Docking Tails Experience
 

I just took my new puppies to the vet to get their tails docked and their dew claws removed. OMG how traumatic! I could never stand it when my kids got their shots--I cried right along with them. Now, my heart just ached for the puppies. I tried to comfort them while the vet (who is young and good looking) is looking at me like I'm a freak. Meanwhile, Lily, the pups mother, is going crazy trying to figure out what was wrong with her babies.

Next time, either my husband or one of my kids is going to have to do it. I'm too big of a wuss!!!:cry8:

I understand. We do ours at home. I look away while hubby clips, then he hands them to me to stop the bleeding (if any) and comfort. It's sad, but it seems like it doesn't hurt them too badly.

Awwww
 

:aimeeyorkawwww poor babies; know i don't know who hurt more; you or the puppies LOL!
I too dock the tails of my puppies at home. I feel its alot safer for them where the chances for them to catch germs/get sick etc at the vet are much higher. Plus i reside in Canada where it gets very cold...brr and i would hate to transport my puppies at such a tender age in such weather
Anyhooo glad all is ok with your babes!

The first time I took mine to the vet to get done they cried all the way home. I had to stop to get sick. Hubby has taken all the other litters.

I can handle delivery but not the docking of the tails!:eek:

Thank god it is banned here in the UK...How can anyone can say it doesn't hurt them? I hope the USA will soon follow our lead.

I agree!!!:thumbup::goodpost:

They could at least "deaden" the area. The vet told me they have a standard to go by. After he docked them he asked me if the length was okay. I could have cared less at that point if they were too long, he wasn't doing it to them again.

But I do have to admit I don't know what was worse, the docking of the tails or the removal of the dew claws. They cried for both.

Can someone please explain to me why they need the dew claws removed? My male still has his while my female doesn't.:confused:

If you are purchasing a puppy can you ask that its tail not be docked or is that like a no no in the yorkie world.

Everyone that I have ever saw has their tails docked. Like I said before, the vet told me their is a standard. As far as requesting them to not be docked, tails are supposed to be done between 3-5 days old.

I asked the potential buyers if they wanted the tail docked or kept long the day they were born. Maggie had 4 pups and they all got to keep their tails. Like I said before if you have a relationship with the breeder and you are for sure getting the pup for a pet only home, then I don't see why the breeder wouldn't do it for you. If it's for showing then abide by the standard. I think there should be a choice. But that is just my opinion. I have 2 with tails and 2 with docked tails. But I love them all the same.

I saw videos on youtube of both tails being docked and dew claws being removed. I have to say the dew claws being removed just gives me the heebee jeebies.

Tails
 

when I had my litter the vet took the pups out of the room so mom couldn't hear them cry and become stressed.I must say it worked he brought them back they were not crying and mom was happy.

Also I chose to keep my pups tail longer because that is what I liked and any potential buyers knew that up front.it is your choice alone unless you are showing.heck I didn't like that the breeder or vet docked the dad's tail to short so he has none.to each his own:):)

Of course that you posted youtube, I had to search on there..OMG this poor puppy was screaming before it was docked, then screaming even more once it got docked. If I had puppies I definitly wouldn't be able to sit there and wait for them to get docked, it'd be soo hard! :(

YouTube - Docking Drahthaar tails

Oh yeah, I would defin. have the vet do it.

Wow, you guys are so brave to do them yourself!

Thanks for posting the YouTube video, but there is no way I can watch that. :tongue036 I had to hold the pups for the vet, so I seen it live. I can't stand it!!!! I'm such a wuss!. I told my 19 year old son last night that if we ever have more pups, he's going to take them to the vet for me.

Please Take The Time To Read....
 

http://www.advocatesforanimals.org/p...prohibited.pdf

I remember a thread on here about Yorkie Ear Piercing and everyone was posting in disgust at this..but the same people are willing to get their babies tails cut off..personally i find this hard to understand...we all spend almost every waking hour making sure our precious fur-babies never come to any harm..but are willing to put them through this..I find it very sad. I'm not one to create controversey on here, I just feel very passionate about this so forgive me.;)

I'm really starting to feel like an idiot. Like I posted before, I have never seen a Yorkie without it's tail docked. I never knew it wasn't an option. I guess I just figured it was a hygiene thing because their fur grows so long or it was a standard and if it wasn't done, you'd be chastised.

oh i know what you are talking about! when our pups had theirs done bella and i sat in the waiting room (she was going nuts) and we could still hear the poor little things! i made my mom go in there with the pups and vet

To Dock or Not to Dock
 

I wish all of this elective surgery we subject our fellow creatures to in the name of some artificially created standard, would be banned. Why can't the standard be set on the natural beauty of the best proportioned of the breed?

