Why do you doc and dew claw yorkies - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Bella'sMom · 10-28-2005, 09:58 AM

I am not a breeder and don't plan on it ever to confusing, but i keep reading that the Docking tails & dew claws are removed why do you do this and what the heck are dew claws, Is it really nessisary to do this. I no when you doc a rotties tail that is good because of the size of dog but little yorkies why. Please feel me in. I am a new yorkie/pom mom and nothing was done to her when i got her.

What is the purpuse

BamaFan121s · 10-28-2005, 11:21 AM

I don't know why you docked the tails other than to tell you that's just what you do? I noticed before we had our pups' tails whacked last week that the area that was cut off looked much thinner and floppier than the part that was left. I dunno about that. As for dew claws, they are one what I guess would be the equivalent of the dog's wrist, higher up than their other little fingers...the thumbnail? Ha ha...hard to explain. This is my guess, but from the dogs I have had in the past that still had theirs, there were times when they got snagged on something and bled ALOT...it looked like someone had tried to kill them. And, they it would be tender and swollen days after they'd done it...I guess a preventative measure more than anything.

ldenise · 10-28-2005, 11:38 AM

Dewclaws are the little thumb toenails that originate a little bit higher on the inside part of the leg.
Dewclaw removal is most often performed in puppies around 3-5 days of age to comply with specific breed standards or to prevent the loosely attached dewclaw from catching on furniture, carpet, etc. resulting in damage to the toe.
The docking of tails is a practice to avoid tail damage, for hygiene and other reasons.
__________________

Bendless Love · 10-28-2005, 02:31 PM

Tails, other than to comply with the breed standard I don't think there is a reason. I would suggest getting the dew claws removed for the health/happiness of the puppy. Bender didn't have his removed, and it resulted in an emergency trip to the vet (twice) when he caught them on something and ripped it out. It gave him a lot of pain when this happened.

YorkieShadow · 10-28-2005, 03:34 PM

I see the Question has all ready been answered.

yorkiemom1970 · 10-28-2005, 08:21 PM

we remove dew claws for the simple fact that later in life dogs can get them caught and snagged on things and rip them off. as far as tails...the breed standard calls for it and is the ONLY reason i do it. i wish it wasnt like that. i am the first to admit i have fallen into the "norm".

sarahr · 10-29-2005, 02:13 PM

The tails were originally docked (way back when yorkies were rat catchers in mines) because it was one less thing to get in the way-to get caught in something or crushed. And it is one less thing to take blood flow-it is an extremity so when they were in the mines-it wouldn't loose circulation if it got too cold-dont know if it ever did. And it became a standard in showing and it is the *only* reason it is done now. The dew claws are removed because they will usually get caught on something and get ripped off.

yorkiemom1970 · 10-29-2005, 02:34 PM

tails were also docked in the old days to show a working dog from a pet for tax purposes. working dogs were not taxed. now please keep in mind we are probably talking about an era where mr. tax man came door to door. i have also heard of other reasons. it is a known fact that yorkies were working dogs long ago. they took care of the vermin population in mills and surrounding homes. i still see it in mine to this day. if a mouse gets in my house, they go nuts. we had one under a cabinet and my yorkies acted more like hounds! one of my girls stood with eyes fixated on the location of the mouse. she reminded me more of a pointer! LOL

Funky Chicken · 10-29-2005, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkiemom1970

we remove dew claws for the simple fact that later in life dogs can get them caught and snagged on things and rip them off. as far as tails...the breed standard calls for it and is the ONLY reason i do it. i wish it wasnt like that. i am the first to admit i have fallen into the "norm".

ditto.

yorkiemom1970 · 10-29-2005, 04:04 PM

funkychick: i'm glad you agree. i dock the tails and will continue to because prospective yorkie parents expect and desire it. one of the reasons i am so smitten with biewers now is because they have all the wonderful traits of the breed with a new pizazz with the colors and the tails are kept long. i love that!

edited because i can't spell...

yorkiemom1970 · 10-29-2005, 04:06 PM

i am also pondering the thought of purchasing my first biewer...i know the biewer gals on yt would be the first place i would even consider looking...

