Tail docking

[alisonJ]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

Well it would certainly save a few balls...

yes it would! She still has her ball obsession. I went home at lunchtime today. She was out back pushing a damn ball around! Breezy just sits back and watches. She is not "sporty" at all like Edie. She is a little lady!

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Honestly, even if tail docking was totally painless, I would still oppose it, because it removes an important body part for no apparent reason. Certainly the idea that the pup might suffer makes it worse.

Again, it's about weighing the pros and cons of any particular procedure. I brought up s/n as an example before of something I see as a necessary evil. So tail docking has cons, and the only real pro seems to be that some people like how it looks. And honestly, if we stopped docking yorkie tails, I bet you in ten years, no one would think a docked tail was cute. It would be weird, like if you saw a docked retriever.

I also see it as livingdustmops described, as part of a culture that can treat animals very cruelly. Is your cat scratching your furniture? No problem, just declaw her. Does your dog bark too much? De-bark it. Still taking up too much of your time? Drop it off at the pound.

I'm not saying that people here think that way. I believe breeders who say they love their dogs and do everything for them. I just really want dogs to be treated by society like they are actual sentient beings that can love and suffer, and that we have huge responsibility to.

I was having a conversation with someone this morning and we were talking about this thread and she said there are bigger issues and I said, yes of course there are ...but if we can get people to start thinking about what they are doing and that animals are not just possession to make us feel good then maybe we can make some changes. This is one of those topics.

Also Whole Dog Journal did an article about this subject but it is copyrighted so I cannot post but if anyone is interested you can pay $10.00 to get the article.

To Crop and Dock? Or Not?

I love this magazine and wish more people would subscribe

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by alisonJ

yes it would! She still has her ball obsession. I went home at lunchtime today. She was out back pushing a damn ball around! Breezy just sits back and watches. She is not "sporty" at all like Edie. She is a little lady!

HaHa..but it keeps her girly figure..

[Britster]

I 100% agree with Quicksilver

Since Jackson has his tail, I honestly cannot imagine him without it. I tried looking at the photo below and imaging just the nub... I just can't picture it.

The end:

[TLC]

Originally Posted by Britster

I 100% agree with Quicksilver

Since Jackson has his tail, I honestly cannot imagine him without it. I tried looking at the photo below and imaging just the nub... I just can't picture it.

The end:

Love the Pom-Pom

[livingdustmops]

Here are a number of articles for people to read. The first thread does show a puppy being cropped:

Should You Crop and/or Dock Your Dog?

BBC - Scotland Outdoors Articles - Views on tail docking

Dr. Walt's happy tails: Should you dock your dog's tail? - Pets - Life - Canadian Living

Docking a dog's tail

Docking & Cropping In Dogs

A history of dog tail docking - by Janet Farricelli - Helium

Dogs with docked tails can grow up mean: study

I have not been able to find much documentation on dogs with broken tails (statistic's) but will continue to look..

[Brooklynn]

Originally Posted by Britster

I 100% agree with Quicksilver

Since Jackson has his tail, I honestly cannot imagine him without it. I tried looking at the photo below and imaging just the nub... I just can't picture it.

The end:

Very pretty! Jackson is your pet and I wouldn't or couldn't imagine anything to change in my companions either!

[friscomom]

Well, being the latest person to FREAK out over this information, a natural reaction, if you ask me, for a person who doesn't understand why someone has cut off a puppy's tail, being now more educated, here's my take.

Docking doesn't really look that painful or horrifying on videos I've seen, and I could do it if I thought I should. We're all capable of 'doing the hard thing' as long as we feel it is REASONABLE and NECESSARY. I acknowledge those in breeding professions resistance to 'animal rights activist'-type concerns. But the foundation of breeding is to evolve an animal to meet present needs, not to fossilize some replica of an old phonograph or something nobody needs. If you mean to breed pampered companion animals, which appears to be the case, then I'm not sure why the definition cannot consider that companion animals are about happiness, and the standard symbol of happiness is a dog wagging its tail.

Not much credible information to support the routine practice has been presented here, I'm glad most of the world has turned against it, and surprised by fierce opposition to the change. Someone might present evidence of fragility of yorkie tails, or start breeding stronger ones, because it otherwise doesn't really seem sensible to perpetuate extensive docking in creatures that do not require it and which it may disadvantage.

AKC says:

standards are set by the AKC parent clubs, recognized experts in a particular breed whose goal is to protect the health and welfare of the breed and preserve the function for which it was bred. The standards are set by these experts with the best interest of the dogs in mind, and not with solely aesthetic motivations.

