Why Are Dog Tails Docked?
There is some controversy, especially in Europe, over docking dogs' tails.
Some people feel that it is unnecessary or even cruel to dock a dog's tail.
They think that tails are docked for purely cosmetic reasons and that the practice should be stopped.
However, the tails of dogs of some breeds have been docked for centuries for non-cosmetic reasons.
Here's why.
Throughout history, the tails of some breeds have been docked for different reasons.
At various times some dog owners were taxed by their governments depending on how many dogs with tails they had so dog owners docked the tails of some breeds in order to avoid paying the taxes.
Even after the taxes were repealed, owners continued to dock the breeds they had begun docking for other reasons.
A great number of breeds were and are docked to prevent injury.
This applies particularly to hunting dogs.
Dogs who work in the field are prone to collecting burrs and foxtails in heavy cover as well as hurting their tails while wagging.
This leads to pain and infection.
Docking the tail prevents these injuries.
For other breeds, tails are traditionally docked for the sake of cleanliness to keep feces from becoming attached to long fur.
For some guarding and herding breeds, tails have been docked to prevent injury while working.
In virtually every case where a breed standard calls for tail docking there is a reason for the docking relating to concern for the dogs' welfare.
Opponents of tail docking claim that dogs today could be allowed to have long tails or could be bred to be tailless.
In one breed, the Braque du Bourbonnais, French breeders tried to breed for taillessness and ended up with an extinct breed.
They are only now trying to bring their breed back from extinction by breeding half-bred dogs.
They were so focused on breeding for dogs with no tails that their numbers dwindled to zero.
The same thing can happen to any breed that becomes fixated on one trait.
Tail docking is done on puppies when they are just a few days old and there is no evidence that they feel any more pain from tail docking than puppies feel from having their dew claws removed.
The American Kennel Club states the following supports tail docking, as well as ear cropping and dew claw removal.
In breeds that call for dogs with docked tails, individual parent clubs decide whether or not dogs with long tails are allowed to be shown at dog shows.
In the UK tail docking is banned except for working dogs used for their traditional job of work.
A dog is a working dog if a vet has certified that the dog is likely to be used for work in connection with the following law enforcement, armed forces activities, emergency rescue, lawful pest control, and the lawful shooting of animals.
The Canadian Kennel Club, like the AKC, supports the practice of tail docking when performed on young puppies.
Some people feel that it is unnecessary or even cruel to dock a dog's tail.
They think that tails are docked for purely cosmetic reasons and that the practice should be stopped.
However, the tails of dogs of some breeds have been docked for centuries for non-cosmetic reasons.
Here's why.
Throughout history, the tails of some breeds have been docked for different reasons.
At various times some dog owners were taxed by their governments depending on how many dogs with tails they had so dog owners docked the tails of some breeds in order to avoid paying the taxes.
Even after the taxes were repealed, owners continued to dock the breeds they had begun docking for other reasons.
A great number of breeds were and are docked to prevent injury.
This applies particularly to hunting dogs.
Dogs who work in the field are prone to collecting burrs and foxtails in heavy cover as well as hurting their tails while wagging.
This leads to pain and infection.
Docking the tail prevents these injuries.
For other breeds, tails are traditionally docked for the sake of cleanliness to keep feces from becoming attached to long fur.
For some guarding and herding breeds, tails have been docked to prevent injury while working.
In virtually every case where a breed standard calls for tail docking there is a reason for the docking relating to concern for the dogs' welfare.
Opponents of tail docking claim that dogs today could be allowed to have long tails or could be bred to be tailless.
In one breed, the Braque du Bourbonnais, French breeders tried to breed for taillessness and ended up with an extinct breed.
They are only now trying to bring their breed back from extinction by breeding half-bred dogs.
They were so focused on breeding for dogs with no tails that their numbers dwindled to zero.
The same thing can happen to any breed that becomes fixated on one trait.
Tail docking is done on puppies when they are just a few days old and there is no evidence that they feel any more pain from tail docking than puppies feel from having their dew claws removed.
The American Kennel Club states the following supports tail docking, as well as ear cropping and dew claw removal.
In breeds that call for dogs with docked tails, individual parent clubs decide whether or not dogs with long tails are allowed to be shown at dog shows.
In the UK tail docking is banned except for working dogs used for their traditional job of work.
A dog is a working dog if a vet has certified that the dog is likely to be used for work in connection with the following law enforcement, armed forces activities, emergency rescue, lawful pest control, and the lawful shooting of animals.
The Canadian Kennel Club, like the AKC, supports the practice of tail docking when performed on young puppies.
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