This is obviously a very tough and touchy subject and with all rights to be. The docking of any dogs tail/ears etc all have their 'historical' reasoning. Meaning, although most of the dogs who undergo these procedures don't typically do the tasks which they were originally bred to do in the past and therefore physically don't need the surgery but since the 'standard' does call for such physical alterations many/most breeders/owners have the docking done. The decision to dock ones pups tail can fall under several reasonings. One of which is that IMO the majority of buyers who are looking for yorkie pups/adults will be looking for the standard and will probably be 'turned off' by the natural tail, simply bc they know nothing more than the picturesque photos of what the breed is proclaimed as 'standard'. IMO those breeders who dock their pups tails for this reason, are not wrong, inhumane or cruel. Another reasoning is bc some breeders show their dogs and breed soley with the intent of selling show worthy animals and know that in order to be successful and even to compete, their dogs must reach the standard. (even though the standards are being changed elsewhere the standard here in the us is still currently the same.. please correct me if I am wrong.. I'm not here to start any fights or point fingers
) As far as whether or not the pups feel pain when the docking takes place.. the answer is made clear when their tails are snipped and when their dew claws are wrenched out. Defying the fact that they feel pain is sheer insanity. If the dog were not in pain it would not writhe, scream and struggle against the aching. The example was made about an infants ears being pierced, of course it hurts them and often times I feel confused when I see a young infant with holes in her ears bc the risks of infections in such a young and helpless child with such low imunities doesn't seem to be worth their ear rings attractive appearance. But just like the young child with the pierced ears the pups don't appear remember this occurance later in life. If there has been a study done to prove otherwise, such as a life long monitering of the behavioral and emotional differences between a pup with a docked tail and another with tail still remaining, then I'm sure everyone on YT would be very interested in seeing it. I myself don't know whether (if I am lucky enough to one day breed) I will dock my pups tails or not. In conclusion, I truly believe that that decision will be left up to each breeder no matter what their reasoning is until the AKC decides to change the standard and make docking illegal.