Quote:
Originally Posted by gemy  I go back n forth with tail docking. Sir Teddykins you seem quite adept at doing searches on here, we have had numerous threads on the subject one such thread, actually posted research/learned opinions, my old memory is pulling up Nancy1999 as one such poster who linked research. Perhaps you might be successful in searching for the links.
Dr Chris Zinc through slo mo videos of agility dogs, you can actually see how the dog uses the tail as a counterbalance, and then not to mention the dew claws to in particular add stability on the quick turns at the end of the apparatus.
Right now, imo tail docking done by a vet or a very very experienced breeder provides no long lasting injury to the small 3 day old puppy. My docked dog,, communicates very well with his docked tail.
We don't do agility with him anymore due to his back injury.
In terms of the hunting breeds - I will point out Labs are smooth and a short coated dog and their long tail would not catch many burrs or brambles in the field, plus in search and rescue that tail is used by the victim to hold onto. I know this because I was training Magic in water rescue, and I had to devise for his docked tail and alternative method.
If you have ever watched working trials, the working Goldens do not have the long fluffy hair on their tail and or their legs. It is either trimmed off and or bred out by the working dog breeders.
Goldens and Labs have very sturdy tails and unless an unfortunate accident like getting a tail caught in a door, usually do not break their tail.
In the protection breed that I own, a long tail is actually a disadvantage to the guard and protect dog. It can easily be used by the attacker against the dog. Now having said this, there are some breeds that do have a long tail. The first that comes to mind is the GSD.
I will point out that breeds that have traditionally been docked for years and years of breeding, the long tails that we are seeing now have an interesting array of presentation. After all we don't have a standard for the tail for docked breeds. It has been prox 10 yrs since Europe went the way of banning docking and we are finally just beginning to see some uniformity on tails.
At this point in time I have not seen persuasive evidence that cropping tails when done correctly has any negative long lasting health concerns.
I also agree with Jeanie that it is much easier to care for and to provide a good sanitary trim for most pet owners on a docked tail dog.
For the breed that I breed, I will need to make a decision on docking or not the tail, I likely will not dock, as then any if I am lucky enough to have a show prospect dog, will be able to compete internationally.
There are an array of much more invasive and potential riskier procedures to the health of a dog then docking. |
Yes, there is some research, but not a great deal, someone has to be motivated to do the research, unless a breed club would actually do it I'm not sure who would. Vets do not have to report these things. Here's one study.
Since the ban:
Since docking was banned in Sweden in 1989, there has been a massive increase in tail injuries amongst previously
docked breeds. Within the 50 undocked Pointer litters registered in that year with the Swedish Kennel Club, 38% of
dogs suffered tail injury before they were 18 months old and two years later, by 1991, the number of individuals with
tail injuries had increased to 51% in the same group (Gunilla Strejffert, Report to the Swedish Breed Council for German
Shorthaired Pointers, 1992, Borlange, Sweden). Even more alarming is the fi nding that only 16% of injury cases had
improved, 40% showed no improvement and more than half of dogs with tail injuries had regressed during the
two year period!
An ad hoc survey amongst owners of English Pointers in South Africa, also a shorthaired breed, indicate that at least
one out of fi ve English Pointers suffers from some sort of tail injury during their life. The English Pointer’s tail is traditionally
not docked mainly because of a relatively short tail in proportion to its body, with a lower risk of tail injury (Fig 2)."
From the same report: Why a broken tail is more dangerous than a broken leg, finger or toe.
"If tail damage occurs during adulthood it often does not heel well or does not heal at all. This is mainly due to the
injury being constantly banged against objects, poor blood circulation in the tail and constant licking and chewing by the
dog (Fig 6). The healing process can be painful and protracted with considerable distress to the dog. Injuries often result
in necrosis of the tail tip.
This can sometimes be treated with partial amputation but secondary problems can occur in the healing process,
which actually makes it necessary to amputate the tail several times before the healing process is achieved."
http://www.wingshooters.co.za/pdf/Ta...ctSheet-LR.pdf