I don’t know how I feel whenever I come across a short-tailed dog wagging its little tail. The cutting of dog’s tall has led me to as “Why do people cut off dog’s tails? When I got the answer to this question, I asked again, “Do dogs miss their tail? “
Cutting of dog tails has come of age, since the Roman Empire. In some cases, a part of the tail is cut off and in other cases, the whole tail is cut off.
I will tell you the history of tail docking, how it is done and the reasons people do it.
What is tail docking?
Tail docking is the process by which a part of or all of a dog’s tail is severed and removed from the distal end of the dog’s spine.
The tail of puppies is docked when they are between two to twelve days of age, depending on the size of the puppy and the choice of the breeder.
There are two ways veterinary doctors and breeders perform tail docking. The first method they use is by bending the tail to cut off blood circulation to that part of the tail until it cuts off on its own.
The second method they use is, cutting off the tail with a sharp object like a knife, scalpel, or scissors. They cut through the muscle tissues, cartilage, spinal column, and nerve endings.
The dogs are not injected with anesthesia or sutures by veterinary doctors or breeders while their tail is being docked. Sometimes, it will be necessary to inject bigger dogs with sutures to stop the pain or if there is much bleeding.
Tail Docking vs. Tail Amputation
Tail docking and tail amputation are not the same. Tail amputation is done for medical reasons. Pet insurance companies do not have policies that cover elective and inhuman practices of which tail docking is one.
On the other hand, pet insurance companies have a policy that covers tail amputation because it is performed as a result of medical conditions such as cancer.
The history of tail docking
Tail docking has been an age-long practice, dating to centuries. Romans believed their dogs would not catch or transmit rabies if their tails were docked.
At this present time, we have come to know that this assumption is wrong and that rabies is transmitted through bites by infected animals.
Another reason Romans and other civilizations practiced tail docking was for dog fighting, to improve their dog’s agility, and to save the dog from sustaining an injury on its tail, which is however ironical.
Why people dock dogs’ tails
There are four main reasons people practice tail docking these days. The reasons are as follows; to be in conformity with the breed’s standard, for the reason of hygiene, to save the dog from getting injured, and for beautification of the dog.
Breeders of purebred dogs most times tail dock their dogs to bring them into conformity with AKC standards. More than 60 breeds of dogs have tail docking as AKC standard.
The population of these breeds of dogs makes up the majority of breeds in the dog registry records. Animal activists have spoken against AKC breed standards, saying it is promoting the long-outdated tail docking practice because it does not permit dogs with undocked tails to take part in shows.
Some dog owners choose to tail dock dogs with long hairy tails to avoid having their fecal matter hanging on the dog’s hinge ends.
This may discourage another dog from mating with the dog and it makes it easier for them, the dog owners to clean their dog. Some other dog owners’ tail docks the working breeds to prevent briars and burrs from getting into the fur and injuring the dog.
Ethical issues surrounding tail docking
Many people have asked me questions and shown a lot of concerns about the ethical nature of tail docking of dogs.
Emphatically, about 40 countries have outlawed the practice of dog docking. There is no law banning tail docking in the United Kingdom, but dogs with docked tails are no more allowed to participate in shows in the United Kingdom.
This action has been commended by animal activists as a right move in the right direction, towards changing the outlook on breed standards and tail docking.
Although tail docking has not been outlawed in America the American Veterinary Medical Association is strongly opposed to its practice.
I agree with them because of the risk of complications. In the same manner, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the United Kingdom has also come out to campaign against this practice. They called it unjustified mutilation and unethical.
Tail docking can lead to complications like infection, tumor, leaking of the cerebrospinal fluid, and sometimes death. Young puppies’ go through excruciating pain when their tails are docked.
Some experts made us believe that the nervous system of neonatal poppies’s not fully developed and for that reason, they will not feel the pain associated with tail docking.
However, practical evidence has proven this claim not to be true. Neonatal puppies always cry out when their tails are docked.
This evidence has made another group of experts believe that neonatal puppies are even more sensitive to pains than adult dogs when their tail is docked.
Should I get my dog’s tail docked?
The choice depends on you, the dog owner. Some dog owners like tail docking for their dogs for the reason of helping their dog keep clean.
Some owners, want their dog to have a docked tail just for their dog to measure up with the breed standard, for their personal admiration, or for a public show-off.
Have in mind that there are implications associated with tail docking. There have been some instances where there have been cases of injury or death as a result of tail docking. Tail docking will make your dog go through painful experiences that could be avoided.
I want you to know that tail docking has a very long and weird history. Its history is full of unimaginable theories and inexact scientific reasoning.
Up till now, tail docking is still allowed by law in the United States Of America and it is encouraged for a certain breed of dog by AKC.
However, the practice has been outlawed in many countries of Europe. No one knows what the future of tail docking will be.
The age-long practice will either end the way the dodo bird ended or will continue to thrive because of tradition. Time and time alone have the answer.
FAQs
Why do dog owners cut off tails?
Tail docking was believed to prevent rabies, add strength to the dog’s back, increase the dog’s speed, and save the dog from sustaining injuries when it is ratting, fighting, or baiting.
In this modern time, dog owners dock the tail of their dogs for prophylactic, therapeutic, and cosmetic reasons or to prevent the dog from getting injured.
Do dogs miss their tail?
If you are worried about what the life of your dog will be like without a tail, worry no more. A lot of dogs and cats do not look back. Dogs do not miss their tails.
Is it cruel to crop a dog’s tail?
Preventive tail docking of pet dogs is unnecessary, while tail docking of non-working dogs is considered a cosmetic procedure unless evidence exists to the contrary.