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01-12-2007, 07:11 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 16
| Why dock the tail? I forgot to ask the vet why Yorkie's tails are docked, so maybe someone here knows. What is the reason for docking a Yorkie's tail? Do most owners do this? Show dogs only? Our puppy is "only" a pet, we won't be showing her. Is there some health reason why docking is supposed to be done? I think her tail is cute, especially when wagging excitedly and quickly back and forth! Thanks. Jewelsmom |
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01-13-2007, 03:26 PM | #2 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 16
| Bump My daughter just hates the idea of docking Jewels' tail. Have others of you here had your Yorkies' tails docked? Why is it done and how long does it take to heal? Thanks. |
01-13-2007, 03:42 PM | #3 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| The yorkie standard calls for it to be docked so thats why most breeders do it. I dont know how long it takes to heal
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
01-13-2007, 03:45 PM | #4 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 944
| Hi. Yorkies were docked originally because they went down rat holes and had to be pulled out by their tails (like other terriers, Foxies, JRTs, etc) to reduce the risk of breaking the tail. If you feel any dog's tail the first few vertebrae have much more muscle around them and are thicker whereas at the end the bones are smaller and much more likely to break if you tried to pull the dog by them! Personally I don't see any reason to dock any more. I know that this is a contensious issue but they are not working dogs anymore. the "hygeine" reason cited by some is a fallacy. I have a yorkie with a tail and a yorkie without a tail and I'd say the percentage of "klingons" is about the same. If you keep them clean then they won't get flystrike (which is why lambs' tails are docked). hope that doesn't come across as too preachy but it's an issue I do care about. I mean I'll be the first to admit that a docked tail looks smarter but I don't think that's a reason to remove it. If you do decide that you'd prefer a docked tail make sure it's done in the first day or two of the dog's life. IE the breeder will have to arrange it with the vet. In NZ there are very few vets left who will actually dock tails - at any age.
__________________ Dougal (card carrying member of the Teapot Club) & Dixie (aka Evil Wee) Dougal's Facebook Dixie's Facebook |
01-13-2007, 03:52 PM | #5 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 16
| Maybe Jewels' tail is already docked and I just didn't know about it. The breeder didn't mention doing this but if it's a standard thing they do maybe he wouldn't have mentioned it. The tail is about 2-1/2 inches long. How long would it be in its normal state? (I'm such a novice! ) Now I'm confused. The vet didn't bring up this subject and I didn't think to either. |
01-13-2007, 03:59 PM | #6 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| It sounds like yours is docked. If it is docked it looks like a little nub. If it is undocked it is long and the hair fans down over it
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
01-13-2007, 04:16 PM | #7 |
All Dogs Go To Heaven Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: By The Lake
Posts: 2,727
| OK, i'm going to try & word this carefully..... Rocky's tail is 5 1/2" long, not including the hair length. How did I do???
__________________ Jeanie I am @ the Lake Jackson, Maggie, Sunshine, Bailey, Rocky, Emmie & Jack |
01-13-2007, 04:17 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 944
| Yup that sounds docked. But how long is your dog's back? Dougal's tail is about half the length of his back (he's not docked). Dixie's tail is only about an inch long. The docked length depends on how many vertebrae they kept.
__________________ Dougal (card carrying member of the Teapot Club) & Dixie (aka Evil Wee) Dougal's Facebook Dixie's Facebook |
01-13-2007, 04:48 PM | #9 | |
Izzy's Momma Too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stuart, Florida
Posts: 8,799
| Quote:
__________________ Tracy, Mom to Izzy and Luna | |
01-13-2007, 04:50 PM | #10 |
Izzy's Momma Too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stuart, Florida
Posts: 8,799
| Actually, we're talking about a puppy, yes? If so, then 2 1/2 inches sounds to me like it's NOT docked. My pups are older (5.5 months and almost 8 months) and their tails are around an inch long, they're docked.
__________________ Tracy, Mom to Izzy and Luna |
01-13-2007, 04:54 PM | #11 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| Good catch Tracy I assumed it was an adult
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
01-13-2007, 04:58 PM | #12 |
Izzy's Momma Too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stuart, Florida
Posts: 8,799
| Thanks I remembered from her Stinky Puppy thread
__________________ Tracy, Mom to Izzy and Luna |
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