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Originally Posted by ADA10  If the (original English) Yorkshire Terrier itself were given the choice of having its tail cut off or not, I think it unlikely that it would opt for the procedure! In the same way that most of their owners would not choose for one of their fingers to be suddenly chopped off! Breeders should be addressing their tail standards now as a docking ban will surely come. As more people are competing internationally and in many non-docking countries docked dogs cannot be shown, it is likely to have a knock on effect.
The unaltered and healthily bred Yorkie is a vote catcher! I can assure some on the forum that there is a large portion of the US population wishing to see change in docking and cropping legislation. The AKC I would predict are unlikely to go further than to stipulate that both docked and undocked dogs can be shown. As most judges are the breeders little therefore would change their perception of what should be in the line up. It also moves nothing forward for those people wanting to purchase "quality" genetically sound, healthy, undocked Yorkies as pets or for show. |
Let's not forget there is no such thing as the Yorkshire Terrier Breed in nature, man created it, and man must be very careful when changing it's standard. Since Yorkies tails have been docked since the beginning, we have no way of knowing if undocked tails present a safety standard, and even in England, working dogs are allowed to have docked tails for safety. There are quite a few accounts of broken tails here and there, and I don't think the YTCA should be too quick to change the standard until more is known on safety. Certain animal rights groups will be always be against tail docking and even breeding, but I don't think this view is held by are the majority of Americans. This has been discussed many times, and I do not believe that tail docking when done by an experienced knowledgeable breeder is painful or dangerous. I do wish inexperienced breeders would stop doing it, or have it done by a vet. I am confused by the English who want us to yield to their ways, we are a pretty stubborn group, and like freedom of choice. This may change in time, but I think pushing for this change is a mistake.