Why do Yorkshire Terriers have most of their tail cut off?

Question

i cant understand why its attractive, i like it but who came up with dogs getting their tail cut off? i just find it kind of odd...

Answer 1

It's more for people who want to show their dogs. Short tails are favourable in some breeds. It's called docking, and I think it's cruel, just like declawing.  

Answer 2

It's called "docking", and it is and has been a part of the breed standard for many breeds, including Yorkshire Terriers.

Quoted from Wikipedia:

"Historically, tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the back, increase the animal's speed and prevent injuries when ratting, fighting and baiting.[1] In early Georgian times in the United Kingdom, tax was levied upon working dogs with tails and so many types of dogs were docked to avoid this tax.[1] The tax was repealed in 1796 but that did not stop the practice from persisting.

In modern times, tail docking is done either for prophylactic, therapeutic or cosmetic purposes. For dogs who worked in fields, such as some hunting dogs and some herding dogs, tails could collect burrs and foxtails, causing pain and infection. Tails with long fur could collect f***s and become a cleanliness problem, and particularly for herding dogs, longer tails could be caught in gates behind livestock[citation needed]. Many hunting dogs’ tails are docked to prevent them from becoming injured while running through thickets and briars while fetching hunters' prey.

In dogs used for guarding property (such as Dobermans or Boxers), docked ears are thought to make the breed appear more ferocious; hanging ears are reminiscent of the naturally droopy ears of puppies, looking more cute than dangerous. Cosmetic docking is also done to meet breed registries standards."