[Yorkiemom1]

[QUOTE=TheBooCrew;4020354]..."........ I always thought that the tail docking was painless. I'm not sure where I got that idea. Before the vet visit I looked up "docking a yorkies tail" on youtube. Well, I wanted to cry. I quickly turned the video off after the pup began to squeal. ........ The vet tech came and took the pups and then the veterinarian came out and asked us to come into a room "I've got to be honest, I've never docked a yorkie's tail before. Do you want them longer, shorter, or?" He says. He told us his daughter had a yorkie that had a tail and he felt that it was beginning to become more common not to dock the tail of a yorkie. One of the vet techs looked up some information on the internet and read off some information that basically said that the only purpose to dock the tail and crop the ears on the yorkie is for AKC standards for show purposes. So, my daughter and I looked at each other and said "forget it, we don't want their tails docked." We decided to have their dewclaws done because those little claws on the sides their precious little paws can get caught on so many things. If someone wants a precious little yorkie it shouldn't matter if it has a tail or doesn't have a tail. We can't imagine having put these precious babies through the pain of having their tails docked and we don't regret the decision one bit! Their little paws from their dewclaws have healed right up! Furthermore, the yorkshire terrier originated in England and in April of 2007 tail docking was made illegal there except for working dogs! If you have a yorkshire terrier in England and show it, IT HAS A TAIL!......".

I feel compelled to respond. I think it is every one's individual decision as to whether they want to dock tails or not. I adore Yorkies and I think they have beautiful tails....I will indeed be THRILLED if and when it becomes a common, ACCEPTABLE practice to leave tails in tact. THAT being said, I just MUST address several issues in your post that are either NOT correct, or that at the VERY LEAST, cause the hair on my neck to stand on end!!! First, to put the CORRECT information forward. Whether you want tails docked or not, that is your decision and that is NOT my argument. Please do NOT think you can get an adequate education on "How or Why to Dock Tails", off youtube!!!!!!!!!! You need to learn HOW the nervous system in a puppy develops. I suggest you get educated on THAT using valid, medical and vet text books, not from "youtube"....after you have a clear working knowledge of the development and progression of the nervous system, you will KNOW the nerves in the tails are the last to develop, which is WHY they MUST be docked BEFORE day 5. On day 2-4, the babies may squeal when the tail is docked, but I can GUARANTEE you, YOUR LITTLE FEMALE JUST WENT THROUGH MORE PAIN AS A MAIDEN BITCH, GIVING BIRTH, THAN PUPPIES EXPERIENCE ~ BOTH IN INTENSITY AS WELL AS DURATION~ HAVING THEIR TAILS DOCKED. You have not given that a second thought! Have you ever seen a human baby get a vaccination???? They squall and scream like you are killing them....so is THAT justification to stop vaccinating you child/baby, just because they cry??? Puppies at 2-4 days of age go thru less trauma and pain than your child does getting a shot! (As far as dew claws, I want to add here, that a member just posted research that supports NOT removing dew claes, NOT because of the "pain" but because of the apparent tortion issues created on the dog's legs because removing dew claws takes away the gripping capabilities the dog needs, when running full out, and then planting its legs to turn on a dime. So the argument CAN be made, between the two procedures, you have opted to do the one that causes the most actual damage!) NEXT, ADDRESSING MY NEXT PROBLEM WITH YOUR POST: I am happy you did NOT let a vet that has NO working knowledge of HOW to dock tails, perform this procedure!!!!!! OMG!!!!! Just how much experience as a vet does this person have, IN GENERAL??? MORE importantly, how much experience does this vet have caring for Yorkies????? IF I WAS USING A VET OR A DOCTOR, AND THE DOCTOR AND HIS NURSE WAS LOOKING UP "INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DO TAIL DOCKING YOURSELF" , on the computer, OR ON AN INSTRUCTION SHEET, OR "ON THE SIDE OF THE TAIL DOCKING KIT", I would RUN! RUN! RUN!!!! You have to stop and realize that this person is what is standing between you Yorkie and death's door!!! IF HE DOES NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO DOCK TAILS, HOW MUCH OTHER KNOWLEDGE IS HE COMING UP SHORT IN? He FAILED miserably in his role as a teacher...he is supposed to know enough about vet medicine, that he can ACCURATELY teach YOU about care he is giving your dogs!!! He should be able to explane WHY he suggests doing the things he does to your dogs, and these decisions SHOULD be based on EVIDENCED BASED OUTCOMES, and NOT on the fact that he is CLUELESS on how or why he is or is not advocating doing something!!!! WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE ADDRESSES "DOCKING YORKIES EARS"????? THIS IS NOT DONE!!!!He has Yorkies confused with some other, larger breed!!!! What does he think about vaccination protocols??? IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, YOU NEED TO FIND ANOTHER VET, FOR THE BEST CARE AND FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR PRECIOUS DOGS THAT YOU ADORE. You want the best for them....and if they get sick or are even critically ill, you need someone that has a thorough working knowledge of vet medicine....NOT someone that has to look up instructions on the computer before proceeding with saving you dog!