Decision on Docking Tail
 

Okay, I understand that the breed standard calls for me docking the tails of my yorkie pups when they are born. I am just finding it very hard to think about even doing. It just seems like aweful pain for nothing. I can see doing the dew claws as they can become painful if they catch on something and get yanked later in life.

With that long winded opener... my question is this... When I have my puppies... if my only plan is to give them to good homes as pets only... is there anything wrong with leaving their tail intact? Do you think some would turn their nose up at a yorkie with a tail?

Just thoughts at this point..

I think yorkies with full tails are just gorgeous!

I've had my puppies tails docked by my vet and it is really not as painful as you might think. If done correctly it's very quick and the pups don't seem that bothered by it, at least mine didn't. .

I think if you ran across someone who did turn their nose up it would be their problem not yours.

Yorkies are born with tails. Yes I think Moshe's little nub is cute but I would have liked to have him with the tail God gave him. I think Yorkie tails are beautiful.

Nothing wrong with it at all. Do what makes you feel right. It is really not nearly as bad as you think though. They make a little tiny "yip" noise and it is over. Some don't even do that much. The vet said he thought the one slept through it. They are not sore afterwards. They put surgical glue on the tail ends and mine never showed any sensitivity to that little nub at all like they would if they were sore. It is less than piercing an ear. But -- there is nothing wrong with NOT doing it either if that is your choice.

It probably depends on the person and the idea they have in their head of how a yorkie should look.

I prefer docked tails. (and a terrier looking face & erect ears...) That's the image that springs to mind when I hear "yorkshire terrier". I won't be happy settling for anything else but that.

That being said, I'm a complete hypocrite because if I were to have my own puppies, I don't know that after seeing their little tails, I could have them cut off.

Good thing I have no plans to ever breed, huh? lol

Thank you for all of the quick replies.. I appreciate the input. My girl has a docked tail, and perfect little face and ears..She truely is my little poster pup for the yorkie breed when you look at her, but whom ever the breeder had dock her tail they did it too short...and everytime I see her try to wag her little "nub" as we call it ( maybe 3/4 of an inch long at most) I think how cute it would be to watch her tail wag back and forth.

Granted watching the stud I had her bred to with his properly docked tail...that was pretty cute much more character then my little girls poor mistake.

No I'm the Hypocrite. I was thinking about this a bit ago and realized that when my son was born I was all for the "little boy snip"...so why would I mind docking a tail? :rolleyes:

LOL.. this is true.. I had a difficult time sending my son into the other room for his "snip" however....looking into that.. it is done for sanitary and health reasons... infection can be a problem later in life...

If there were actual reasons why a yorkie NEEDED it done.. it would not be a difficult decision to make.. the tail is the end of the spine.. :(

I love a full tail so I'd prefer long of course, as Jackson as a full tail, hehe :) But it's up to you. Most pet owners I meet are pleasantly surprised to see Jackson's full tail and say they wish their dog had theirs, etc, etc.... so I don't think it'd be a big issue to someone who just wants a pet. My next dog, if it comes from a breeder, I will be requesting to keep the tail :)

Presto has a tail and i love it :) as its always wagging!!

Totally your decision. :) Nothing wrong with leaving it.

If somebody doesn't like it, that's not your problem.

That said, unless I was rescuing, I would not pay for a Yorkie with a tail. SAme goes for the dewclaws.. So I'd be one of the people who would just need to look somewhere else.

It's a decision that is totally up to you. There are people who would buy a Yorkie with a tail and some that prefer the docked tail. I have 2 males that are just pets that have full tails. Then I have Friday with a docked tail and I have her pups that 2 had their tails and dews done and one doesn't only because she was very tiny when they got done and My vet and I decided it would put too much stress on her. I have some people waiting to find out if she's going to be available. Since she is only 3 weeks and weighing in at 7 ounces it's gonna be awhile til that decision is made.

I also agree that the decision is up to you. Rocco has a full tail and I love it. I have never met anyone that did not like it, most people comment on how cute it is..and I really wouldn't care if someone didn't like it. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

i have two yorkies with full tails plus five little babies with tails i do prefer them with tails but its illegal over here having their tails docked

Full Tail
 

My baby has a full tail and it is so cute! She is wagging it all the time. I am all for leaving them with what they were born with!!!! :)

Not to scare the OP or anything, but I worked as a vet tech for a few different vets and have assisted with many tail dockings (yorkies, rottis, boxers etc. ) and trust me - they do more than just a little "yip" and I can't possibly imagine one sleeping through it. If they are asleep when you pick them up, that wakes them up! NO offence what so ever to any breeder who docks, but any vet that tells you it's painless is lieing - BUT I had my son circumsized the day after he was born and I'm sure that wasn't 100% painless either and the puppies DO seem to calm down and forget all about it after a few minutes. My parti has a tail and I think it's adorable! At the same time, if you want them docked, do it - even if it causes them pain for a few seconds, they are fine very soon after and don't at all remember since it's so soon after they're born and their little eyes aren't even open so they have no clue what's going on. If you really don't want to do it and you're just selling them as pets, I'm sure that won't be a problem either :) Go with your gut either way - it's totally fine to do, but just MHO only because I've held puppies while the vet was doing it, if you're just selling them as pets and it bothers you to think about, then don't. Like I said - NO OFFENCE to anyone, just sharing my experiences :)

What method was used - cut and stitch or clamp and twist?

:goodpost: mine too, her little butt and full tail going like crazy when she's running around the yard is the cutest thing ever :D

Cut and stitch (or glue depending on the vet). Never heard of clamp and twist, that sounds worse :eek: but idk, I've never seen it done. The cut IS very quick but they don't seem to like the stitching up either. I hated having to assist with docks :(

I see no reason for docking the tails, I wish Teegy had one then he'd be even super cuter. My neighbours Yorkie Lola has her tail and she is adorable. I wish breeders wouldn't do it

I dont see anything wrong with keeping the tail but the standard is docked so it might limit the people who will buy from you

I think if someone wants a loving beautiful furbaby, they wouldn't care about the tail. The standard really should only apply if you are showing your dog. Traditionally Yorkies tails were used to pull them out of the burrows when they hunted rodents.

I prefer the look of a docked tail, but they are your pups and you can do whatever you want. I'm sure plenty of people would love them with the tails intact if you are selling them as pets only. :)

The standard doesnt just applys if your showing. The standard is the blueprint for how every yorkie should look. If more yorkies were bred to the standard and looked the waqy they are supposed to you would see less people on here asking if their yorkie looks like a pure bred.

So true! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

It is actually not a European standard anymore, you don't need to dock the tail in Europe anymore. US has not changed their showing standards yet but many breeder think it will happen soon because there is no purpose behind docking the tail except putting a little animal through misery!!

Agree:thumbup:

Yes I understand but the OP is in the USA so the info I gave is helpful to her to decide. Im not meaning to get into a debate over if tails should be docked. I just stated its the standard here and it might affect who buys from her and she needs to think about that

I love a full tailed Yorkie.