Tail docking

[gemy]

Guys I love you all. We can talk here to the cows come home, but if you WANT to make a difference in the YT standard then join your local/regional breed club.

For what it is worth here, and worth somewhat more elsewhere, tail docking pales significantly for me, given LS, LP, CT, and the many more things YT's are prone to. To me and I may get grief about this, but tail docking is insignificant to the health of the breed. And any of you that have followed my posts know this is my passion.

For my breed it is HD and ED, so far. And at approximately 30% of the breed on OFA with at least a HD 1 or ED1, I am more prone to focus on that, and not on the insignificant (in terms of health) tail docking.

[luvlee]

[quote=gemy;4014340]

Originally Posted by luvlee

Actually you said there was. I said according to the article posted on here, it was unlikely.

But what you are sidestepping is what is to me a logical fact that surgery to "fix" an injured tail, has to be a whole lot riskier and stressful for an adult dog.

So the question remains, what is the % of dogs that will likely need vet care from tail injuries??

the bottom line to me is, if the Yorkie breed (which btw I do not breed), has little to no pain, nor long term negative effects from docking, then let it be breeders choice.

I said that humans introduce the very first trauma to a pup by cutting it's tail. Whether there is or is not stress to the pup related to that body insult, I don't know -- however, IMHO, I'd think there would be in at least some instances -- I know I'd be stressed.

With respect to percentages, I also believe that you'd have to compare the % of dogs that need future tail related injuries to the percentage of pups who are "injured" when their tails are removed by a human. Again, and only IMHO, EVERY pup suffers an injury when the tail is removed.

Unfortunately, the discussion gets silly and circular and without an answer very quickly.

Another person referred to breed standards: I do agree that it will be an arduous task to determine what the standard will be for intact dogs. But hey, standards have been developed before for many dog breeds and tails and it can be done again. I guess it's already done in Europe - but I don't know what it is.

The breeder clubs really have to WANT to move the ball forward here. I do fear that some breeders will be concerned about the lines they've painstakenly developed. That concern - justified or not - will stall and prevent any movement on this issue. A mere "pet owner" really has no control - except to ask a breeder to keep a tail intact.

And that's the way it will likely stay with the exception of a few upstart threads here and there - which will eventually move to the back of the line and all will be quiet again.

[gemy]

The breeder clubs really have to WANT to move the ball forward here. I do fear that some breeders will be concerned about the lines they've painstakenly developed. That concern - justified or not - will stall and prevent any movement on this issue. A mere "pet owner" really has no control - except to ask a breeder to keep a tail intact.

Again and Again I say you want to change the standard? Join you local YT club

But beyond tail set, breed clubs only will deal with the docking or not, if they have to, and in the most expeditous way. Quite frankly tail docking is very very low on the list of things for standard changes.

[luvlee]

Originally Posted by gemy

Again and Again I say you want to change the standard? Join you local YT club

But beyond tail set, breed clubs only will deal with the docking or not, if they have to, and in the most expeditous way. Quite frankly tail docking is very very low on the list of things for standard changes.

My local YTCA would call me a PITA (Pain in the A--) and not want me, I'm sure. I purchased Lucy from a YTCA member. It's a very tight knit group of breeders. I'm not a breeder. I'd stick out like the tail on an intact Yorkie!

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by luvlee

My local YTCA would call me a PITA (Pain in the A--) and not want me, I'm sure. I purchased Lucy from a YTCA member. It's a very tight knit group of breeders. I'm not a breeder. I'd stick out like the tail on an intact Yorkie!

The stick out like a tail really made me giggle.

I think its fair to say should breed clubs revisit tail docking perhaps the only way they will create a standard for it or get information on its affect on previous preferred lines will be from information sharing by the European counter parts of each club as they have had a decade of experience on the issue.

[SWHouston]

YIKES !

And I thought I wrote a gruesome post !

But either for or against, your following statement is SO true !

Originally Posted by concretegurl

This is exactly why I feel ONLY a licensed vet should perform dew claw removal ear cropping abd tail docking.