| About tail Docking |
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The American Kennel Club (AKC) says that it has no rules that require docking or that make
undocked animals ineligible for the show ring,
According to the FCI breed standard, the Pembroke's tail should be kept natural, but tail
docking is allowed.
What is tail docking?
Tail docking today is the amputation of a dog's tail at varying lengths to suit the
recommendations of a breed Standard. Docking involves the amputation of the puppy's tail
either with scissors, a knife or with a rubber band. The cut goes through many highly sensitive
nerves in the tissues including skin, cartilage, and bone. This procedure is usually performed
without any anesthetic at between three to five days of age. The procedure can be performed
by either a registered veterinary surgeon or by an experienced dog breeder. In many
countries veterinarians are declining to perform this unnecessary procedure, meaning that
breeders are now docking more dogs.
Is tail docking painful for the puppy?
Yes, there is strong evidence that this is the case. The puppy has a fully developed nervous
system and a well-developed sense of pain. While the puppy cannot tell us that it is in pain,
many biological markers show that pain is occurring. Personally I have to listen to the pups
whining in pain for at least 24 hrs after tail docking. How can anyone says they do not feel it?
Why did tail docking start?
History of docking and cropping
Historically, tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the back, increase the
animal's speed and prevent injuries when ratting fighting and baiting. 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. The tax was repealed in 1796 but that did not stop the practice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 feces and become a cleanliness problem; and particularly for herding dogs, longer
tails could be caught in gates behind livestock. 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.
For dogs with tail injuries that cannot be treated sufficiently with basic medical treatment, the
tail can be docked to remove the damaged portion.
Have any countries banned tail docking?
Yes, there are countries, which have banned cosmetic tail docking for a considerable number
of years; Norway since 1987 and Sweden and Switzerland since 1988. Since 1991, Cyprus,
Greece and Luxembourg have also introduced a ban. Tail docking has been banned in Finland
since 1996 and Germany since May 1998. Political pressure was exerted in Germany to have
hunting breeds exempted, however exempted puppies must be the offspring of parents that
were specifically used as hunting dogs, not just hunting breeds. In spite of many claims to the
contrary, there is no proof that an increase in tail injuries or serious health problems occurred
as a result of the ban on tail docking in these countries.
In England, since July 1993, only registered veterinarians can perform tail docking. The Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons has declared that the docking of tails, other than for
therapeutic or prophylactic reasons, was unethical. The RCVS stated in 1996, that such
docking is capable of amounting to conduct disgraceful in a professional respect, and
described such docking as unacceptable mutilation.
In Australia, one State, the Australian Capitol Territory has banned tail docking. It is hoped that
other States will follow this example
Legal status of dog tail docking by country
Argentina: Unrestricted
Australia: Banned in all states and territories as of June 2004. Restricted to veterinarians, for
welfare, not cosmetic.[8]
Austria: Banned as of 1 January 2005 according to the "Bundestierschutzgesetz" §7.1
Belgium: Banned as pf 1 January 2006
Brazil: Banned for cosmetic purposes.
Canada: Unrestricted
Chile: Unrestricted
Croatia: Banned
Cyprus: Banned in 1991[9]
Czech Republic: Banned
Denmark: Banned as of 1 June 1996, with exceptions for five gun dog breeds
England: Restricted as of 2006 - can only be done by vet on a number of working dog breeds.
[10]
Estonia: Banned as of 2001
Finland: Banned in 1992. Exception on tail docking, although banned on dog shows.[1]
France: Banned as of 4 August 2003
Germany: Banned on 1 May 1992, with exceptions for working gun dogs.[1]
Greece: Banned in 1991[9]
Hungary: Banned
Iceland: Banned as of 2001
India: Unrestricted
Indonesia: Unrestricted
Ireland: Banned as of January 2008
Israel: Banned for cosmetic purposes in 2000.[1]
Italy: Banned in Rome and Turin
Latvia: Banned
Lithuania: Banned
Luxembourg: Banned in 1991[9]
Malaysia : Unrestricted
Mauritius: Unrestricted
Mexico: Unrestricted
Nepal: Unrestricted
Netherlands: Banned as of 1 September 2001
New Zealand: Unrestricted
Northern Ireland: Unrestricted tail docking, Ear Cropping Illegal.
Norway: Docking banned since 1987
Philippines: Unrestricted
Portugal: Unrestricted
Republic of Ireland: Unrestricted for dogs.
Russia: Unrestricted
Scotland: Banned as of 2006 for all breeds.
Slovakia: Banned as of 1 January 2003
South Africa: Banned as of June 2007
Sweden: Banned as of 1989. Apparent increase in tail injuries reported among working dogs
after ban.[1]
Switzerland: Banned as of 1 July 1981 for the ears and 1988 for the tail[1]
Taiwan: Unrestricted.
United States: Unrestricted (some states, including New York,[11] and Vermont have
considered bills to make the practice illegal)
Virgin Islands: Banned as of 2005
Wales: Same legislation as England.
undocked animals ineligible for the show ring,
According to the FCI breed standard, the Pembroke's tail should be kept natural, but tail
docking is allowed.