Funky Chicken · 10-29-2005, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkiemom1970

funkychick: i'm glad you agree. i dock the tails and will continue to because prospective yorkie parents expect and desire it. one of the reasons i am so smitten with briewers now is because they have all the wonderful traits of the breed with a new pizazz with the colors and the tails are kept long. i love that!

speaking of docking tails...we just had our first emergency w/that. Sophie had one puppy about 2 weeks ago. after the pup's tail was docked Sophie licked the sutures clean out! i rushed her into the vet as SOON as i noticed. the doc re-sutured the area. he said if Sophie does it again we need to just let it grow in. he doesn't want to keep cutting on the tail.

poor little baby. it broke my heart.

yorkiemom1970 · 10-29-2005, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funky Chicken

speaking of docking tails...we just had our first emergency w/that. Sophie had one puppy about 2 weeks ago. after the pup's tail was docked Sophie licked the sutures clean out! i rushed her into the vet as SOON as i noticed. the doc re-sutured the area. he said if Sophie does it again we need to just let it grow in. he doesn't want to keep cutting on the tail.

poor little baby. it broke my heart.

gosh girl, hate to hear that!
we don't have our pups tails sutured. we use a product called "vet bond" which is a glue that bonds the wound. have been using it for about 4 yrs now with no problems what so ever. we take the tail off with the clamp method. twist and pop. i keep the babies away from mommy for a good hour after the procedure to ensure it is dry and bonded. (yes, i do my own tails as you have probably caught onto.) but i had 2 breeders and one vet show me the ropes before i ever attempted. i had a certain vet years back that always did my pups tails way shorter than i wanted even after bringing it to his attention. since i am skilled now at doing my own, i can do them to the length i want. not a "nub"

whispersmom2 · 10-29-2005, 04:49 PM

My newest little pet Yorkie, Cara Mia, has a full tail. At 3 days when they brought her and her brother to me to dock tails and dew claws, she was under 2 ounces. I told them to take her to the vet to have it done. Vet wouldn't do it either. The vet could coagulate the blood immediately if a bleeding problem should occur..I ALWAYS use a bit of tea tree oil around the sites so mom will not lick. It is a wonderful holistic substance that has disinfectant properties also.
The standard calls for a docked tail. When the Yorkie was still a working dog, the tail was cut to the length of the owners palm. That way they could reach into a burrow and grasp the tail to pull a stuck or injured dog out..
Cara carries her tail up when she is running or active in any way. When she stands and is relaxed, the thinner portion of her tail droops almost like it is broken. My litter of Biewer/Parti puppies have those wonderful white tips on their tails as the Biewer standard dictates. They and Cara have dew claws. If they turn out to be an issue, I will have them removed by the vet when they have dentals or altering done..

yorkiemom1970 · 10-29-2005, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whispersmom2

My newest little pet Yorkie, Cara Mia, has a full tail. At 3 days when they brought her and her brother to me to dock tails and dew claws, she was under 2 ounces. I told them to take her to the vet to have it done. Vet wouldn't do it either. The vet could coagulate the blood immediately if a bleeding problem should occur..I ALWAYS use a bit of tea tree oil around the sites so mom will not lick. It is a wonderful holistic substance that has disinfectant properties also.
The standard calls for a docked tail. When the Yorkie was still a working dog, the tail was cut to the length of the owners palm. That way they could reach into a burrow and grasp the tail to pull a stuck or injured dog out..
Cara carries her tail up when she is running or active in any way. When she stands and is relaxed, the thinner portion of her tail droops almost like it is broken. My litter of Biewer/Parti puppies have those wonderful white tips on their tails as the Biewer standard dictates. They and Cara have dew claws. If they turn out to be an issue, I will have them removed by the vet when they have dentals or altering done..

"tea tree oil" thanks for the info. i can see why that would work. thanks!

10-28-2005, 09:58 AM	#1
Bella'sMom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 56	Why do you doc and dew claw yorkies I am not a breeder and don't plan on it ever to confusing, but i keep reading that the Docking tails & dew claws are removed why do you do this and what the heck are dew claws, Is it really nessisary to do this. I no when you doc a rotties tail that is good because of the size of dog but little yorkies why. Please feel me in. I am a new yorkie/pom mom and nothing was done to her when i got her. What is the purpuse

10-28-2005, 11:38 AM	#3
ldenise YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rancho Viejo, Tx Posts: 2,698	Dewclaws are the little thumb toenails that originate a little bit higher on the inside part of the leg. Dewclaw removal is most often performed in puppies around 3-5 days of age to comply with specific breed standards or to prevent the loosely attached dewclaw from catching on furniture, carpet, etc. resulting in damage to the toe. The docking of tails is a practice to avoid tail damage, for hygiene and other reasons. __________________ __________________ Buckeye, Ahia, Tressie, Archie & LDenise Dogs are really people with short legs in fur coats

