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11-23-2016, 01:04 PM | #1 |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Tail docking Besides it being the standard why are yorkies tails docked? Joey my pup does not have a docked tail and I absolutely love it and there doesn't seem to be any cons to it so I'm just wondering why we do it. Is there anything we can do to have it outlawed in the US?
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! |
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11-23-2016, 02:44 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,721
| I am not sure how it all started with Yorkie's but for many sheep breeds tail docking is commonly done as a cleanliness and disease prevention decision. Long tailed sheep breeds are more prone to fly strike/maggot infestation and other issues. Although I wish we could have the tail dock/not dock as an optional for showing under the AKC standard (especially because so many other countries do not have docked tails as the breed standard for their shows) I am hesitant for legislation that takes away my option as a pet owner to make that decision. I see a lot of legislation that pulls at my heart strings then upon further inspection has things slipped in that I don't see as encouraging continuation for the common right to pet ownership. I think it is a delicate topic because we want to promote animal welfare and advocate for animals but a lot of things that seem to be on the table are discouraging that. We are so blessed for the relationship that we get to share with animals, I know everyone here feels passionate about that relationship and that is how we ended up here- or in animal related careers like you and me Taylor - but I am very hesitant to write in stone some of these things. Dewclaw removal for example is, I feel, very beneficial as a preventative health measure to support our dogs, I would hate to lose the right to make the choice to remove those dewclaws. In Norway spay and neuter is illegal without Documentation of a specific medical requirement for it because they feel it is cruel to animals, isn't that interesting? But we also know about the higher risks of mammary tumors, pyometra and testicular challenges that dogs are more likely to face if left intact. I know we all have different thought processes and opinions but within safe and reasonable protection for the animal I would like to see some limitations on government oversight in regard to our pets especially when it comes down to minimal procedure like tail docking.
__________________ Alyssa and Lilah |
11-23-2016, 03:05 PM | #3 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Canada
Posts: 212
| One interesting viewpoint about docking tails came from a breeder I had a lengthy chat with. She was of the opinion that a natural tail can throw off the balance of the dog. I don't know if I necessarily agree with that. And even if that's true, I think that its just another thing then that breeders have to breed for. I also think there is an aesthetic component to tail docking as well. In my opinion a docked tail looks more proportionate to the dog and gives a more harmonious look as opposed to a natural tail, assuming its been docked to the correct length. So that's a couple things that may perhaps contribute to the reasons why tails are docked. But who knows. |
11-23-2016, 03:49 PM | #4 | |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Quote:
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! | |
11-23-2016, 03:53 PM | #5 | |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Quote:
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! | |
11-23-2016, 04:03 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| My late Molly had a BEAUTIFUL full tail feathers. My Allie also has a BEAUTIFUL full tail as well. Not once has it ever thrown her off balance. I love the full tail.
__________________ [SIZE="3"VICKI & ALLIE[/SIZE] |
11-23-2016, 05:58 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,721
| I think the full tail is indeed quite beautiful that said, part of having a breed standard is having a consistent 'look'. while i don't want to devalue any other dog and their wonderful personality- even if they don't have the look I like- there is definitely a preference I have for my dog. For me, I find exactly what I want in the yorkie. Their size, stunning silky coat in that amazing Steele blue color with that sassy personality and regal golden head- I mean, it is amazing! I love it! I am so passionate about 'my breed' that I have calenders celebrating it, that I go to dog shows and call to find out the ring time for 'my breed'. For me personally, I could go tail long or tail docked ( and my guess would be the balance was the aesthetic balance the breeder was referring to) but I don't want to downplay the role of aesthetics in choosing a dog breed. Clearly, there are so many other reasons that a dog is your match or not – and I can go on and on about how Lilah fits my lifestyle with her personality etc. in so many ways that a different dog breed could not that have nothing to do with how she looks – well except for size I guess because that is a huge factor for me- but focusing solely on the aesthetic point, I just want to note that I think that it is important and should not be disregarded. Do we love our off standard Yorkie brothers and sisters? Absolutely! And again there is so much more to Yorkie love then just aesthetic… But I don't want to forget that aspect because I believe it is a valuable one and a defining role in what makes a breed.
