A question about docking

[thewizenedone]

I have had a traditionally docked breed in the past- Boxer- however I know that this practice is now illegal after 2007. However, I have seen adverts for "legally docked" puppies. I WOULD STRESS NOT THINKING OF BUYING ONE FROM AN ADVERT WAS JUST BROWSING HONEST!!!!! now I understand that working dogs can still be docked but I definately dont know many Boxers that the term working could be applied to certainly none of the ones I ever had can someone tell me how this works please?

As far as I understand it vet must see credible, specific evidence that the dog is likely to be sold as a working dog. The three types of breed which may be docked are pointer/hunter/retriever types, terriers and spaniel types so I'm damned if I can see ANYTHING legal in what's going on there. Possibly they were docked abroad (am thinking Irish puppy farming, which is all too common a practice), although AFAIK it's illegal to import into England docked dogs/pups to sell. Whatever is going on doesn't seem right to me.

a working dog may be docked at 3 days old, if both parents are working dogs, the puppies are likely to be sold to working homes. they must have a certificate to prove that the docking was done legally and by a vet, they must be microchipped at the time of first injection. you have to keep the certificate for the life of the dog and it can be requested (by who I dont know) at anytime during the dogs life.

I cant see a boxer fulfilling these criteria so would be very nervous about it.

My spaniel is docked (3/4) and I have already had to explain in length to the vet why and provide certificates. I actually having looked into the legislation am not sure if he should be, both his parents were working dogs and out of the litter I was the only pet home, and he was only sold to me after many lengthy conversations that proved I could fulfill him and a recommendation from my terriers breeder, who is an associate of the spaniels breeder.

MY BIL has a docked Boxer, but he is in Eire. Thinking about it, I don't think I've ever seen a Bober with a tail .

I thought they could also be docked if they are likely to be kennelled. I don't see how you would prove that a dog be to be sold to the public was likely to be kennelled though.

I have an undocked cocker. Is tail is a magnificent surprise after growing with a traditionally docked one who just had a stub. It is a bit of a bramble magnet though so i can understand why working dogs have them docked.

Tail docking has been illegal since 2007

In brief, the Act makes it an offence to remove the whole of part of a dog's tail other than for the purpose of medical treatment, subject to the exemption for docking the tails of certain working dogs. In particular, the legislation states:

a. that any veterinary surgeon who docks a tail must certify that s/he has seen specified evidence that the dog is likely to work in specified areas which are listed in DEFRA website

b. the dog must be no older than five days and will need to be microchipped;

The types of dog that may be docked are . Hunt point retrieve breeds of any type or combination of types. Spaniels of any type or combination of types.
Terriers of any type or combination of types.

It is slightly different for Wales where they give a more specific list of dogs that can be docked

Spaniels of the following breeds: English Springer Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel, but not combinations of breeds

Terriers of the following breeds: Jack Russell Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, but not combinations of breeds

Hunt point retrievers of the following breeds:

Braque Italian, Brittany, German Long Haired Pointer, German Short Haired Pointer, German Wire Haired Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla, Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla, Italian Spinone, Spanish Water Dog, Weimaraner, Korthals Griffon, Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer, Large Munsterlander, Small Munsterlander.

Scotland again slightly different in that The current law is set out in section 20 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. This prohibits the mutilation of animals, apart from procedures specified in regulations, and the regulations which have been made do not include an exemption for non-therapeutic tail- docking of dogs. It will also be an offence to take a dog from Scotland for the purpose of having its tail docked.

Don't think any of this covers Boxers!

I don't think that kenneling is a reason for docking

Oh Northern Ireland have just introduced a ban on the docking of dogs tails, with an exemption for certified working dogs in The Welfare of Animals Act 2011.

Many thanks for the excellent responses, I thought I was correct to be very wary in this area. As I say none of my Boxers could remotely be classed as working dogs unless sofa snoozing or mattress testing could be seen to be so . I know that some dogs in Ireland were still being docked until recently, and have heard of bob tailed boxers, saw one advert which stated pups born without tails . They will always be my breed of choice but I will be very very cautious how I get my next one.