tails
 

Docking tails are purely cosmetic IMO..declaw removal is necessary to me for preventing them from being ripped out in an accident. I have had Doxies and they have declaws, I also had several get caught on furniture and bleed badly..one had to be removed at 4 yrs of age.

As a retired groomer, many pet owners did not see the declaw in the long hair and they never cut the nail..I have seen some nails grow into the skin.

Cropping ears is a big NO NO for me. It is done at 6 to 8 weeks or older...even done by the vet it is awful. Takes weeks to heal. My father bred Boxers in England when I was a child..I would never do it, but I can not tell cropped ear breeders not to do it since I dock tails.

Doing something that is purely cosmetic does not make it bad IMO..I do not think a pro-dock person needs to defend their opinion by finding a reason other then cosmetic for doing it..Hey, folks we live in America, land of "looking pretty". LOL Why would anyone be surprised we chop off the tails of our dogs?
Long tails are fine on a Yorkie, but I perfer to remove them. Since it can be done so young and with no blood and little pain, I will continue to dock.

It is a cute yorkie but I think I like the docked tails much better.

I guess in a way, it does seem kind of mean to put a small pup through something painful just to have a desired look (?), but then again, isn't breeding in general doing the same thing? You put a female through the pain (and possible health complications) to get a dog that looks like you want it to look? What is the difference?

On a similar note, IMO, I always thought is was mean to take a small baby and have their ears pierced. I actually got into heated arguments with some of my nosier family members because I did not choose to do so with my own child.

Ditto. :thumbup:

I like the docked tails but if it were banned I would buy a yorkie with a tail.

I just had my pups tails docked yesterday. It was horrible for them and me. Yes it is less painful for them to have it done at a few days than it is when they are older; just as it is with a baby boy getting circumsized. But unlike puppies they numb a babies area of cut. I have heard many use the clamp and twist method, I have never seen it done so as to whether it is a less painful procedure I do not know; but when I have future litters I will choose to use the mehod because it is a bloodless method. We need to remember that standards don't make it right. Times change and so do standards. Tail docking has been done for hundreds of years, it will take a long time to change. There are many things that at one time were exceptable because it was standard, and in todays society they are considered barbaric. We just need to do what is best for the Breed, and follow what the standards are for that breed. If one is wanting a pup with an undocked tail, than they need to research breeders that are willing to forgo this procedure. I think that it should not matter to the breeder if the tail is docked, if they are not going to keep the pup for show purposes or for personal reasons. I for one would have no problems with not docking a tail if the buyer requests, of course I would also want the pup paid for in advance because an undocked pup is not as desirable as a docked pup. This thread brings up extrememly relevant things to consider when it comes to reasons. Everyone on here is trying to raise their pups as they feel is fit, no one breeder or person is better than another. Judging each other wont change the way things are done only educating, patience, and time will.

I was being nothing of the sort. I simply said to you, if you feel that deeply about this..Do something about it...Become an activist, but become one on your own accord. Don't go by what you read, or what other's are doing ie... PETA. Take a stand on docking on your own, write letter's and such. If you don't want to put in your own work, this is nothing but monday morning quarter-backing. Like, those who don't vote complaining about the administration in power...You have to start with your voice, what you know! ;)

Tails
 

I have no problem leaving a tail on a Yorkie to be placed as a pet...but at 3 to 5 days that is impossible for me to determine.

Bamafan...you made such a BIG point..tail docking is minor compared to what breeders put their dogs through to produce a litter..as hard as we try there will be pain to produce a litter of puppies. We can say this is natural pain of reproduction, but pain is pain...and when you think about, the world is so full of dogs unwanted dogs, why breed at all?
I love the Yorkie breed and do all I can be make their life as happy, pain free as possible. If I coudl go to the pound and get Yorkie pups as freely as a mixed breed, I would never breed again.

I have found that the clamp method produces a fussy pup for as long as it is out of the bed away from mom..once it is back with mom it stops..when the tails were cut and stitiched, they fussed/cried off and on all day...and the stitches were prone to infection...never had an infection in a clamped tail.

If the AKC and YTCA ever takes a vote to ban docking I will vote yes to a ban, but this will not be in my life time..the YTCA is hard nosed about this things..until the standard is changed, it is a dead issue and the standard is not easily changed.

What do you mean by freezer??

Freezer...where thing's that can spoil, smell after a long time are kept..ie dead animals in PETA'S case.

One more question......
 

If the breeders on here say that they will not dock the tails, as long as a new owner choses it, what happens if the new owner backs out of the deal? I have never sold a puppy at 3 or 4 DAYS old!!! My vet won't dock tails after 5 days old. He prefers 3 days, but if it's over the weekend, he makes allowances.
Suz

Suz,

You raise a good point. Since I am someone if I was looking would want one with a tail I think I would have to establish a relationship with the breeder first. Then I think the only fair thing would be to either pay for the unborn puppy upfront (non refundable) or a hugh deposit that was non-refundable. My only choice would be female or male upfront because who could decide when they are only a few days old. Obviously the breeder could be taking a chance because in a court of law I am not sure if the non refundable would stand, that is why at a minimum a relationship (trust) with the breeder is important. In my case this would only be a pet and hopefully the breeder would understand my commitment to Yorkie's.

This is going to be a tough time for breeders as the controvery grows.

