegal here. Is it illegal elsewhere?

[akaemmafrost]

I don't judge the owners because it could have been done before.

It does piss me off to see it though. I have a breed that is routinely docked . Mine is not. I can't imagine him without his lovely feathery tail.

[LST]

It's illegal in uk except working dogs I think.

Might be wrong though.

[mamapower]

Yes YABU! My dogs tail is docked, she's 9, it was legal when she was born and the breeder had her done along with the rest of the litter. Don't be so judgemental.

[Freshbloodletticia]

Working cockers and springers can legally be docked to avoid their tails being shredded by thorns and brambles. A shredded tail is very sore so it is def kinder. A good vet will only dock the very end of the tail and leave a good 2/3 to wag. It's a bit like neutering male cats, kinder in the long run.
However, for a non-working dog it is totally unecessary.

[freddiefrog]

In my dog's case it's the damage he does to it bouncing around in brambles and bushes. I spend hours picking thorns and twigs out of it, as it's so feathery, he has made it bleed a lot, quite often

Working springer's tend to work with beaters, chasing game out of bushes, with an un-docked tail they can get tangled.

I think it's only allowed legally for working springers now though and a breeder has to prove it to a vet

[Fabulousfreaks]

But I would judge the breeder for doing it if it isn't necessary. So I will reserve my judgement for some and give those I don't know the benefit of the doubt.

[PinkFairyDust]

It is illegal now in the uk.

Dogs can have thier tails docked if they break them though.
I have boxers and was told that they must be careful because if they hit something to hard they can break them and may need surgery to make sure it sets the right way if it doesn't they can get the docked as its for medical reasons

[bumperella]

Working dogs get it done because a few breeds (springers, basically) have relatively long, waggy, enthusiastic tails that get damaged when they are working (springers are used to flush game birds out of rough undergrowth as well as to retrieve). Damaged tails get very messy and it often leads to amputation after prolongued periods of infection and mcuh pain. It's a "cruel to be kind" action. BUT sometimes it was done for vanity/image, or becuase it's the norm (it isn't necessary for pet springers, any show dogs, gaurd dogs, sheep dogs, etc).

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

The 17yo guy I used to work with reckons that Rotties as a breed, need to have their tails docked, because if the didnt and they broke their tail, then their balance would be seriously impaired!
Ive never heard such bollocks in my life! and I told him so too

[purplepenguin86]

I think part of the problem is that docking has to be done when they are very tiny, and people who have working dogs tend to think it is better to have them docked, but obviously breeders have no idea how many of the pups will go to working homes and how many to pet homes etc. Personally I disagree with it BUT I know it can be kinder for a working dog, as they do tend to get them damaged, which can be very painful and problematic. But obviously you have no idea when puppies are born which of them are likely to be working dogs. I used to have a Springer, and we specifically got one that didn't have a docked tail, but I can see that in some circumstances it could be difficult. There is no excuse whatsoever in having it done for aesthetic reasons though.

[bumperella]

Ideally gun-dogs are bred from proven field-trail winners, which would mean that they simply wouldn't be offered to "pet" homes unless they were seen as coming from less-than-ideal parentage.
So really breeders SHOULD have a decent expectation of what type of home they will be suited to, therefore what type of home they will go to and therefore wether docking is in any way appropriate.

[gymmummy64]

The 'working dog' thing is always quoted in this debate, but how many working gun dogs flushing game out of undergrowth are there nowadays? Maybe I don't move in the right circles - I know a lot of people with spaniels but I know absolutely no one involving in rearing or shooting game birds