What is tail docking?
Tail docking today is the amputation of a dog's tail at varying lengths to suit the
recommendations of a breed Standard. Docking involves the amputation of the puppy's tail
either with scissors, a knife or with a rubber band. The cut goes through many highly sensitive
nerves in the tissues including skin, cartilage, and bone. This procedure is usually performed
without any anesthetic at between three to five days of age. The procedure can be performed
by either a registered veterinary surgeon or by an experienced dog breeder. In many
countries veterinarians are declining to perform this unnecessary procedure, meaning that
breeders are now docking more dogs.
Is tail docking painful for the puppy?
Yes, there is strong evidence that this is the case. The puppy has a fully developed nervous
system and a well-developed sense of pain. While the puppy cannot tell us that it is in pain,
many biological markers show that pain is occurring. Personally I have to listen to the pups
whining in pain for at least 24 hrs after tail docking. How can anyone says they do not feel it?
Why did tail docking start?
History of docking and cropping
Historically, tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the back, increase the
animal's speed and prevent injuries when ratting fighting and baiting. 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. 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 feces and become a cleanliness problem; and particularly for herding dogs, longer
tails could be caught in gates behind livestock. 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.
For dogs with tail injuries that cannot be treated sufficiently with basic medical treatment, the
tail can be docked to remove the damaged portion.
Have any countries banned tail docking?
Yes, there are countries, which have banned cosmetic tail docking for a considerable number
of years; Norway since 1987 and Sweden and Switzerland since 1988. Since 1991, Cyprus,
Greece and Luxembourg have also introduced a ban. Tail docking has been banned in Finland
since 1996 and Germany since May 1998. Political pressure was exerted in Germany to have
hunting breeds exempted, however exempted puppies must be the offspring of parents that
were specifically used as hunting dogs, not just hunting breeds. In spite of many claims to the
contrary, there is no proof that an increase in tail injuries or serious health problems occurred
as a result of the ban on tail docking in these countries.
In England, since July 1993, only registered veterinarians can perform tail docking. The Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons has declared that the docking of tails, other than for
therapeutic or prophylactic reasons, was unethical. The RCVS stated in 1996, that such
docking is capable of amounting to conduct disgraceful in a professional respect, and
described such docking as unacceptable mutilation.
In Australia, one State, the Australian Capitol Territory has banned tail docking. It is hoped that
other States will follow this example
Legal status of dog tail docking by country
Argentina: Unrestricted
Australia: Banned in all states and territories as of June 2004. Restricted to veterinarians, for
welfare, not cosmetic.[8]
Austria: Banned as of 1 January 2005 according to the "Bundestierschutzgesetz" §7.1
Belgium: Banned as pf 1 January 2006
Brazil: Banned for cosmetic purposes.
Canada: Unrestricted
Chile: Unrestricted
Croatia: Banned
Cyprus: Banned in 1991[9]
Czech Republic: Banned
Denmark: Banned as of 1 June 1996, with exceptions for five gun dog breeds
England: Restricted as of 2006 - can only be done by vet on a number of working dog breeds.
[10]
Estonia: Banned as of 2001
Finland: Banned in 1992. Exception on tail docking, although banned on dog shows.[1]
France: Banned as of 4 August 2003
Germany: Banned on 1 May 1992, with exceptions for working gun dogs.[1]
Greece: Banned in 1991[9]
Hungary: Banned
Iceland: Banned as of 2001
India: Unrestricted
Indonesia: Unrestricted
Ireland: Banned as of January 2008
Israel: Banned for cosmetic purposes in 2000.[1]
Italy: Banned in Rome and Turin
Latvia: Banned
Lithuania: Banned
Luxembourg: Banned in 1991[9]
Malaysia : Unrestricted
Mauritius: Unrestricted
Mexico: Unrestricted
Nepal: Unrestricted
Netherlands: Banned as of 1 September 2001
New Zealand: Unrestricted
Northern Ireland: Unrestricted tail docking, Ear Cropping Illegal.
Norway: Docking banned since 1987
Philippines: Unrestricted
Portugal: Unrestricted
Republic of Ireland: Unrestricted for dogs.
Russia: Unrestricted
Scotland: Banned as of 2006 for all breeds.
Slovakia: Banned as of 1 January 2003
South Africa: Banned as of June 2007
Sweden: Banned as of 1989. Apparent increase in tail injuries reported among working dogs
after ban.[1]
Switzerland: Banned as of 1 July 1981 for the ears and 1988 for the tail[1]
Taiwan: Unrestricted.
United States: Unrestricted (some states, including New York,[11] and Vermont have
considered bills to make the practice illegal)
Virgin Islands: Banned as of 2005
Wales: Same legislation as England.
| EZ BROOK "Pride in Quality" |
| Susie Zeiner WOOF2ME@yahoo.com 610-405-0451 |