An Introduction to Tail Docking

There are many breeds of dogs... each has served man for a specific purpose throughout history.

In New Zealand there are traditionally docked breeds... each is docked according to it's purpose. The docking of the tail at 3 days of age is a PREVENTION of damage... much like a puppy or annual vaccination is a prevention against Parvo Virus, Distemper, Hepititis etc etc...

Terriers... Many terriers are sent down rabbit holes etc in search of the vermin... the tail is docked at 3 days old to PREVENT the injury later when it is retrieved from that hole... the amount left on the tail is considered the "handle" by the owner... what is grabbed to retrieve the dog. If this handle is left at FULL length at 3 days and NOT DOCKED serious injury (breakage etc) is the result.

Gundogs... Out in the scrub flushing out game, retrieving etc... smacking a FULL tail against all matter of rough surfaces (trees, brambles etc)... this leads to a tail shredded and bloodied and extremely painful... by docking at 3 days this certain injury is PREVENTED.

These are just two examples... and how do they relate to the 'couch potato' dog of the household??? Simply. Throughout the years these docked breeds have been docked. The tail that WOULD have been there if not docked is a weak tail. It is prone to extreme damage in a normal household... banging against the walls of the house, smacking the brickwork outside, crashing through the hedges/shrubs/trees.... each of these is a recipe for disaster in the same way as the 'working' variety. The tail at the base (where it joins the dog) is thick and heavy with large strong bone, flesh and skin... as we move along the tail to the tip we see this density change dramatically. No longer is the tail strong and thick... rather it is quite thin skinned, lacking fleshy coverage, and whip like in the bone. It flicks around in harms' way.

Docking is PREVENTION of INJURY. A vaccination against damage which is more than likely later in life.

The cure is docking at 3 days old. NOT attempting to mend or amputating a tail on an adult dog requiring general aneasthetic and a long and painful recoperation.

	A Boxer in the UK who was unfortunately not docked as a puppy. This Boxer constantly has problems with it's long tail, which regularly breaks open and spurts blood all over the house. The door jamb seen in the picture at right is just one area which needs constant cleaning to remove blood. The picture on the left shows the tip of the tail which the poor girl often licks to ease her obvious discomfort. No doubt, the further painful experience of needing a portion of her tail surgically removed will be required, a procedure which could have been avoided by docking as a pup. We hope her recovery is possible with just one operation although at her age, more than one operation is often necessary.
	Mrs. Watts-Marshall told the Council for Docked Breeds that she constantly has problems with Snuff's tail, which regularly breaks open and spurts blood all over the house. This is a particular problem in the public house where Snuff lives, as customers have been known to come away with bloodstained clothes after Snuff has been playing with them. Boxers are naturally exuberant dogs and Snuff is no different, catching her long tail on door edges and bannister posts. Though not openly bleeding when these photographs were taken, her tail was obviously painful as she yelped quite loudly back indoors, when it struck the door jamb as the photographer and Mrs. Watts-Marshall stood chatting. The majority of her problems were concentrated at the end two inches of her tail which affords little protection and each time it starts to heal, a minor knock is all that is needed to start the whole cycle off again. Now at eighteen months old, Snuff faces the further painful experience of needing a portion of her tail surgically removed, a procedure which could have been avoided by docking as a pup. We hope her recovery is possible with just one operation although at her age, more than one operation is often necessary
	Boxer tail damage pictures from Sweden Sweden banned tail docking over ten years ago. Veterinary reports claim that 17% of Boxers are damaging their long tails in and around the home environment. Damage ranges from broken tips to full breaks further down the tail, just above the point where docking would normally be carried out. Both can end up requiring amputation:
	German Short Haired Pointer Tail Damage	Vizsla tail damage