I asked this question yesterday so PLEASE ANSWER!!!!?

Question

-Why do some dog breeds have docked tails and not others?

-Is it just for appearance or is it for health reasons?

-And how did we decide what breeds should have their tails docked?

-Does it hurt the dog?

-Is it possible that you could get say, a rottweiler without its tail docked? Or is that illegal or something?

PLEASE help me I'm confused about this!

Answer 1

-Why do some dog breeds have docked tails and not others?

They generally have a working history and needed to be docked

Is it just for appearance or is it for health reasons

It can be done for both appearance and health reason, certain breeds are supposed to be docked and can find it hard to get a home if they have their tails, reduces the risk of the tail breaking some breeds that are working have a high risk of damaging their tails if they keep them

And how did we decide what breeds should have their tails docked?

Same as the first answer

Does it hurt the dog?

Their is debate about if it hurts or not, the tail can be either docked or banded which is said to cause little or no pain.

-Is it possible that you could get say, a rottweiler without its tail docked

It is possible to get an undocked dog i have had two of them, if the breeder normally docks their litters you can request them to leave one of the pups natural or look for a breeder who dosen't dock.

Hope i helped clear things up

Answer 2

Docked tails were either for fashion or for working dogs so their tails wouldn't get in the way.

It is for appearance, unless if the dog has a bad infection or something on the tail and it needs to be removed.

We didn't just go "This breed shall have no tail!" It happened over time. The fancy people would all have one type of dog and they would cut off their tails so they looked fancy. The common people would all have one sort of dog and they wouldn't get their tails cut off.

Not quite sure on the last one.

Answer 3

Docked tails were and are done on working dogs, that way less of a chance of them injuring their tail while working. it is standard for alot of the breeds you see with docked tails. it is done when the pup is only a couple days old, their nerve endings are not developed so it does not cause that much pain at all. you could get a rott without a docked tail if the breeder doesnt do it themselves, which is highly unlikely if you buy from a reputable breeder.  

Answer 4

Alot of it is aestheticss but it does seem to balance out the breed. Boxers and Rottweiler tails don't seem to hang right on their body. Most people with pure bred puppies get the tails docked by the 3rd to 5th day of life. Before the tail gets alot of blood supply and nerves.

Answer 5

ok I'm not 100% sure on this but here it goes

some dogs are born with no tail so there not docked,

i think for some dogs its health (its the same kind of think with sheep) but for some looks.

i don't know were your from but in australia its illegal to have your dogs tail docked,

it shouldn't hurt the dog, as long as its done professionally e.g by a vet.

with the last one, I'm not to sure, but i think there born with out them

sorry if some things are wrong.

Answer 6

Historically, working dogs had their tail docked to prevent injury, since an injured tail takes a long time to heal - and sometimes doesn't, requiring amputation or euthanasia as an adult.    

Do the majority of dogs need their tails docked now?  No, since the majority are not working dogs any more.

However, in North America, here is the dilemma.  If you want to get a puppy from a breeder, you need to get one from a reputable, responsible breeder.  One that competes in conformation and/or field trials.  And so must have the dog registered with a reputable Kennel Club.  And the standards still call for the tails to be docked.  This is done ~3 days of age - and at that point, no breeder can tell which puppy is a show prospect - and so must dock all the tails.  And that is why my dog's tail is docked - but his ears are not cropped.

Answer 7

I have a Rottie that has a tail. I spoke to the breeder and prepaid for the runt, not show quality and promised to get her spayed. I live in the country and sometimes dogs get loose and run, I did not want anyone freaking about a over sized lap dog wondering in there yard and her get shot. With the tail, she does not look like a full blooded Rottie.

On the other hand, I am in Law Enforcement and my partner has a cropped tail. He is a "bomb" dog. I would hate for the tail to smack the bomb and we get blown out of the world.

-The standard for some dogs are one thing, to have a Pet is another.

If you want a dog and the standard is to have a docked tale and your feeling is against it, talk to the breeder and see if you can make a deal.

-Some people say it does/doesn't hurt - How do we know, have they had there tails cut off or does the dog say "ouch, that hurt!"

I believe if there is a good reason give it drugs and chop it off! They won't feel it with medicine. But...... if it is not broke, don't fix it!

Answer 8

Because some people think its proper (my vet doesnt dock tails unless she has to). Its just for appearence. Yes, it hurts. You dont have to dock tails, its just people think they look better docked.  

Answer 9

it is for appearance more than anything else these days but when the dogs like rottweilers were  used as working dogs the tail was docked because it was safer for them to do the work that they had to do without a tail. it is illegal in some countries to dock the tails now if you want a dog that usually gets docked you would be better off finding a breeder and putting in an order and telling them not to dock it. because otherwise it would be hard to find one. i think it is cruel to dock a dogs tail and no matterw what people say it does hurt them. they say the nerve endings arent there yet but that is what people say to make themselves feel better. i hope it gets banned

Answer 10

-  Docking had an original purpose.  Most breeds that are docked were done so because the jobs they performed put them at a risk for tail injuries.  Docking at a young age is far less painful than a tail injury later in life.

