I am now the proud owner of 5 pups. My first time as a breeder. I have had a lady contact me saying she is interested but only if I have hers docked. I am totally against this, but she says if I don't this will devalue the pup.  Anyone else agree with me or am I ruining the appearance?

Hi Guest,

>I am totally against this, but she says if I don't this will devalue the pup<

Why would one comment suddenly make you question your principles

Teri

If you are totally against this, why the question?

Cannot see why docking "devalues" a pup! (On the contrary, after all, you are getting more for your money) :D

Plenty of non docked specimens of traditionally docked breeds are winning and being made up in the show ring.

Presumably you gave this a great deal of thought prior to the mating so why would you want to change your mind now?

You are either a person of principles or not..........

If you are against it don't do it.  Also note to be able to have this done you have to be a member of the Council of Docked Breeds and that they need to be done within 3 days so you may not even have the option of this any way.  Most vets do not dock these days so it isn't a case of going to any old vet and a vet is the only person who can LEGALLY dock.

Since when do you need to be a member of the CDB to have your puppies docked?

Dont do it. Stick to your principles, they are YOUR puppies.

And unless your puppies are less than 3 days old, it would be totally illegal.

Margot

I believe you have to be a member of the CDB before they tell you which vets will do it.
:)

Correct, they are the ones who advise you of the vets that do it. 

So your own vet will not tell you...........................

Don't do it, she is talking rubbish!  It will not make your pups worth any less than a docked version.

My own vet isn't against docking but he's against the flack that he would get if he did dogs.  It's funny how they are still allowed to do other things more "cruel" to animals but nothing gets said about it.  Anyway, the visitor didn't come into this for a slanging match and neither did I.  I'm not totally for docking, neither against, but what I was trying to do was make sure that if they did end up docking that they did it the proper way and not go to one of those people who say that they can do it and end up infecting the pups etc. 

If you read my post you would also have noticed that I said if you don't agree with it don't do it, those were my first words. 

Not aware of any slanging match going on.......?

I simply queried the statement that you needed to be a member of the CDB to get your puppies docked which is patently not the case.

Presumably if and when one plans a litter that one has decided to have docked one consults one's own vet re the matter or, as has happened in some cases, people actually DO talk to one another on occasion and discuss which vet docked their puppies tails with other breeders/owners.

I am not arguing the case for or against docking but questioning the veracity of the statement that you must belong to the CDB in order to get your puppies docked which is inaccurate.

My vet certainly wouldn't pass on information about vets who dock, as he's aware that it could get them into trouble.

Why would it get them into trouble, it is a perfectly legal activity?

Anyway IME everyone shares this information just as they do re vets that sedate for hip scoring instead of using GA.

It's legal, but has been deemed by the RCVS to be unethical.

Really?

I thought that the RCVS view was:

The RCVS considers docking of dogs' tails to be an unjustified mutilation and unethical unless done for therapeutic or acceptable prophylactic reasons.

Therefore where is the problem?

>therapeutic or acceptable prophylactic reasons.

That's the important bit. Docking for cosmetic reasons is not allowed. Unless the breeder can guarantee the dogs are destined for a lifestyle where they're more likely to damage their tails other than that of pet or show, then docking is neither (according the RCVS) therapeutic nor prophylactic, and therefore unethical.

It is legal for vets to dock puppies but it is against RCVS guidelines so any vet that does dock doesn't advertise the fact. The one I know that does asks you to join the CDB before you need any puppies docked. Just to add I don't dock my BC's but this is how it is in the area I live and may well be different elsewhere.

But back to the question - in my breed docked and undocked are the same price. If this lady wants a docked pup let her go to a breeder who docks. Stick to your principles - surely you will find another home for your puppy, so you dont need her.

Hi guest.
I own toy poodles and I have never docked. My female toy poodle is docked but my male isn't. I would never do this as I think it is distressing for the puppies. But this is only my opinion. You should stick to your beliefs and don't change them for anyone, if you have children, you wouldn't put them through something you weren't sure would hurt them just because somebody asked you to..

Good luck

You do have to be a member of the cdb, it is illegal to dock your own pups, a qualified vet has to do it and they have to be on cdb or they wont do it.  To be honest though i dont believe banding the puppies tail causes them any stress as it is done at 3 days old, so i dont know how some people do believe it would hurt them and even if it did i'm sure they wouldn't remeber it at such an early age.

Frank, it is illegal for lay people to dock but a vet does not have to go through the CDB if they do not wish to, it is not likely though that they would dock for anyone other than their own clients so for most people to find a vet it is necessary to use them.  If someone is lucky enough to have their own vet do it I think they should still support the CDB though to help continue their support for vets willing to continue the legally docking of litters.