Tail docking
 

Is tail docking painful for puppies? I don't know if I want to get my litter tails docked. Have you heard of yorkies with tails?

I'm not going to tell you no, they will squeal. Usually done at about 3 days (dependent on what their weight is), but not longer than 5 days.

On the other side, not docking can lead to other issues, like broken tails. In Europe it is not allowed anymore and they are finding that tails are being injured more often than not.

yes, it does hurt but they only cry for a second. It's more like an "OUCH" they don't continue cry for more than a second. Although I will say that my little one who was very dramatic did whine all the way home from the vets. And really, I'm not sure if that was from the tail or the dew claws or the combination. And you should definately get the dew claws done.

My Max has his tail. I didn't even know that you were supposed to do that. I couldn't imagine putting my dog through pain unnecessarily. He looks very cute with his tail because it looks like a feather and everyone that sees him just adores the way he looks with his tail.

I agree!! I couldn't imagine putting my three pups through any pain. They are keeping the tails.

Keep in mind they will also have their dewclaws and that can cause them injury when they get older if they get hung on something. The vet can dock the tails and remove the dewclaws and it should not be to painful. I do them myself and they don't cry much at all.

I decided when I made the decision to breed Emma that I wanted to be a part of it all (tail docking included) well I can tell you if there is another litter, I want no part of docking their tails. Instead I will take them to the vet and let him do it after I leave the office. I do believe that it is a nescesity because of cleanliness but I don't want to be anywhere around (it broke my heart)

I agree,
 

My little ones got their tails and dew claws last night, I wanted so much to be a part of everything but as soon as they told me if i wanted to go in, I said no I think it would be to much. I felt bad when i heard them cry on the way home, but i think it was more because they were hungry. I had to leave the momma home because she gets too scared in the car. But theylook soo cute.

I am curious why this would be as more dogs have tails than do not in the world. Why would Yorkie tails break more now than other breeds and can you send me in the direction where you got this information. This is very interesting.

While I understand not everyone agrees that a Biewer is a Yorkie I have never heard of a Biewer breaking its tail unless the owner closed a door on their tail but this could happen to any breed.

There have been articles in Whole Dog Journal stating it is hurting the overall health of a dog to dock their tails but their examples were with large dogs.

Do a google search there are articles on it. However, if you are an exhibitor and speak to exhibitors in Europe could better explain the problems they have with them. Besides being more sanitary and they do make a prettier, balanced picture in the ring with a docked tail.

I usually put momma outside or in another room, so that she doesn't get stressed when she hears the squeal. She gets stressed enough when she can't have easy access to her pups.

I have to say that I never ever have heard of a yorkie, that had it's full tail injured/broken.. Legs get injured, and bitches are lost in whelping, but the tail hasn't been a problem.

Well I have witnessed one, but it was a foreign dog in a dogshow, and conveniently it had had it's tail chopped off by a door. Not docked (docked dogs aren't allowed in shows) but amputated. Just the right lenght if it were docked, but nope, it was the door... Yeah right. Docking was allowed then at the country the dog came from. :rolleyes:

Mine have their tails and poop is not a problem if you trim the hair on the tail.
And the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I prefer full tails, I'm used to them.

Natalie got a great video about tail docking on her website.

Whelping/Tail Dock Video

There was one here in the ring, foriegn also, and it didn't do well. I'm sure because of the our standard. I also have a little girl whose tail was injured while playing with her siblings. Tail is crooked as all get out.

I prefer a docked tail, to me it makes for a prettier picture. A full tail to my eye makes the dog appear longer backed.

None of my litters have really ever protested to much when having their tails docked...maybe a quick whine, but that was it. I've had pups that never even made a sound. :p Not saying they don't feel pain or discomfort, but at that age, they have not yet achieved full nerve function or circulation, so the sensation they feel is less than it would be for an adult dog. And of course, it's key that the person/vet doing the docking be trained on how to properly perform the procedure so that the pups feel as little discomfort as possible.

Now dew claws on the other hand....:rolleyes: They squealed quite a bit for that.

Ah you mean the crooked tails.. yes, they are visible now when the tails aren't docked.
But they do not need to be so because of an injury, it might be hereditary state. Earlier the tails were docked and the "problem" was gone. But as the tail is a part of the spine... if there is a problem in the tail, there might be a problem in the spine, too... earlier you just didn't notice it because the tail wasn't there.
Now a crook in the tail is considered a feature that needs to be taken into consideration in breeding.

We had a docked yorkie before. Of course the undocked tail seemed off and odd before I got used to it. Now I like it a lot as long as it is beautifully carried :)

You know Misty, I much prefer removing dew claws than docking tails.....I'm every bit as squimish in doing either. But, I got around it, I hold for hubby and he does them now.

I do the tails and dew claws by myself. My husband did them the first 8 years and one day I had a litter that needed to be done and he was not home so I decided to do them myself. It was really easy to me. When I cut the dewclaws most act like they can hardly feel it. They cry some with the tail docking but not for very long. Using the Clotisol makes all the difference in the world.

i did Niecy's dews and tail.......i left her tail a little longer than the standard for a standard yorkie though........and this is why............i look at things differently than alot.........so i figured..........she is half yorkie/half biewer.......she is a splitter.......to be a mate with my splitter boy Smokey.......so i figured with her being half i would dock half........she has the prettiest widdle tail already.........and she carries it high just like if you docked it at the normal place........so for all of you who wish your pups had a little bit longer tail....i docked hers about a fourth inch out from the brown instead of right up against it.........so so cute............she bleed a little more with the dews and tail than i was thinking they did....but i think that part of that was that Ally licked them alot and kept them bleeding........but she was fine..........and she is a whiner..........but get this........the little stinker didnt make a sound last night when i gave her her first shot.......go figure........lol........doing the tails and dews is not as hard as most think.....and so much safer.........i could see those with a longer tail having some issues........as Smokey got the long hair of his cause in a door once......not tight but enough for him to squill.....lol..........i call him my curious george......he has to try to figure everything out...so i have to make sure he is not in any type of risky situations all the time...the widdle bugger

My girls also both have tails. Long story short Tinkerbell showed up on my door step one morning. Let my apartment know and gave them my number. Also looked for flyers and put some up. About 8 hours after she showed up my boyfriend called me while I was babysitting and told me that Tinkerbell just had a puppy. (I thought it was a joke) She did not look pregnant. Well now I have little Piper! but as I was not expecting another dog let alone a pregnant one I did not have the money to get her tail docked. So she has one and when Tinkerbell showed up on my doorstep she had one also. I have not had any issues except they get notted easily. But like you said I think they look really cute with tails and if I ever decide to breed(since I plan on finding parents before if I can) I plan on having them decide if they want the tails or not.

I wish you were in Oklahoma. I want a Yorkie with a natural tail.

I just moved from Oklahoma. How funny! What part in Oklahoma do you live?:D

I'm north of Tulsa.