Tail Docking

[cesar49]

Originally Posted by Ladyhawk

The blood clotting mechanism doesn't kick in until they are 72 hours old so 2 days is too young. You can use hemostats and cut, that is what I do. The dew claws are cut between the joint and the leg.

thank you.. i didnt know about the blood clotting...

[cesar49]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I hope I don't offend you, but posts like yours really scare me, it sounds like you are forgeting some really important details, and details on this sort of thing are so important. Wouldn't it be possible for you to visit your menter again and take careful notes, or see a vet?

dont be scared please... i am not offended.. but opinions are welcome on an open forum... this forum is a great place to go for answers.. i am new to breeding.. and i appreciate all the help i can get.. i will be seeing my vet for a follow up health check.. but all the puppies appear very normal and healthy.. i did do tails and dew claws once already on 2 litters with supervision, and i feel prepared.. but its a good thing i asked those questions...i did help deliver 3 breech puppies last night.. and my vet was on call for me... i am just counting my blessings today.. i certainly would not want to hurt them..

[janetlaurie]

yes i have a male and a female both with there tails they are beautiful they look like fans they curl up

[magicgenie]

Originally Posted by JaLaYorkieGirl

I do not like doing it either and have taken to telling our puppies..."I am so sorry we have to do this...but it is a barbaric American Custom."

You know I used to really dislike the full tails until I lived with one, now I adore them. I could not imagine our Espe or our Kiki without them! They were lucky enough to be born in Europe!

Thank you so much for your post.

[Leesha]

I docked my babies tail at 3 days old and she was fine. A little blood stop should be on hand just in case there is bleeding.

[carmen in nj]

We are keeping the tails, I LOVE TAIL WAGGING..LOL but having the dew claws remove by my son's friend here in the house on monday, he is the senior vet tech at the clinic my son works at, I am suffering already but I understand it needs to be done.
hugs,
Carmen in nj

[hashala2694]

I can't believe what I am hearing about medical clamps would you like your spine treated like that I think NOT! Oh and the Blood you are crazy if you think this is humane!

[hashala2694]

Thank you so much for your post.[/quote]
yes you are lucky to have your puppies from europe we were lucky enough to find a breeder who doesn't dock tails and after reading some of the pro docking messages on this site we are glad we found her cause we live in America yikes!

[brandymax]

I can never understand the reason why people "have to" dock dogs tails. I find it pointless - why??

I was given a rescued yorkie 4 years ago with a docked tail and I would have loved her to have her full tail intact.

Reading all the posts... clamping, twisting, scissors, rubber bands, sewing, blood.... all seems so barbaric.... why? who made up this stupid rule that they "have to" have their tails docked? What frightened me is that people are prepared to do it without any proper training. Would you circumsize your child using these methods yourself... i dont think so.

Rubber bands.. someone said its painless... tighten a rubber band around your finger and see how long it is before you rip it off, then try to convince yourself it does not hurt a puppy.

It would not put me off having a dog with its tail on. I would love it! Thats the way the dog was intended to be, if it wasnt then it would be born without one.

Think again before having it done.... is it really essential or is it because someone has said it has to be done so you do it? I know what I would do.

[BamaFan121s]

Docking is barbaric...if the person doing it doesn't have a clue what they are doing. (Which seems pretty senseless to me as well.) It's not a matter of "have to" so much as it is a matter of personal preference in regards to appearance or desire to adhere to the standard, which currently does still call for a docked tail.

Banding is a practice I certainly don't agree with. It's actual illegal and considered a form of animal cruetly where I am and is punishable by law. (I would think it would be the same anywhere here in the US? ) However, putting one around your finger is not exactly an accurate basis for comparison. We have full circulation and sensation in our fingers--pups that are only a few days old, when docking occurs, do not have full circulation or nerve function in their tails, so the would be a considerably lesser sensation that they experienced.

BTW, Welcome to YT!