I suspect that the "requirement" will change sooner rather than later. Are your dogs bred for show?

Right. Some flexibility might be called for in the interim.

Okay...I'll bite!

I'm not going to go into the hygene portion or anything like that. I like docked tails...for cosmetic reasons. I think a docked tail has a much neater appearance than a full tail...not that there's anything wrong with a full tail...I just prefer docked.

I've seen the scissor method and it had to be extremely painful for the pup and it literally made my stomach turn.

I've seen the clamp/twist method and that is my method of choice. There was barely a drop of blood on one out of 4 puppies. It was over before they knew what happened to them.

I will continue to have tails docked until it becomes against the law.

I, IMO, don't think it's right to ask a breeder to not dock the tail of a pup because you want to get it. So many things can happen...a family emergency could come up, a car motor may have to be overhauled...too much can happen that could prevent you from getting the pup. Then what? The breeder may or may not be stuck with a dog with a tail. But like I said, it's all my opinion. NOW, if a breeder breeds to keep the long tail...then go search those breeders out. I just don't think it's right to ask a breeder to make revisions for someone.

ANYWAY, this is JMHO...so take it or leave it! ;)

Now this is a good idea.

I wish they had spell check on this site. I always feel like an idiot with a mis-spelled word. :(

CONTROVERSY

Ha ha I find myself wishing there was spell check too!

Cindy - I didn't even notice the mis-spelling. I read it as "controversy".

Yep, spell check would be a good thing.

Gosh, what's so wrong with getting a Yorkie with an undocked tail? Especially if the pup isn't for show or breeding purposes.

Many of our yorkies are too big, have muzzles that are too long, have ears set too far apart, they aren't the exact required color, don't have black claws, still have dewclaws on their hindlegs, etc, etc. In other words, they don't meet the breed standard one way or the other. But they are our PETS and we love them.

If we love Yorkies and aren't comfortable with tail-docking, why must we get a different breed?

EXCELLECT POST!! :thumbup:

I have both docked and full tails at my house. Just because of the pain, I would be for leaving tails long. Here's the feedback I received when I interviewed my gang..lol :D :D :p :

Docked:
Pros: Easier to keep the bottom clean
Breed standard
Cons:Not able to catch tail when chasing
Not numbed before removal

Undocked:
Pros: You can beat others in the face and get away with it
because your 'just wagging'.
You can catch the tail you are chasing.
Operates as a fan for others.
Cons: Catches dingle berries which calls for a butt wash
without warning.
Sometimes looks as thought it's not apart of you if
not groomed properly.
Others can grab it to catch you while playing chase.
Can get caught in the door or stepped on.

So there you have it from both sides. lololol..

Seriously, I had a request to keep a puppy with a full tail. The pup was half paid for at 2 days old. This was someone that I was talking to for a while. I don't mind doing it if someone requests it. If they back out. I can keep the amout that was non-refundable. There are many others that would love a Yorkie with a full tail so I really dont hesitate. Unless I want to keeps something back.

Hugs,
Irene

spelling
 

I pay no attention to spelling at all...please do not tell me we have English teachers on YT..!! lol

I dont think anyone has a problem with getting a dog with an undocked tail. Some people on here have said they would prefer an undocked tail. I think it is just hard to find a breeder who hasnt already docked the tails or one that will take the chance and not dock it. Once the puppies tail hasnt been docked it is worth less money and the breeder takes a chance not docking it for someone.

my thoughts exactly.

Is this true or is it the breeder has now limited the number of customers who would buy a dog with a tail? I think alot of buyers would be more comfortable with having their puppy look like the majority of Yorkie's. Change takes time.

Just wondering ;)

well, there is probably something I can do. I will be making a generous donation to the anti-docking alliance in my name. Hey, Platinum, I'll put your name on it too! :animal36

Check this out.....

http://anti-dockingalliance.co.uk/

The anti-docking contingent is BIG in Europe and Australia, and it is making its way here, so be prepared. It might take a decade or so, but I believe we will be seeing a lot fewer docked tails, just as we are already seeing fewer clipped ears now.
The Brits are perhaps the greatest dog lovers in the world, and when I read the following, I am impressed: The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, at its meeting today, 12th November 1992, resolved:The RCVS considers docking of dogs' tails to be an unjustified mutilation and unethical unless done for therapeutic or acceptable prophylactic reasons.Therapeutic docking to treat tail injury
or disease is acceptable in the interests of the animal.

Thank's but no thank's. This is your fight and cause so make it in your name alone, please don't add my name to your donation!

I cringe to think I may live to see the day when it is illegal to have a dog's tail docked, but still legal to have earrings shot through a poor little babie's head... :eek:

I have hesitated on posting on this thread for a couple of days. I honestly dread tail docking day. I dread thinking of this day even when my female isn't pregnant. I prefer the docked look though I have nothing against the long tails. The people who purchase puppies expect a docked tail. The dew claws get removed at the same time and sometimes bleed also. The end result is all (or most) of the happy-go-lucky, energetic, crazy, sweet, loving, heart stealing Yorkie babies everyone on YT loves talking and hearing about. I will continue to dock tails as long as the standard calls for it. Breeding isn't for everyone and it isn't easy. This is a choice that each individual breeder has to make on their own and is only one of the many decisions that will have to be made.