Tail Docking
 

I am so irritated! I have always heard how people think its so wrong to get a dogs tail docked and thats fine because that is what they want to believe. But here lately I have had a few different people approach me and ask me why my dog didn't have much of a tail and why I got it docked and basically acting like i was a horrible person for my girls not having their tails, one of which happened today! It frustrates me so much! Does anyone else ever get asked this? If so what do you tell them?

Both my boys have their tails

I've never been asked.

I don't think there is anything wrong with them having their tails. But I also don't think there is anything wrong with them not having them. I just don't feel as if the ones that have dogs that don't have their tails should be made into bad people because of it.

I haven't had that happen yet, but I have had people lecture me about puppy mills and how I should have rescued a dog before they even know anything about me or Lola.

it just amazes me how many people will come up to you and be rude without fully knowing the whole story or anything about yorkies.

Don't even get me started on the lecturing...I've been lectured by complete strangers on why I have the breeds I do, why I spent so much on them, why they are or aren't fixed, the food we feed and so on and so on. Everyone's entitled to their opinions...doesn't mean I want to hear it though. Some people just feel like they know everything and have to "enlighten" you.:rolleyes: I just put my pageant background to work(pretend to listen, smile, and do whatever the eff I was doing anyway) ;)

Let them know that you don't nessisarily agree with it but it is the standard and good breeders follow the standard. Some people are just dense.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am sure there is a logical reason of why we dock our dogs tail in the first place. I am sure at this day and age, it's more cosmetic, but it must have served a purpose back in the day.

I do know this...our dogs are ratters and they will burrow into tight spaces to chase their prey. Their owners would grab onto the tail and use it like a handle to pull the dogs out of the hole and off the prey. I've seen someone literally lift a dog off the ground by it's tail because it was fighting so hard to get to the rat. The dog, BTW, was not even phased. It was just focused on the rat.

I also know that people will often use the docked tail when they pick up a dog to put it on the table in the show ring. They will grab under the neck and onto the tail to lift it...at least that is how I was taught to table my cocker spanial, which is another breed that has docked tails.

Personally, I don't mind the docked tail...but I'd love a dog with a tail too!! The ear cropping bothers me WAY MORE than tail docking does. In the hundreds of surgery's I sat in on at the vets, it was the only time I ever started to pass out. You can actually hear them cutting off the ear with a pair of shears...and I know the dog, despite being under, could feel it. The dogs legs were twitching and moving as it happened. I like the look of docked ears on certain dogs, especially bully breeds...but I don't think I'd ever be able to put my pup through that. That's another thing...tail docking generally happens at a very young age...ear cropping happens when the pup is older.

IMO, the tail docking and dew claws isn't much different than choosing to circumcise a baby. I guess different strokes for different folks!!

Exactly what I think! I don't like ear cropping personally, but thats my opinion. I know that dogs that have tails docked get it down at a very very young age and I have been told by multiple vets that it really hardly bothers them. I would love my girls if they had a ten foot tail! I figured there had to be some reason why their tail were docked I just don't know it. I just can't stand people saying I am a bad fur mama for having dogs with their tails docked!

I would look stunned and amazed and ask, "Dont tell me they sent YOU the bill for that! Why else would you even be concerned? You need to keep your nose out of other perple's business....you may end up without a nose!" And then I would walk away......

Dogs were considered a luxury item several hundred years ago, so they docked the tails of the working dogs, so they wouldn't have to pay taxes on it. It seems to be mostly European breeds that have the docked tails, but the taxation of non working dogs is how the docking of tails came about.
Cheers Quad & Gina:aimeeyork

It is amazing how some people feel their opinion just needs to be heard no matter the consequence. My 2 have docked tails, I was told it was done when they were just a few days old, but I personally have "Tail Envy". I love Yorkies with full tails but I don't love mine any less for being docked.

I read somewhere that back in their ratter days the tails would sometimes get caught in the machinery of the shop where they were to be catching rats and so that is why they started docking the tails. It was actually for the safety of the dogs and now has become the breed standard as mentioned before.

I have had people ask rude questions many times and I usually just shake my head and carry on. Tail or no tail I love all Yorkies!!!

Never had anyone point anything out about Draco's lack of tail. At first I couldn't decide if I preferred yorkies with or without tails especially after having a Pomeranian with beautiful foxlike tail and growing up with GSD with huge fluffy tails. But I quite like Draco's little nub. Hopefully I don't run into someone who doesn't.

X2!!!!!