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We at Amawindt Boerboels no longer dock tails. It is a decision I wish we took much earlier than 2 years ago. I always hated docking tails, the stress to the mom, puppies and me as a breeder is in my opinion is not worth it for "market demand". Puppies / dogs with tails do have much better overall balance and movement etc. By docking tails (3 to 5 days normal practise) breeders could potentionaly hide tail deformaties. A tail kink at times could be more than just a kink, it could be an indication of much more severe bone growth, spine problems, heart problems etc I viewed a very interesting webinar on Kinked Tails that was organised by Boerboel International, the information that was made available was extremely interesting and valuable - info that all breeders should be aware of. I believe that BBI will show this webinar again sometime and I encourage all breeder to try and view it.
The info below is what is currently on the South African Veterinary Council Website:
"What is tail docking?Tail docking is the amputation of a dog’s tail at varying lengths to suit the recommendations of a breed standard. Docking involves the amputation of the puppy’s tail with scissors or a scalpel. Sometimes rubber bands are used, although this method has never been advocated by veterinarians. The cut goes through many highly sensitive nerves in the skin, cartilage and bone. This procedure is usually performed without any anaesthetic, or with a local anaesthetic, at three to five days of age. A small number of dogs are born naturally without a tail.
What does the SAVC say about tail docking?
The SAVC has decided that as of I June 2008 it will no longer condone routine tail docking of puppies by veterinarians. The reasons for the decision are as follows:
Tail docking, even if performed with local anaesthesia, causes pain and stress to young puppies. Recent research in pain management indicates clearly that puppies, even at a few days of age, have a fully developed nervous system and a well-developed sense of pain. Sometimes, tail docking results in serious complications such as bleeding, infection and even the death of the puppy. There can also be complications later in life such as neuroma formation.
Tail docking does not provide any benefit to puppies. Traditionally, some breeders considered a docked tail necessary to fulfil the working functions of the dog. Today many working breeds are kept as house pets and only a small percentage are used for field work, which is a recreational activity for people and not an essential function. If dogs of breeds that are customarily docked are left with intact tails, they are not more likely to get tail injuries than dogs of other breeds. Dogs need their tails for balance and body language.
If a procedure that causes pain has no immediate or future benefit for the animal and may lead to complications, it is unnecessary and should not be performed.
The history of tail docking:
The practice of tail docking started hundreds of years ago, when people were far more complacent about the welfare of animals than they are today. It became common in the Middle Ages in Britain and Western Europe . Many theories have been proposed for the beginning of the practice. These include prevention of rabies, prevention of back injury, increasing the speed of the docked dog and prevention of tail damage due to fighting. Some breeds are born without tails or with a stumpy tail due to a genetic abnormality. Normal littermates of these breeds were usually docked to give the breed a uniform appearance. Today, there is no justifiable reason to dock a puppy’s tail. How do vets feel about tail docking?
Many veterinarians reluctantly perform tail docking in order to ensure that the procedure is at least done by a veterinarian, and to minimise the pain and suffering caused to the pups. Some vets refuse to perform the procedure because of welfare reasons, while there are some vets still willing to continue doing it. Most vets condemn the practice.
What the decision means:
Veterinarians who perform tail docking, unless for justifiable medical reasons, will be liable for prosecution under the Animal Protection Act no 71 of 1962. Veterinarians found guilty under this act, will automatically be investigated for unprofessional conduct by the SAVC under the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, 1982.
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA), as the body primarily responsible with applying the tenets of the Animal Protection Act has in the past not enforced the relevant clause in the Act due to the fact that the SAVC has in the past “condoned” the performing of the procedure. This created a legal loophole that would have made successful prosecution of any person based on the Animal Protection Act unlikely to succeed. This has now changed with the SAVC decision. Although the SAVC decision only directly affects veterinarians, lay people who perform the procedure will now also be liable under the Animal Protection Act.
The info below is from a pamphlet that is currently on both the South African Veterinary Council and National Council of SPCA's.
"Why do some dogs have long tails and some short tails?
Most puppies are born with long tails. Sometimes, very rarely, a puppy will be born with a short tail, for example
some Corgis and Australian Cattle Dogs. Some breeds have naturally shorter but curly tails, for example the Bulldog.
Dogs that are born with long tails sometimes undergo tail docking. This means that their tail is cut off, usually at a
few days of age. In the past, veterinarians did this, but currently vets are no longer allowed to dock dog tails.
Since people still want dogs with short tails, some breeders do the tail docking themselves.
Why do people dock puppies Tails?
The reason most people want their puppies' tails docked, is because they are used to seeing these dogs with short tails,
for example, Boerboels, Dobermans and Jack Russell terriers. Some people who take part in dog shows, think that their
dog will look silly with a long tail. In previous years people did it for reasons that do not currently apply, for example
they paid less tax for dogs with docked tails (working dogs were exempt from taxes and had docked tails to make it
easier for them to work in the thick bush) and they believed it would ward off rabies. Today, people have dogs mainly as
companions and these reasons do not apply anymore.
Why do dogs need tails?
Dogs use their tails to communicate with people and other dogs. When they are happy and want to be friends, they wag their tails wildly. When they are worried or scared, they wag their tails stiffly to say “back off, otherwise I'll bite you”. Dogs use their tails to communicate, just like they use their facial expressions, lips, ears and body posture to communicate their feelings. If you can look at a dog's tail, you will know if it wants to be friends or wants to bite you. Dogs with long
tails can communicate better, so they get involved in fewer fights with other dogs and are also less likely to bite
people. The other function of a tail is to help the dog balance properly. Puppies with long tails are much more agile than
ones with docked tails. It is easier for a dog with a long tail to climb, crawl and balance.
What are the problems for dogs with docked Tails?
The procedure to cut off the tails is painful and traumatic for the puppies especially when performed by untrained
non-veterinarians. Just because they are small, does not mean that they do not feel pain. The cut goes through
skin, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, bone and cartilage (soft bone). It is possible that they never forget this
experience. If the docking is done poorly, there could be physical complications like problems with urinating and
defaecating and nerve damage that causes pain later as the puppy grows up. Bleeding during tail docking can be severe
and puppies can die as a result. Apart from the trauma when the tail is docked, dogs that have short tails encounter problems when meeting people or other dogs since they cannot use their tails to communicate and can also struggle to balance. "
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