I am doing a paper on controversies on tail docking. I know from one apposing side says that tail docking is cruel and painful. The other side says tail docking is not painful. Does anyone have anymore reasons why tail docking shouldnt be banned?

Type "docking" in the search button, and you will see all our reasons for and against docking.

Margot

my litter was docked with problems at 3 days old and i had a bitch that damage her tail so bad that after being in pain for 9 weeks she had 3inch off,so i could two story to tell

I've had a docked breed for 13 years now, not once have my dogs had problems.  They cry more when there dew claws are taken off than they do when their tail is removed.

I'm surprised that you had problems Briedog, I would love to know what they were.  I wouldn't use that docker again if it happened to me!

The person who does mine is great and never had any problems.  THough I'm not totally for or against docking, but whilst it's still legal I will continue.

sorry mean to say NO PROBLEMS,

I am sure if you have been looking into the subject in any details you will have come across the Council of Docked Breeds their web site should cover all the arguements in favour for you.

And this one the arguments against..

http://www.anti-dockingalliance.co.uk/

i have been working my spaniel (that has a docked tail)for 6 years and have never had any problems.  may-be if owners don't intend on working their spaniel, they could go to a breeder that does not dock. the only problem is the instinct to hunt is still very present, hence in and out of brambles.  there are a lot of breeds out there that are not used at all for the job they were  breed for. ie boxers, and feel that these breeds could now be left with their normal  tail.  but in the case of breeds that still work, i think that it is better for the dog in the long term. i have seen the painful results of springer spaniels with long tails that work, some have terriable injuries.  i will never work a spaniel with an undocked tail, but if i had a boxer, a tail would be great.

HI, I lost my springer 2 years ago due to old age. He was 3/4 docked and i had no probs. I work my dogs and think it is in their best interest to be docked when a few days old. Have you ever seen a spaniel rip his undocked tail to shreds. It is horrible, and the result is they have to go to the vets and end up docked anyway!! 

>Does anyone have anymore reasons why tail docking shouldnt be banned? <

To answer your question, no I cannot think of any reasons why docking should not be banned, this is one instance where the freedom of choice should have three options - those for, those against and the dogs's opinion should also be asked :-)

I think it is wise to remember that far more dogs are docked for cosmetic reasons than for working reasons, just look at the breeds that are docked that do not "work" at all.

It is also wise to remember that many of us have had undocked specimens that are traditionally docked and worked them in the thickest cover with no problems whatsoever.

It is also wise to remembe that many dogs of  breeds that are NOT traditionally docked have their tails damaged and subsequently amputated.

>> Does anyone have anymore reasons why tail docking shouldnt be banned?

I can only speak for the breed I have which is of the gundog group and traditionally docked.  The breed I have is carefully duel purpose bred to ensure that dogs can be both shown and worked.  Dogs sold as pets will therefore have working traits bred into them and will exhibit these on walks.  There is a dog that lives near to me who is a rescue x but looks very much a pedigree just slightly smaller and I was surprised how thin his tail trailed off to at the end.  When we see him it is invariably bleeding where his is diving in and out of hedgerows and his owner tells me that it leaves blood all round the house when it is sore like this.  If you ever watch one of this breed hunting and flushing you would soon observe that the tail wags very fast continuously.  So for my breed the tail should continue to be docked IMO because the tail is always wagging in areas where is gets damaged very easily because the tail is very thin.

It is far more traumatic for a dog to have its tail amputated later in life than docked at a day or so old.

I think it should be up to the breeders, if they want to dock, let them, if they dont, ok.  I know i have said before that I find is strange that vets remove dew claws but wont dock.  What about those who dont dock - are they also against dew claw removal?  Why dont people dedicate more time to banning things that really pain and suffering such as puppy farms!!