__________________ Alyssa and Lilah |
11-23-2016, 06:41 PM | #8 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Canada
Posts: 212
| Yes, the balance in regard to aesthetics makes much more sense to me. That must be what she was referring to. Whenever I hear the word 'balance' I just assume it's in reference to actual balance on your feet when you're moving. But we were watching dogs walking in the show ring at a dog show when she made that comment, so I guess my silly misunderstanding is understandable. |
11-24-2016, 03:04 AM | #9 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | There are huuuuuuge threads on this argument here, with lots of data and articles within. I'll try to find them when I get some time.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
11-24-2016, 12:23 PM | #10 |
Donating 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA
Posts: 881
| I always heard that the tail was shortened so it could be used as a "handle" to be able to drag the dog out of a hole or a den without breaking the tail.
__________________ Russ, Denise, Bella and Bailey . |
11-25-2016, 01:01 AM | #11 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Rugby UK
Posts: 89
| Docking for anything other than 'Working' dogs is illegal here in the UK, and I for one am more than happy that Wookie hasn't been docked. I just don't understand the concept that cutting bits off a puppy purely for looks is acceptable. When I get home and Wookie is there to greet me, her tail wagging so hard it's a blur, that is one of the best sights in the world. |
11-25-2016, 02:38 AM | #12 | |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Quote:
It's a barbaric, cruel practice that should've been outlawed a looong time ago.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° | |
11-26-2016, 07:37 PM | #13 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,721
| Like ear piercing and circumsicion I am sure this is a hot debate. I would wonder in response to the 'immorality' of tail docking if that belief was consistently upheld with other behaviors of the like; such as dew claw removal, spay and neuter, infant ear piercing and circumsicion. One could relate dew claw removal and tail docking for its injury prevention concept to the common issue known as 'happy tail' What is Happy Tail Syndrome in Dogs? | CANIDAE® And if one believed dew claw removal was acceptable to prevent injury then would one consider tail docking to prevent injury acceptable as well? I realize I stated a value in the aesthetic being part of what makes a breed a breed and I still very much feel that way- a brown dog with a short coat is not a golden retriever even if it retrieves- all these things said I think long tails are lovely and I chose not to have my three sons circumcised. To wrap my head around the logic of the opinion though, and if I were to be persuaded to share the same opinion for example, I would expect to see consistency across the board with a series of beliefs that upheld the core of the one up for debate and I am curious if that is consistent and if not, why not? Is an injury prevention tail docking an acceptable circumstance for tail docking? Is it not? Then is it cruel to preventatively remove dew claws? Or circumcise babies? And I know we are talking about animals and humans seperately but if the question is cruelty to an animal by performing an unnecessary medical procedure then I am sure the ethic holds across the board to humans having the same right to cruelty prevention doesn't it? Or if that is acceptable to subject a human to, then why? And why would that level of treatment be acceptable for a human but not for an animal- again if it is a matter of the act itself being a cruel act and not just a matter of cultural practice or religious or breed preference? Although I hope it is clear in my communication style I really value the opinions on subjects like these and I think it is important to help us all think and make informed decisions- one way or another- about ethics and conciousness and our behavior. I know people are passionate about their feelings and opinions and I want to be respectful of people's different positions. I don't ask these questions to spark any negativity but just the opposite: I genuinely desire to consider the different viewpoints and why a person feels one way or another so that I can consider diversity more thoroughly and shape my own plane of consciousness as part of my beliefs and value system. I appreciate hearing everyone's different viewpoints on the subject.
__________________ Alyssa and Lilah |
11-27-2016, 05:20 AM | #14 | |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Quote:
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! | |
11-27-2016, 07:10 AM | #15 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Like almost everything with dogs there are lots of opinions and personal experiences one can share and very little hard research. Although there was at least one study done in Europe that compared tail injuries before and after the ban on tail docking. I believe it was a sporting dog. Tail amputation on an adult dog is a serious and painfull procedure with relatively long healing times. At least that is my understanding. The argument made against tail docking is often one of don't interfere with nature. A specious one given the common practice here of a much more invasive and prevalent major operation of neutering. We have the beautiful and varied breeds we have because of human interference. Passionate breeders who strove to create a breed, and yes that involves a certain look, temperament, size coloration etc. So for me I support the CKC position of breeders choice.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
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