Time for change
 

I agree, it is time for all Yorkie Lovers--all dog lovers, to take a stand and join our neighbors in Europe and the UK. No more docking of tails and dew claws. No more cutting ears on other breeds.
Two weeks ago we took three precious Yorkie puppies in to have this procedure done and the poor babies cried all the way home (a 40 minute drive). Our vet agrees this is a barbaric practice motivated by market. I've been pondering just why we need to amputate the thumbs and tails of perfectly healthy dogs? Why wack their waggers?
It is truly barbaric, totally unnecessary.
Two days later, my tiny toy poodle whelped 3 beautiful babies. They still have their dew claws and tails. I am ready to take a stand. If the majority of dog lovers will stand up and speak out for our friends, challenging AKC to follow Europe and the UK's more humane rules, we can make a difference.
YorkieTalk members...TALK. To any representatives in this industry, to all pet owners and animal lovers. Let's change the rules to benefit our precious pets.

:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat: :yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat:

Tails are made of flesh and bone!
If it suddenly became fashionable to chop off newborn babies pinkie fingers how many people would even consider it!!!:eek:

I feel so fortunate that I live in a country that does not allow this, but if I lived in a country that did I would definitely search for a pup with a tail. As for dewclaws my vet won't remove them unless they prove to be a problem for the dog which he says rarely happens!

The only way to stop this unnecessary mutilation is to take a stand!

To Dock or Not to Dock
 

When I posted my original comments disagreeing with the practice of docking tails, I thought I was going to be flamed with negative comments. I am so glad that there are others out there who also would like to end chopping off body parts of puppies for no good reason. Also, I did like to say a "yeah that" to the comment regarding the cutting of ears of other breeds.

I once had a beautiful boxer from championship lines and I gave into the pressure of wanting him to look like the standard and had his ears cropped. I felt terrible! Although, I am sure I did not feel as bad as he did! I said then NEVER AGAIN. :(

Two weeks ago my dog had three puppies, they all have dew claws and full tails. It was an accidental breeding the puppies are Maltese x Yorkie mix so they will never be show dogs. Two of them look exactly like Yorkies but none of it matters, I would not crop if they were full Yorkies.

I do believe if we who have take it upon ourselves to live with these dogs, simply refuse to engage in the practice of docking and removing dew claws, the practice will change. Again, we can look the Boxer breed in the USA for precedence, dogs with uncropped ears are now accepted and can be shown. That happened because of the Boxer loving public decided they where not going to mutilate their companion animals any longer. Wouldn't it be great if the same thing happened with Yorkies?

I also agree that it would be great if we could use this forum to do something really great for these little dogs that we care so much about. How about adding an email campaign to the letter writing?

Dews claws are taken off as they can become a hazard to the dog and to others. Alot of dogs, especially big eyed dogs, (bulldogs,pugs, shih-stu) can claw themselves in the eye and if not treated properly, can loose the eye. Also, have you ever been clawed by a dew claw as the dog is running by you? Also, the dew claws can snag in the dogs hair or sticks, rocks, etc and cause a big cut and sometime the claw/toe is almost ripped off the dog.I would rather have a day old puppy feel 10 minutes worth of pain that they wont remember as apposed to days or weeks of pain from an injury. I do all my dews and tails. My puppies only cry for about 10 minutes as I put them on mom to nurse just as soon as I get done. It takes me less that 5 minutes per puppy. They start nursing and fall asleep within minutes.

Dewclaws are not routinely removed here in the UK. All of the dogs I have had over the years including the dogs my mum has owned when I was little had dewclaws, this adds up to a staggering number of dogs (we've never had an only dog!).
Only one of those dogs had to have her dewclaws removed as she caught them on the back gate, she was also the only one to ever hurt anyone with them (my poor mum!) Maybe they were abnormally large or deformed I don't remember I was only young!
When I got my OESD I asked the vet if he would remove his DC as they too were very large and he hated having them touched or clipped. My vet refused, he said unless he has a problem with them, to leave well alone. In the 6 yrs I've had him he's never had any trouble with them though I do get the vet to clip twice yearly at his check-ups!

FYI my 'Bobtail' DOES have a tail! Some may say he looks silly but I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Removal of the dew claws is to make it easier to groom, and those claws can get caught on things and rip the loose.

I'm sure it all hurts but not sure how much. What I don't understand is why the vet had you watch. When I get mine done, they take the crate to the back and bring them back when they are done. They cry until given back to Mom and then they settle down.

I also do my own tails. I know exactly how long I want them. They need to be long enough so they stand up. They seem to be so proud. I also do my own tattooing for identification. That way when someone buys them early they know which dog is theirs when they pick up their baby.:aimeeyork; :)

I have a litter due today and this subject has been on my mind for months. I do not want to dock. I don't believe I will give in to it. It seems to be split 50-50 on this subject. BUT will I find buyers for my pups?