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IT IS NOT AGAINST THE LAW ANYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA TO OWN A DOCKED DOG.
Quote from HRH Queen Elizabeth II (breeder of Pembroke Corgis)
“..as dog breeders we have been given a charter to maintain the appearance of the breeds handed down by our forebears through the various breed standards”.
Over the years, man by natural selection kept dogs for specific purposes - such as terriers for rodent control, hounds for hunting and later coursing. Gundogs were selected for their ability to retrieve and withstand the sound of gunfire. Scenting dogs were used to track game and later in history to find lost people, for customs work etc. Our working dogs of today were selected for their hunting-herding ability and our Utility dogs for hauling carts, sledges etc. Toy dogs were kept specifically as companion animals and for medicinal purposes (heat for arthritis etc). One breed of dog was bred purely as a pet and that is the Italian Greyhound. Each of the categories of dogs have a long and rich history.
Traditionally, many of these breeds underwent tail docking and dew claw removal to prevent injury in the line of duty. Many breeds are also clipped, whilst some have luxurious coats - all for some purpose. Some breeds have foreshortened noses - originally selected to prevent injury in their line of duty. Whatever the reasons for the development of the various breeds, it is mans duty as a "superior creature" to perpetuate these living treasures and historic relics in accordance with their evolution. There are groups of people today who seek to ban the breeding and mating and maintaining to these standards of many, if not all - purebred dogs - much in line with Hitler's cleansing policies. To these people I say the dog has been part of mankind's life and development from the beginning and to damage or end this relationship by excessive and intrusive legislation would surely be detrimental to all mankind.
Each State of Australia has an individual canine council, which is governed by a national body - The Australian National Kennel Control. This body controls the registration of purebred dogs Australia Wide and has Rules and Regulations that must be adhered to by all members. This includes a code of ethics, which covers many issues, including health, breeding and husbandry practices. Thus, the keeping and breeding of purebred dogs is already governed by self-regulation. Governments are actively encouraging commercial organizations and industries to be self regulating and to comply with codes of practice. Purebred dog owners through their state and national bodies already do this.
“Tail docking is immunization against tail damage”
WHAT IS TAIL DOCKING?
The docking of dogs tails is a practice which has been carried out for centuries in order to avoid tail damage, for hygiene and other reasons. Today there are over fifty traditionally docked breeds which are recognised by various Kennel Clubs. But docking has, in recent years, come under the scrutiny of the veterinary establishment, which has condemned the practice as an "unjustified mutilation".
Breeders, dog owners and many veterinary surgeons disagree with this view. They believe that if docking ceased, dogs would suffer. Docking, they say, is a perfectly humane procedure when properly carried out, and one, which prevents far more distress than it causes. It is, like neutering, simply a practical animal management technique which should remain available to dog breeders and owners.
There are fifty seven breeds of dog, which have had their tails docked, since the inception of the breed. The original reason for docking some breeds is well documented, for some, the reasons have been lost over the fullness of time. The vast majority of breeders and prospective puppy purchasers continue to want these breeds docked for a variety of reasons. Many reasons are given for the different breeds and range from the need to protect certain breeds from tail damage, for hygiene reasons, to protect breed standards.
HOW IS DOCKING CARRIED OUT?
There are two methods of docking. Many breeders use the technique known as "banding", in which a ligature is placed in position on the puppy's tail when it is 24-72 hours old. This effectively cuts off the blood supply to the end of the tail, which comes away within 3 days. Most vets shorten the tail by cutting with surgical scissors. There is generally no need for stitches, but on occasions, these can be used, especially with larger breeds.
IS DOCKING CRUEL?
Docking is carried out when puppies are 2-5 days of age. Their eyes are not yet open and long experience indicates that, carried out correctly, the procedure causes no pain or discomfort since the neonate puppy does not have a fully developed nervous system. Indeed, some puppies which are docked whilst they are sleeping do not even wake up. After docking, puppies will immediately return to their dam to feed. This is in contrast to a puppy in pain, who would exhibit continuous crying, restlessness, crawl around in pointless circles and fail to suckle and there is no evidence that development or weight gain is in any way arrested by the docking procedure. Nor does a dog which has been docked as a puppy have any problems with balance or communication. The older the animal, the larger the tail, and therefore the more traumatic the procedure becomes. If the puppy is more than 10 days old, the procedure should only be performed under anaesthesia, preferably not before 8 weeks of age. Many undocked adult animals undergo the tail docking procedure out of necessity when their tail has been traumatised.
WHY IS DOCKING CARRIED OUT?
1. To avoid tail damage.
A number of working gundog breeds have to hunt game through heavy vegetation and thick brambles, where their fast tail action can easily lead to torn and bleeding tails which are painful and extremely difficult to treat. Docking the end of the tail eliminates the risk of injury. Working terriers are docked for the same reason. In addition, terriers which are bred to hunt below ground for purposes such as fox control, have their tails docked to a length which is more practical when working in a confined space. Other non-working breeds which have an enthusiastic tail action, are also liable to damage their tails, even in the home.
Since docking was banned in Sweden in 1989, there has been a massive increase in tail injuries amongst previously docked breeds. Within the 50 undocked Pointer litters registered in that year with the Swedish Kennel Club, 38% of dogs suffered tail injury before they were 18 months old and in 1991, the number of individuals with tail injuries had increased to 51% of the group. By 1996 this figure had increased to 71%.
2. For reasons of hygiene.
Long haired, thick coated breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier and Old English Sheepdog are docked to avoid the hair around the base of the tail becoming fouled by faeces. Even with constant grooming and washing, such fouling is unpleasant. If allowed to get out of hand, it can lead to severe problems of hygiene, or even flystrike and subsequent infestation by maggots. Hygiene problems can be greatly reduced or eliminated altogether by docking
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3. To maintain breed standards.
Breeds which have been docked over many generations have been selected for specific qualities of build and conformation, but not for tail length, shape or carriage. If left undocked, it is unlikely that the best dogs would carry good tails. In seeking to maintain the quality of the breeds, breeders would therefore be left with a diminished number of suitable sires and dams. The genetic pool would be reduced, greatly increasing the risk of hereditary diseases taking hold.
Some breeds could even disappear for ever. Indeed, some of our dedicated breeders may also opt to no longer breed.
WHAT ARE DEWCLAWS?
Dewclaws are like thumbs. They are the first digit on a dog, and, unlike digits 2,3,4 and 5, are not used for walking. They are located a short distance up the leg on the inside surface. They are usually removed at the same time the tail is docked, at 2 to 5 days of age. At this age, the bones that make up the toes are tiny and soft so that snipping them off is easy. If the dewclaws are not removed at 2-5 days of age, like the tail dock, one should wait until the pup is old enough to anaesthetise safely.
Removing dewclaws from an adult animal is much more difficult than snipping them off of a day old puppy. Recovery time is also longer and many adult animals will bother the incision excessively because it is so easy to reach. This usually necessitates the placement of an Elizabethan collar, a funnel shaped plastic device that surrounds the animal's head, so that it cannot lick or chew its sutures out. Dewclaws serve no purpose to the dog. They are easily snagged on things and often traumatised.
Some of the information and photographs used in this section of the Tholia site are from the UK COUNCIL OF DOCKED BREEDS site. Please pay them a visit (see Links) and read more information on Tail Docking. Additionally, Denise & Greg Ball – Aegis Dobermanns - kindly gave me permission to utilise this material. Please also pay them a visit.
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