If a dog (working gundog bred) born post docking ban, injurse its tail to the extent it needs a partial dock to prevent further and ongoing damage, does this count as legally docked for the purpose of showing at KC events???

I would imagine the owner would have to apply for permission to show as they would after any other surgical procedure, and the KC would decide yea or nay.

There was an article in Our Dogs about a boxer that this happened to recently.  KC and DeFRA have both said she can never be shown at Crufts unfortunately.  It's appalling though - this is even with a vet letter to prove the damage that occurred.

I am pro docking but I can see the sense in such a ruling.  The incentive to cause deliberate damage could be quite tempting to the ruthless.

I do understand were you are coming from, I am pro choice, as long as it is done well and by knowledgeable individuals.  But how tragic for the boxer's owners!  At least she can still be shown at some shows and it's not a blanket ban.

I think I'm right in saying that several years ago there was a Swedish (?) champion cocker spaniel with a full tail that was imported to be shown here and was docked to improve its chances in the ring. The outcry lead to a ban on adult dogs being docked for other than medical reasons, so I suppose this is a tightening of that.