[yorkiemama1986]

Originally Posted by jemma33

I would like to get feedback from breeders who dock their puppies tails and dew claws themself. Do you have instructions on how to dock tails and dew claws? What tools do you use and how to do it? Information would be greatly appreciated.

Unless you are a trained professional i wouldn't suggest doing it. I paid 38 bucks to have an entire litter done at my vet

[yorkie-lover1]

Harveys tail isnt docked, its not allowed anymore in the uk and i wouldnt have him any other way

[mommadog1]

Originally Posted by cesar49

i was wondering about doing this task on day 2.... is this too early? the pups are about 12 hours old now... but what is too early? also can i use hemostats and then cut the tails instead of twisting? exactly where should i cut the dew claws? i did this last year with my mentor for the first time, but i forgot all the details.. thanks for any help...

YES.. please don't twist..it's just sickening to me...

When I DID tails on my cockers and cockapoos (I refuse to do it now) i took a small torn strip of cloth and tied it on the tail where I was going to cut. You MUST cut on the dead side of the cloth (the tip of the tail u want off)..

I waited 15 minutes until it was numb, it will be cold to the touch. Then I would cut with very sharp scissors, or a dog nail clipper..looks like a claw and cuts side to side. It works best. Then I would cover it with septic powder until bleeding stopped. But I never had any blood really..

But every time I took them to the vet they bled like heck and they screamed when they cut. At home they would yelp, but not much. I hated it, I know it hurts them, imagine the pain after? It doesn't just stop hurting after they snip.

I also do not remove dewclaws. No real reason for it, and they can grow back and I have had it happened. Some times they grow back deformed.. But you know, they DO use their "dewclaw", it is an actual digit and the pain of removing them is terrible. The vet has to dig down deep to get all the bone.

Now remember, all the while this is being done, plus the stitches, the pups are not numb!! They feel EVERYTHING.. I don't care if they remember it or not, it's cruel. But I do believe it effects how they run, and sit. this of course is my opinion and I feel strongly about it but I would never tell someone else what they should or shouldn't do, it's not my business.

[mommadog1]

Originally Posted by Ladyhawk

The blood clotting mechanism doesn't kick in until they are 72 hours old so 2 days is too young. You can use hemostats and cut, that is what I do. The dew claws are cut between the joint and the leg.

My experience has been no problems with clotting. I used to always do the "dewclaws" as soon as they were born and they actually bled less. I would do tails day 3. Vets wont do it past 4 days. I ONCE did it at a week because the lady demanded I do it. After that I never docked again for anyone.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by mommadog1

YES.. please don't twist..it's just sickening to me...

When I DID tails on my cockers and cockapoos (I refuse to do it now) i took a small torn strip of cloth and tied it on the tail where I was going to cut. You MUST cut on the dead side of the cloth (the tip of the tail u want off)..

I waited 15 minutes until it was numb, it will be cold to the touch. Then I would cut with very sharp scissors, or a dog nail clipper..looks like a claw and cuts side to side. It works best. Then I would cover it with septic powder until bleeding stopped. But I never had any blood really..

But every time I took them to the vet they bled like heck and they screamed when they cut. At home they would yelp, but not much. I hated it, I know it hurts them, imagine the pain after? It doesn't just stop hurting after they snip.

I also do not remove dewclaws. No real reason for it, and they can grow back and I have had it happened. Some times they grow back deformed.. But you know, they DO use their "dewclaw", it is an actual digit and the pain of removing them is terrible. The vet has to dig down deep to get all the bone.

Now remember, all the while this is being done, plus the stitches, the pups are not numb!! They feel EVERYTHING.. I don't care if they remember it or not, it's cruel. But I do believe it effects how they run, and sit. this of course is my opinion and I feel strongly about it but I would never tell someone else what they should or shouldn't do, it's not my business.

You might be interested in this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ml#post2974251. Even though some people say that there is no reason to dock the tails, I hope breeders continue to remove the dewclaws, like anything, you must be trained to do it propertly, and it's should be done early.