To dock or not to dock.... Controversial

ok advicce needed, should i get my little willow docked? i hope t compete with her but i love their tails, her grandmother Panamint Mint is 1/3 docked giving a nice looking tail which isnt too short, however i worry that if i dnt get willow fully docked she might damage herself? is there any way i can protect a full tail? bandaging like they do with horses intransit is one idea i have had or just clipping her feathers very short in hunting season. any advice on this would be useful and appriciated. many thanks HUNTER.

I wouldn't----but thats because I think its horrid. I have friend with a springer who is always in brambles and thick undergrowth and does fine with a full tail.

If you love tails I'd give it a chance.

BTW---other springer is also a Willow! Only one to work advanced HTM and has been to Crufts twice.

rune

COOL i think willow is a wonderufl name for them, her grandmother was going to be called willow i hope to compete in HTM as well!!! I just want me dog to have a happy healthy lifestyle where she is kept mentally and physically active, in all honesty i would want her dancing rather than gunning but the boyfriend thinks its poofy Are u at cruftts this year? i am going up on the saturday cooz i have to work really wanna go on thursday to see gun dogs, and yh i do really hope to keep her tail full. i love being greeted by the springer family with there wagging tails, even *panamint mints* third dock isnt to bad. but i could never have a stump....

Errr...surely the breeder is either having the whole litter docked or not at all?

no coz it will b a mixed litter of pets and working, basically it is my choice if she is docked. which also worries me because i will not b able to kno her personality when i choose her but then that is a challenge i am willing to undertake if it means she wont get hurt as much, however i am sure there are good guns that have full tails.

Just personal opinion here: I think it's barbaric to dock a dog's tail. I didn't think it was allowed any more in fact - shows how much I know

I have never heard of a breeder docking some of the puppies and leaving others. How can you possibly tell which puppies are going to be better candiates for what (working or pet) at just a few days old? you cannot. Good breeders should know the puppies personalities and should be able to help match up the right puppy to the right owner from about 5 weeks of age.

it is allowed if done by a vet if the animal is destined to be a worker. it is a practice i have always had reservations about but i do worry that if she goes crashing through brambles she might get her tail stuck or rip it

i agree with u the only reason the breeder is considering docking willow is coz i have asked about it in reference to working her

I think you’d be stupid not to dock a working ESS. Its quite common for their undocked counter-parts to damage the end (tip) of their tail while beating in the under growth.
They don’t look right to me with a full tail…..I would never buy a working ESS with a “undocked” tail

How will the breeder know which puppies are going to be workers at birth to 3 days in age ?? Or are they planning to dock at a later age(which will have to be done under a GA)

Geniune working gundog breeders of a docked breed have all the puppies docked by a vet in accordance with the law

i dnt like stumps i am used to them having long bautiful tails, bar panamint's who's is only a tiny but shorter, i have seen many tail amps tho none through working i must say, more common are shutting tail is car door

NOOOOOOOoooooo They look beautiful with their tails, i'm so pleased to see more dogs with more tails around these days!

???? you see a lot of dogs that have to be docked because they have had their tails caught in car doors at your practice then ??

A friend had to have her Labrador's tail amputated because the tip became infected & the infection spread so far up the tail that her bitch now has a "Boxer"like stump-better than being dead of course. It was never trapped in a car door !

Jodee i have already explain that about 3 or 4 posts a go, the breeder does not usually dock but i have enquired as i was her to work... i asked for advice not a lecture.....

obviously getting ur tail stuck in a door is not the only reason amps happen all i was saying was i had seen more of them than i had of amps due to working in the feild.

It’s not practical for a WORKING springer to be undocked- to much of a risk of injury. Springers are usually ¾ docked so they do have a little tail, this is so the handler can spot them easier in the rough.

Army springers get fully docked I think.

aye, i understand the practicalities and like the docking on her grandma but i dnt kno am sure i will love her tail or not, oher reservation is working will not b full time it will b more of a hobby...

I have a traditionally docked breed (Boxers) however both my boys are undocked. In 5 years, we've never had a tail accident!

Just as an aside, 2 out of the original litter were kept undocked, but that was at the new owners request. However, we'd picked puppies on looks etc, rather than working ability (obviously).

Thanks ISO