10-29-2005, 02:13 PM	#7
sarahr Owned by Charlie Bug Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Central, MN Posts: 556	The tails were originally docked (way back when yorkies were rat catchers in mines) because it was one less thing to get in the way-to get caught in something or crushed. And it is one less thing to take blood flow-it is an extremity so when they were in the mines-it wouldn't loose circulation if it got too cold-dont know if it ever did. And it became a standard in showing and it is the only reason it is done now. The dew claws are removed because they will usually get caught on something and get ripped off. __________________ ¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° Sarah & Charlie °`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸

10-29-2005, 04:04 PM	#10
yorkiemom1970 No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,947	funkychick: i'm glad you agree. i dock the tails and will continue to because prospective yorkie parents expect and desire it. one of the reasons i am so smitten with biewers now is because they have all the wonderful traits of the breed with a new pizazz with the colors and the tails are kept long. i love that! edited because i can't spell... Last edited by yorkiemom1970; 10-29-2005 at 04:08 PM.

10-28-2005, 11:21 AM	#2
BamaFan121s Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,432	I don't know why you docked the tails other than to tell you that's just what you do? I noticed before we had our pups' tails whacked last week that the area that was cut off looked much thinner and floppier than the part that was left. I dunno about that. As for dew claws, they are one what I guess would be the equivalent of the dog's wrist, higher up than their other little fingers...the thumbnail? Ha ha...hard to explain. This is my guess, but from the dogs I have had in the past that still had theirs, there were times when they got snagged on something and bled ALOT...it looked like someone had tried to kill them. And, they it would be tender and swollen days after they'd done it...I guess a preventative measure more than anything.

10-28-2005, 02:31 PM	#4
Bendless Love Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 148	Tails, other than to comply with the breed standard I don't think there is a reason. I would suggest getting the dew claws removed for the health/happiness of the puppy. Bender didn't have his removed, and it resulted in an emergency trip to the vet (twice) when he caught them on something and ripped it out. It gave him a lot of pain when this happened.

10-28-2005, 03:34 PM	#5
YorkieShadow BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA Posts: 9,999	I see the Question has all ready been answered.

10-28-2005, 08:21 PM	#6
yorkiemom1970 No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,947	we remove dew claws for the simple fact that later in life dogs can get them caught and snagged on things and rip them off. as far as tails...the breed standard calls for it and is the ONLY reason i do it. i wish it wasnt like that. i am the first to admit i have fallen into the "norm".

10-29-2005, 02:34 PM	#8
yorkiemom1970 No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,947	tails were also docked in the old days to show a working dog from a pet for tax purposes. working dogs were not taxed. now please keep in mind we are probably talking about an era where mr. tax man came door to door. i have also heard of other reasons. it is a known fact that yorkies were working dogs long ago. they took care of the vermin population in mills and surrounding homes. i still see it in mine to this day. if a mouse gets in my house, they go nuts. we had one under a cabinet and my yorkies acted more like hounds! one of my girls stood with eyes fixated on the location of the mouse. she reminded me more of a pointer! LOL

10-29-2005, 04:06 PM	#11
yorkiemom1970 No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,947	i am also pondering the thought of purchasing my first biewer...i know the biewer gals on yt would be the first place i would even consider looking...

10-29-2005, 04:49 PM	#14
whispersmom2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MD Posts: 2,985	My newest little pet Yorkie, Cara Mia, has a full tail. At 3 days when they brought her and her brother to me to dock tails and dew claws, she was under 2 ounces. I told them to take her to the vet to have it done. Vet wouldn't do it either. The vet could coagulate the blood immediately if a bleeding problem should occur..I ALWAYS use a bit of tea tree oil around the sites so mom will not lick. It is a wonderful holistic substance that has disinfectant properties also. The standard calls for a docked tail. When the Yorkie was still a working dog, the tail was cut to the length of the owners palm. That way they could reach into a burrow and grasp the tail to pull a stuck or injured dog out.. Cara carries her tail up when she is running or active in any way. When she stands and is relaxed, the thinner portion of her tail droops almost like it is broken. My litter of Biewer/Parti puppies have those wonderful white tips on their tails as the Biewer standard dictates. They and Cara have dew claws. If they turn out to be an issue, I will have them removed by the vet when they have dentals or altering done..