To have my yorkies tail docked or not

[IlovemyJax]

Today my Izzie is 1 yr old and weighs 2.3 lbs. Tomorrow she is being spayed and she was born premature and was not able to have her tail docked. I'm debating on having in done tomorrow while she is having other surgery. What's everyone's opinion?

[courtney1121]

I'm no expert or anything, but I personally like the tail docked. They usually dock the tail at a very very very early age so I mean doing it while she's under might be your only option if you really do want it docked, but you really have to be careful cause if the nerves in her tail have already developed, it could be harmful for the doggy. At 1 yrs of age, you might not be able to anymore. I'm not positive so don't take my word for it. That's just my opinion.

[gidget529]

It is my understanding after a certain age it should not be done. You might want to post in the breeder's talk section. They might know a little more about taildocking at a later age.

Just from an aesthetic standpoint, I think they look cute either way.

[chachi]

I would leave the tail. If its not done when there a couple of days old i feel you should leave it

[Cali_Baby]

Please don't do it!! First, long tails are really cute! and then imagine how much pain it will be for your dog!! It is not worth it!!

[TeresaM]

Originally Posted by Cali_Baby

Please don't do it!! First, long tails are really cute! and then imagine how much pain it will be for your dog!! It is not worth it!!

I agree with this. At this age, it's not a docking but an amputation. To me it would be like cutting off one of my fingers or toes. I can't imagine the pain she would be in.

My Bonnie is a Biewer and has a tail and I just love how adorable she looks with it flowing out behind her when she runs or how wildly she wags it when she happy. And it's always the first indicator when she's scared or not feeling well.

[addevo]

Has your vet already agreed to do the tail dock with the spay? I met a woman in my neighborhood who had an "accidental" litter of yorkie puppies and didn't have their tails docked right away. The puppies were about 8 weeks old and she said she couldn't find a vet that would do it, even at that young of an age.

I personally LOVE to see dogs with their natural tail. Dogs communicate so much with their tails.

I wish our little Wendell still had his tail, but he was 2 years old when we adopted him and it was unfortunately docked already. Even though he wags his little docked tail, it's just not the same effect as a full tail. We have a yorkie mix that we got from a shelter as a puppy and his tail is such an important part of his personality.

Please don't put your baby through this painful and unnecessary procedure. Even though she'll be asleep during the surgery, it will still hurt her after she wakes up. There are alot of videos of the procedure on YouTube. Take a look at one before you decide. If you can't bring yourself to even just watch a video of it, you shouldn't consider having it done to your baby.

[gracielove]

Breeders who dock their dog's tails do it when they are two or three days old. While it still hurts the puppies it is not as painful because the bone has not fully formed. Your dog has a fully formed tail that is made of bone. It is dangerous to dock an adult tail and is considered an amputation at that age. There is no reason to cut off an adult dog's tail and I am amazed that a vet would even consider doing it.

[roseslevi]

I personally would leave the tail alone. I agree it is like an amputation if it is done now. One of mine has dew claws and my vet wouldn't take them off during her spay because of this very reason. I think they are adorable with tails.

[dawn27]

I would not have it done. It's not a necessity... It doesn't make her any less of a Yorkie.

You will still love her with or without it won't you ?

[Dianab28]

I prefer a docked tail but at her age would just leave it alone. Tails are supposed to be done by the time they are 5 days old. She is still the same doggie with or without her tail.

[miabellaamoure]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Breeders who dock their dog's tails do it when they are two or three days old. While it still hurts the puppies it is not as painful because the bone has not fully formed. Your dog has a fully formed tail that is made of bone. It is dangerous to dock an adult tail and is considered an amputation at that age. There is no reason to cut off an adult dog's tail and I am amazed that a vet would even consider doing it.

Ditto!

I just fostered a beautiful little Yorkie male with his tail intact and let me tell you how cute it was to see him wave that tail like it was his very own flag pole!

[Maximo]

I agree with everyone above about leaving your dog's tail alone.

[TxVicki]

Having it done now at this age would be very painful for her.
I have one now I adopted and she has a full tail and my late Miss Molly had a full tail as well. The tails are just beautiful.

[spr377]

I prefer docked tails, however, only if done when they are first born. At this age, I think it would be needless pain and suffering.