Earlier today I posted portions of a page I found on the docking topic on Rotties. It went to the queue.

It's informative and well worth reading--so here's the link.

Rottie tails

quote:

Originally posted by lizziedog1:
APPLESMOM1
Thanks to your response to junescrater. I would not have been so nice.

Why not be nice? Junescrater loves animals very much and also desires to learn everything she can about them. Here's her opportunity to read, (quoting Paul Harvey) The Rest of the Story!!!!

PARTS REMOVAL
I bet that most folks on this forum agree that most dogs should be fixed. In male dogs that requires the removal of a couple of things, know what I mean.

I don't think removing a bit of tail is any more or less traumatic to a dog. Frankly, if I was a male dog, guess which I would opt for removal?

Well lets turn you into a quadrapedal dog that relies on it's tail for balance and then see which one you choose

Can I be the agent for you two? I might be able to finagle a booking in Vegas next time there's a dog show there.

SUGARBIRD
There are dogs that loose a limb due to illness or injury. They seem to balance pretty good. Granted, maybe not to the perfection of a four legged dog, but they don't seem to flop over either.

quote:

don't think removing a bit of tail is any more or less traumatic to a dog. Frankly, if I was a male dog, guess which I would opt for removal? Wink

The difference is, of course, that the tail doesn't produce numbers of unwanted puppies! But, it does help with balance and communication.

AGILITYK9TRAINER
I agree, there are too many dogs around. My male dog is fixed. I wouldn't have an unfixed dog, male or female.

But my point is that removing anything from a dog is removing something that is naturally there. There is a reason to remove a male dog's external organs. There is also a reason to dock the tail of a few breeds.

It is a bit hypocritical to call one procedure cruel and not the other.

quote:

It is a bit hypocritical to call one procedure cruel and not the other.

I disagree. Neutering is a must. There isn't an alternative. In addition, it saves the health of the male dog later in life. Testicular cancer is pretty common in older male dogs.

However, docking a tail for cosmetic reasons does nothing for the dog but cause the dog to lose communication skills and lose a rudder.

Again, I'm not against docking the tails of dogs that really will be hunting. It's the dogs that will be house dogs and companion dogs or agility dogs or obedience dogs or show dogs taht I'm talking about.

BTW, dogs with their tails only docked about a third don't bother me at all... The dogs still can communicate freely and the tail is still there as a rudder.

I meant certain dog breeds. Such as toy dogs. There is no need to dock a toy dog's tail. Another example, Boston Terriers. There is no reason to dock a Boston Terrier's tail but I've seen it done. Boxer's too.

Any house dog doesn't need to have a docked tail. The hunting dogs and sporting dogs may need to have them docked though. Thats what I meant.

quote:

Testicular cancer is pretty common in older male dogs.

You know; sometimes I wonder if that's really true or just part of the strategy used to get pet owners to neuter their dogs!

In a lifetime of involvement with intact dogs, I can only remember one that had testicular cancer. And he was less than a year old...

Now I've got myself curious. When I get some time I'm going to look for any studies that may have been done on that topic.

Even if the cancer part weren't true, the benefits of neutering far outweigh the alternative of leaving the males intact. For the benefit of both the dogs and the humans who love them!

quote:

Originally posted by lizziedog1:
AGILITYK9TRAINER
I agree, there are too many dogs around. My male dog is fixed. I wouldn't have an unfixed dog, male or female.

But my point is that removing anything from a dog is removing something that is naturally there. There is a reason to remove a male dog's external organs. There is also a reason to dock the tail of a few breeds.

It is a bit hypocritical to call one procedure cruel and not the other.

I dunno. He does raise a good point there. Even if a spay/neuter is a must for pet only dogs. The dogs were born that way.

But personally I think a tail docking is less painful than a spay/neuter because it's done when the pups are only a few days old and don't have feeling yet. A spay/neuter is done later, plus the dog has to go under anesthesia, and have stiches and what not. I'd never have a dog that I would not fix, but given the way a tail dock and a fixing is done. I think the tail dock is a little less cruel.