How is it in the best interest of the dogs for responsible breeders to perpetuate a weak tail and a creature that will never see the 'preserved function for which it used to be bred'?

Yorkshire Terriers were used in the nineteenth century to catch rats in clothing mills. Surprisingly enough, in its beginnings, the Yorkie belonged to the working class... Eventually, the breed left the workforce and became a companion animal...

American Kennel Club - Yorkshire Terrier

Under AKC you have the full option of dismissing or of judging a dog with a natural tail and will be supported either way (AKC Judge Newsletter)...Tail is docked under AKC rules. However docked or undocked the carriage is more important.

Oh, and anyone who disqualifies this thing here below from being a pet because it doesn't meet their standards, just doesn't eat from the same bowl as I do.

YouTube - Bombo the Tiny Full-Tailed Yorkie Puppy

[friscomom]

Oh, and anyone who thinks Hitler did worse, didn't see the rest of that cow video. The psychology and character of people should be of grave concern, no matter how it manifests. This made the Gaston gas chamber look pleasant to me.
at youtube /watch?v=6RNFFRGz1Qs

[toke]

Well. I had 3 Yorkies before my little Zoey...all had docked tails. I had no problem with that, nor do I now. If I wanted to show or breed AKC Yorkies, I'd dock them. I also think removing dewclaws is something that should be done for all pups.

However. If not considering show or AKC, I wouldn't do it. Not because I think docking causes agony, because I don't. It's just because I have discovered the beauty of a full tail in my little Zo.

It's a lovely fluff when curled over her back. And when she's playing, hunting, or exploring...it's a continuously waving, gorgeous plume. It's ever so much more interesting than the cute little wiggling stub I've loved before.

Seriously...if your pup will be your companion and beloved pet...don't dock. So much extra charm and basic dogginess will be lost... I promise, you'll be happy you have ALL of your pooch, as she/he was born to be.

[Cerise]

Okay...

He is cute and is full of personality ...

But what exactly was that video suppose to do for us? Seriously... what? Yorkies look BEAUTIFUL with docked tails and that is the YTCA standard, period. If you want an undocked Yorkie ask someone who does NOT care about the YTCA standards for one, and then be happy with your decision. But to come on here trying to prove to people who love the Yorkshire Terrier standard, of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of AMERICA,that docking tails is a bad and unnecessary thing, is unnecessary!

Oh... and I think he'd be even cuter without the tail.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by friscomom

Not much credible information to support the routine practice has been presented here

Guess that's a matter of opinion as to what you choose to interpret as "credible." IMO, it could just as easily be stated that no 'credible' information has been presented on either side....just opinions and preferences and sharing experiences.

And for the record...NOT a fan of Oreos.

[topknot]

I think this will be a debate for many years to come. I prefer the look of a docked tail, but then again that is all I know. I like both, but just prefer the look of a docked tail. What a mess though a long tail could get at times if long - talk about a chance to get messy - poopy pants and would be dirty tail too.

You did not mention the removal of dewclaws which is done at the same time. Yep - the thumbs are removed. I was not going to say anything, but figure if you should know the whole truth. I feel that this is important to have removed since it is done for safety reasons. Many dogs with dewclaws get these snagged on carpet or fabric and can actually get it pulled really bad when older if not removed. The nails also grows and can actually grow into the skin if not removed.

You guys mentioned baby boys getting snipped. What about the brisk - Brit milah! Babies are older - at 8 days old.

[friscomom]

Originally Posted by Cerise

Okay...

He is cute and is full of personality ...

But what exactly was that video suppose to do for us?

I dunno. I guess it's just so unusual to see one with a tail, it helps enlighten us dumber folks who didn't know, or don't think much.

Seriously... what? Yorkies look BEAUTIFUL with docked tails and that is the YTCA standard, period. If you want an undocked Yorkie ask someone who does NOT care about the YTCA standards for one, and then be happy with your decision. But to come on here trying to prove to people who love the Yorkshire Terrier standard, of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of AMERICA,that docking tails is a bad and unnecessary thing, is unnecessary!

That's as clear to me now as if God himself hath spoken it. Thanks for the guidance, have a great day with your yorkies!

[friscomom]

dewclaws

I'm NOT trying to start anything, what the heck are dewclaws for? Do they serve any useful purpose or are they some kind of like appendix? Did wolves use them for pulling down game, and are they attached to muscles or do they just hang there? If I had dewclaws I'd gnaw them off myself and I'm sure I wouldn't miss them. Why did the person who docked Frisco's tail not remove his dewclaws? Brief is good, I don't mean to change the subject.