Tail docking

Do you agree that dogs should be tail docked? or just some types of dogs. Do you think it is cruel or that it is better for the dogs health or well being. Should people who campaign against docking get a life or should dockers get thrown in jail?

http://www.rspca.org.au/campaigns/images/notail.jpg

Is the above your point of view or is below your point of view...

http://www.global.net.au/~aegis/imag...erinternet.jpg

Although our old dog had its tail docked, I always considered it to be animal cruelty. We got her from the pet shelter, so it wasn't our fault it happened in the first place.

Never understood why people wanted it too [img]graemlins/1disgust.gif[/img]

I really can't see the need or interest in tail docking. Perhaps someone who's really into breeding and showing dogs can shed some more light on the subject.

some dogs are pre-disposed to hip displaysia and docking their tails can help to prevent years of a rather healthy life in a lot of pain.

however tail docking or ear clipping for fashion is just plain sick to me.

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">Well it depends if it is a show dog than dock their tails. But do it when they are several days old, the older thay get ther more painful it becomes for them.

The other reason is cleanliness, some herding and working dogs can really get muddy and the tail just becomes a nuisance. Not to mention the crap that can get caught behind there. The less hair behind the better trimming there bottoms is a good thing.

As long as it is done early as a puppy there is very little pain so people protesting should know what they are protesting else get a life. Most protestors don't see any shades of gray and white. Waiting till they are several months old that is cruelty I agree, but if it is done within the first few days with a vet than it is fine.</font>

[ 04-20-2005, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

What about sheep? They are typically tail-docked as well, just for those who didn't know.

Incidentally, has anyone ever seen a sheep that WASN'T tail docked?

One case comes to mind where i can sorta understand why they did it. I don't exactly recall what kind of race it was, but the dog was pretty big, and as you probably know, most dogs are usually happily wagging their tails. Well, this particular dog kinda whipped everything from the table, plates, glasses, it even started to hurt your leg if he hit you often enough with it. So off it went, problem solved. :D

Yes, I have. Its tail was covered in mud and crap.

Do dogs have bone in teh ends of their tails? Do sheep?

Yes, they do.

If there is some valid reason (the dog is a working dog) then I think that it's acceptable.

NEVER otherwise.