-- Its mostly done for appearance nowadays, but there originally was a health reason behind it!

--  Mostly working breeds were docked.

--  There is minimal pain if done properly

--  Yes you can get an undocked dog.  Its difficult to find one from a breeder tho, most people expect dogs to be docked for show, work, or just because they expect them to appear that way.  Since Docking is done when the pup is a few days old, its almost impossible to request that your pup be left undocked.   Docking is actually ILLEGAL in some countries!  I have seen undocked dogs of all breeds tho, so its possible to find one!

Answer 11

It prevented tail injuries.  You've already heard about the working dogs.  The sporting breeds would also get their tails docked to prevent them from getting tangled in underbrush while flushing birds.

As far as the procedure,  The most common way is a clipper, just like a toenail clipper.  Its quick and immediately forgotten.

The issue of pain is controversial.  It may or may not hurt.  But guys, think about it.  What about circumcision for boy babies?  It may hurt for a moment, but most of us have it done anyway.  Whether its tradition, health reason, or just to "look like daddy".  Tail docking is the same.  Some do it for the job, since some people still use their dogs for working and hunting.  Some do it for looks.  But whatever the reason, the dog doesn't remember the procedure like it would if he was older.  Just like my son doesn't remember his procedure either.  But he would if it had to be done now.  Same as a dos who had to have its tail amputated because it wasn't cropped and now has a severe injury.

Answer 12

Hi, yes it hurts the dog.

No dogs NEED to have their tails amputated, its done purely for the vanity of owners. Reputable vets will not perform this procedure (in Ireland they can have their licence to practice revoked if they carry out this procedure without medical reasons), but many breeders take it upon themselves to do a DIY job at home. If you prefer a Rotti with tail intact, the best thing to do is inform the breeder before the pups are born so that they don't have a chance to maim them.

Docking is cruel and inhumane. I really can't understand people who profess to love their pooches but who support this kind of mutilation. Well done on trying to help a dog escape cruelty.

Answer 13

Originally sheep and herding dogs (like the rottweiler and collie) had their tails docked for practical purposes. Dogs working with other animals and in the countryside were far more prone to accidents with their tails, also I suspect it was for hygiene purposes a lot of the time, as a thick tail coated in mud and animal manure is not a pleasant thing to have around!

Some terriers had their's docked due to the breed's use hunting creatures like foxes, badgers etc that would grab a tail in a fight. The same goes for some fighting dogs like the english bulldog.

Does it hurt the dog? Well, yes!! There are nerve endings in the tail, although admittedly less than in a toe, and if you've ever see a puppy docked you'd be in no doubt that it it is painful. Some argue though that it's less painful when a puppy is tiny, as the nervous system hasn't had time to develop, but my answer would be; more or less painful than having an appendage removed, that still sounds pretty damned painful?

Nowadays a lot of forward-thinking breeders are deciding against docking the tails of dogs like the rottweiler and boxer, who look so much better with a big wavey tail, but you do have to look around for them, as the majority of breeders still dock those breeds as a matter of course.

Personally I'd love all breeds to have their tails. Evolution gave dogs their tails for a reason, and I don't think we have no right to deprive them of their tails for pure vanity's sake.

Answer 14

Its just for fashion, they have their tails for a reason an people decide to dock them when puppies.

Yes it does hurt the dog, its basicly a band wrapped tight around the tail.

No its not illegal not to have their tails docked.

Answer 15

don't know why it started, but the dogs that have their tails docked have it done only for breed standards for breed clubs like the AKC and the UKC.  If you want a rot with its tail, just ask the breeder to leave it.  

Answer 16

1.  The AKC, UKC, and CKC all have different standards for dogs.  Like the Yorkshire terrier's tail must be docked and ears must be croped.  

#2. Its mainly for appearance, but sometimes its for the job they were bred to do. Like the pitbulls, their ears were taken off so they could fight better.  In the UKC their ears are like that.

#3.  Again, appearance and their job.

#4.  It may bother the dog, but tail are docked at an early age, and ears are cropped by a VET and should only be done by a VET.

#5. It's not illegal.  American rottweilers tails are docked, and most german rotties tails are not.  My yorkie has a docked tail without croped ears.

Answer 17

These days it is more for the appearance as few of the working breeds that previously had them docked for work still do those jobs.

If you purchase a dog from Europe it will not have ears or tail done as it is banned. You can also find breeders that don't agree with the docking of tails and will not do their puppies, especially if they frequently sell show/working dogs back you Europe as these dogs can't be shown if they have the tails docked.

Answer 18

If you were going to show the dog at some point, some breed standards [created by the American Kennel Club usually] say that the tails must be docked and/or the ears must be cropped.  Tail docking is done when the puppies are 3 - 5 days old.  Unless you know a person with the breed you're interested in and ask them specifically not to dock, it's really hard to find one with a tail.  At 3 days, I'm sure it does hurt - but it's a very fast procedure they heal very quickly.  I've seen adult Rottweilers and Dobermans with natural ears and tails, so they do exist.