Why did they ban tail docking?

[auto1]

Why did they ban tail docking?
My Springer spaniel keeps injuring hers, the vet said that its a major op to dock it now, the other two spaniels that I had, were docked, wish this one had been.

[paintman]

Uninformed do-gooders. With little or no experience of actually working dogs in cover or underground & seeing first hand the problem but plenty of money & members to bother the government on the grounds that it is cruel & serves no purpose other than cosmetics.
Whilst I don't see the need for non working dogs, I do have first hand experience of tail damage on working dogs.
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename...

Edited by paintman on Thursday 17th January 15:20

[auto1]

My dog is only a pet but damages its tail, running around the garden. My vet said that he would operate but advised against it.
I was going to leave money to the RSPCA but not now. (Too political)

[Superficial]

It isn't totally banned, it just can't be done for cosmetic reasons. So show type dogs cannot be done anymore, unless they will work too. Working type dogs can still be done, it just needs to be shown that they either will be or are likely to be going to working homes.

My 3 Springer spaniel's and Springer X are all either docked or tipped and all come from working backgrounds.

[tvrolet]

Superficial said:

It isn't totally banned, it just can't be done for cosmetic reasons. So show type dogs cannot be done anymore, unless they will work too. Working type dogs can still be done, it just needs to be shown that they either will be or are likely to be going to working homes.

In England maybe, but a total ban in Scotland as I understand it.

[Shinobi]

paintman said:

Uninformed do-gooders. With little or no experience of actually working dogs in cover or underground & seeing first hand the problem but plenty of money & members to bother the government on the grounds that it is cruel & serves no purpose other than cosmetics.
Whilst I don't see the need for non working dogs, I do have first hand experience of tail damage on working dogs.
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename...

Edited by paintman on Thursday 17th January 15:20

Uninformed seems a strange thing to say as you can have working dogs tails docked. It would see you are the uninformed one.

[Chuggy]

I was just going to add that about Scotland.

My last two springers were not docked and have never had any problems.

[paintman]

Shinobi said:

Uninformed seems a strange thing to say as you can have working dogs tails docked. It would see you are the uninformed one.

Far from it, its made as difficult as possible as you will know if you've looked up the legislation.
Simple version here for your convenience: http://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/faq/-/question/E...
Scotland is a total ban, England if you can jump through the various hoops and find a vet that will do it.

[bexVN]

Plenty of utility breeds damage there tails, in fact any pet dog with a tail can. Any breed of dog can rip their nails whilst on walks needing sedation to remove the broken nail but we don't rip all the nails out of 2 day old pups.

Where do you draw the line. I can see why working dogs may need tails docked and dew claws removed but I'm glad our practice don't do it.

Basically a pet Springer is no more likely to damage it's tail than any other pet dog (in fact the most common tail damage we see is greyhounds)

However I'm sorry to hear about your dog. Is it the same injury that keeps flaring up, if so I have to wonder why your vet is so reluctant to operate. It is a successful procedure if done with care and correct management afterwards. What part is injured?

[Shinobi]

paintman said:

Shinobi said:

Uninformed seems a strange thing to say as you can have working dogs tails docked. It would see you are the uninformed one.

Far from it, its made as difficult as possible as you will know if you've looked up the legislation.
Simple version here for your convenience: http://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/faq/-/question/E...
Scotland is a total ban, England if you can jump through the various hoops and find a vet that will do it.

I don't understand your point? It just states that it can be done if good reason which most people here knew already....

[pikeyboy]

I'll get the popcorn this will be another thread like the e collar one. For the record my two GSP'S are docked I wouldn't have it any other way. Docking at two days old is painful but no more so than being circumcised.

[C3BER]

Springer docked, Bernese not. This settee is looking like the one on "The Big Bang Theory".

[JohnnyJones]

I had a terrier pups tail docked for a chap at a vets near me a year ago. No stress, just told them it would be working and gave them a copy of a request for help with pest control from a local landowner. I know a lot of people with working dogs and quite a few ignore the ban and dock them anyway. Bit like the hunting ban TBH.

[Pints]

boy said:

I'll get the popcorn this will be another thread like the e collar one. For the record my two GSP'S are docked I wouldn't have it any other way. Docking at two days old is painful but no more so than being circumcised.

You say that like circumcision is acceptable.
But that's another thread.

[squeezebm]

Our 11month old GSP was docked when we got him at 8 weeks. He agrees with me that it makes him look tougher out in the fields so he doesnt have to carry a flick knife.

[auto1]

bexVN said:

Plenty of utility breeds damage there tails, in fact any pet dog with a tail can. Any breed of dog can rip their nails whilst on walks needing sedation to remove the broken nail but we don't rip all the nails out of 2 day old pups.

Where do you draw the line. I can see why working dogs may need tails docked and dew claws removed but I'm glad our practice don't do it.

Basically a pet Springer is no more likely to damage it's tail than any other pet dog (in fact the most common tail damage we see is greyhounds)

However I'm sorry to hear about your dog. Is it the same injury that keeps flaring up, if so I have to wonder why your vet is so reluctant to operate. It is a successful procedure if done with care and correct management afterwards. What part is injured?

My pet Springer keeps injuring its tail. This happens several times a year.
My vet is willing to dock if that’s what I want to happen. He said that I should think about it carefully as it’s an amputation and complications could happen.
Also trying to keep this dog quite whilst it convalesces would be difficult.
I think that the dog would have been better off with its tail docked.
I would appreciate some input from some body who’s had their dog docked when full grown

Edited by auto1 on Friday 18th January 14:11

[bexVN]

As I already said it is possible to do successfully as long as the vet takes time and care over the procedure. There is mo reason why full recovery shouldn't be achievable. I can think of 3 we've done in recent months (Dalmatian, greyhound and crossbreed) and they all made complete recoveries.

Post op dressing is just as important to so correctly. It should be a light but gently padded dressing and not too tight. It will take a little while.

I'd trust any of my vets to do a great job but yes there is always a chance of complication no matter how good the vet is. If it was my dog I would get it done but I have the advantage of knowing my vets surgical abilities!

[LordHaveMurci]

My working cocker was docked thankfully. He hasn't been worked for years now but I have been told about plenty of dogs who have had tail damage, sometimes leading to a dog no longer wanting to work.

[auto1]

bexVN said:

As I already said it is possible to do successfully as long as the vet takes time and care over the procedure. There is mo reason why full recovery shouldn't be achievable. I can think of 3 we've done in recent months (Dalmatian, greyhound and crossbreed) and they all made complete recoveries.

Post op dressing is just as important to so correctly. It should be a light but gently padded dressing and not too tight. It will take a little while.

I'd trust any of my vets to do a great job but yes there is always a chance of complication no matter how good the vet is. If it was my dog I would get it done but I have the advantage of knowing my vets surgical abilities!

Thanks for that, I think I will get it done and will post on here with the progress.
How much should be removed ? Thank you

Edited by auto1 on Friday 18th January 14:19

[RockDoctor]

Our Dobermann has his docked, got him just before this ban came about. It's quite weird seeing others with big long tails now.

Doesn't have his ears done though, I'm not sure when that was banned. See them everywhere in the US with the ears and tail combo.