TAILDOCKING
THE FACTS



Dogs have been mans partner, companion and friend for many thousands of years.
Over the years, the great Molossian's served in war and peace,
protecting their masters and assisting in the hunt for food.

Hounds were great servants also in the quest for food.
Over the years, man by natural selection kept dogs
for specific purposes - 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..).

Each of the catagories 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.

Purebreed dog owners through their state and national bodies already do this.

Since the Tail Docking ban in dogs,
other issues that are part of "European Light" are set to
swiftly follow.

This includes things such as the Blue Merle color - which would
affect the Australian Cattle Dog, Collie breeds,
heights, leg length and a myriad of other things.

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has reaffirmed its call for a ban
on cosmetic tail docking of dogs.

The call coincides with the showing of "docked" dogs at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

AVA animal welfare consultant Dr Lyndy Scott said the mutilation of animals
for cosmetic (non-veterinary) purposes was strongly
opposed by the majority of the veterinary profession.

"Accordingly, the AVA calls on state and federal authorities
to ban cosmetic docking," she said.
"We would also urge all kennel control councils throughout Australia
to phase tail docking requirements out of relevant breed standards."

To see just how far the AVA & other "Animal Liberation Organisations"
will go to attempt to have the practice banned,

CLICK HERE

 

This photo shows the damage on a predominantly docked breed (English Springer Spaniel) when left undocked.

 
The tail damage on this German Shorthaired Pointer could have been avoided by being docked at 3 days of age.

BAN ON TAILDOCKING

The former NSW Minister for Agriculture Mr Amery,
refused to ban the docking of tails from puppies under the age of five days old,
ignoring pleas from vets in his own department
and of course the Australian RSPCA
who claimed that the practice causes severe pain in young dogs.

However, the current NSW Minister for Agriculture, Mr Ian MacDonald,
has agreed to join with other Australian States & Territories and implement
a ban from April, 2004.

Has Mr. MacDonald bowed to pressure
from Agriculture Ministers from other Australian states,
rather than accept the FACTS about the procedure???

No discussions with Mr. MacDonald have so far
taken place with ANY representatives from the dogworld.

Contrary to common belief, this ban is NOT a National Ban.
Docking is still permitted in Western Australia & Northern Territory,
provided it is carried out by a registered veterinary practitioner.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN...
NOW THAT THE NATIONAL BAN HAS COME INTO EFFECT???

The Thin End of the Wedge...it starts with a tail docking ban.

Tail docking bans, you might say, oh, well, so what?
Tail docking bans are just the beginning!
About one third of pure bred dog breeds have been
traditionally tail docked for health and prophylatic reasons for centuries,
long before the first dog show ever existed!
Breed specific legislation isnt just about "dangerous" dog breeds being banned,
its about annihilation of a very large percentage of dog breeds.
It's about dog breeds under or over specific heights being banned (toy dogs and giant breeds)
It's about all brachy (pushed in face)breeds being banned
Its about all short legged dogs being banned
It's about all merle gened dogs being banned
It's about long coated dogs being banned
It's about deep set eyed dogs being banned
It's about protruding eyed dogs being banned
And there is more......
It's about banning breeds with specific genes that can cause problems.
and there is more...
It's about long eared dogs being banned
It's about dogs with skin folds being banned....
and the list goes on and on and on.
It's about the extinction of dogs!
Animal liberationists do not want us to have companion animals,
they do not want animals farmed,
they believe we should all be vegans and have animals roam free!
The bottom line is freedom of choice,
and therefore if our freedom of choice is taken away by government legislation in regard to tail docking,
then other freedoms of choice will be removed.
Tail docking is the tip of the iceberg, and what floats beneath the surface is far more sinister and dangerous!
Do you want your children or grandchildren to only know of these dogs from pictures in books?

You can act to protect your freedom of choice.......phone/fax/write/email
your Federal and State politicans and tell them you are a dog owner and you vote!
Please get involved and get interested before it is too late!



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 over fifty 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 and 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, normally an orthodontic band,
is placed in position on the puppy's tail
when it is 24-96 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.

To view a banding procedure taking place,

click here:

IS DOCKING CRUEL?
Docking is caried out when puppies are tiny.
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 & vermin 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 injures had increased to 51% of the group.

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.

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 gene pool would be reduced, greatly increasing
the risk of hereditary diseases taking hold.

Some breeds could even disappear for ever.

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 two-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 OTHER LINKS

Sally Johnston (Weimaraners)


Britfield Weimaraners


Contact details
for Australian Politicians



TAILDOCKING INFORMATION FOR VOTERS

Steve Peacocke (Viszla's)

Vets in the Uk support tail docking site...



Some of the information used on this site is used with permission from the
UK Council of Docked Breeds Site.
To visit their site, and read more information on Tail Docking,
CLICK on their LOGO





                                                  



                                                           

                                       

                                       

                                       

 

 

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