ethics...
From the EBBASA website, note item 2 under "Heads" item 3:
15. Disqualification
Behaviour
Aggressive and uncontrollable
Exceptionally scared or timid
Build and conformation
Any sign of any other dog breed
Any visible fault that hampers proper movement
Extremely short legs
Males lower than 60 cm
Females lower than 55 cm
Any serious deviation from the breed conformation
Heads
Blue eyes
Serious entropion or ectropion
Serious rose ears
“Peak” or upright ears
“Hanging” ears
Liver coloured, white of bi-colour nose
A narrow, too long or sharply pointed muzzle
Inability to keep tongue in mouth
Excessively long or short neck
A noticeable overbite
Whiskers such as those characteristic of other dog breeds
Body
Long hair
Curly hair
Total white coat or skin on dog exceeds 33%
Males without two well developed testicles
Females with obvious signs of vaginal hyperplasia
Females with signs of corrective surgery on vaginal hyperplasia not supported by a letter from the surgeon certifying the seriousness of the defect.
Any dog with a physical handicap
also note procedures for appraisals, also from the EBBASA website in bold:
Dogs are eligible for EBBASA grading from the age of one (1) year but must in all cases be accompanied by:
hip X-ray certificates on which the hip dysplasia grading of the dog has been certified by a specialist as acceptable according to the norms accepted by EBBASA at such time.
certification as being free of eye entropion and ectropion by a veterinary specialist as acceptable according to the norms accepted by EBBASA at such time.
in the case of a bitch that has had her first heat cycle, a veterinary certificate certifying that she showed no signs of vaginal hyperplasia during the period as prescribed by EBBASA
Should the above certification not be presented at the time of the appraisal of the dog, the non-submission of such information will be noted on the Registration Certificate of the dog and could influence the awarding of any Merit Award to the dog.
Should such certification be submitted to EBBASA at a later stage, it would necessitate the issuing of a replacement Registration Certificate, for which the prescribed fee will have to be paid to EBBASA
I think I've said enough....…
my vet says every second dog thru his door has an allergy
four cortosone tabs every second day cant be good long term and maybe it gets worse
i have to wonder whats changedglobal warming cfc food additivesor is it a boel thing
one vet thinks it is in the east cape south africa where i livea bad gene ?i must admit every second boel owner i meet spends thousands on skin issuestoo many to be a coincidenceso my next question iswhat are top breeders doing about itmaybe they cant guarrentee an allergy free dogbut then then id like an assurance that he hasnt had an allergic dog in his kennell and hes done something about avoiding allergies in his blood lineare they doing thisi havent read anything on their cites about allergy geneships yestemperament yessurely its possible to avoid allergy genestheres nothing worse than watching ones loved one scratch herself rawdoesnt help us thoughmy vet feels weve done all we can short of expensive testing which would probably tell us to move from the coast or dig up our lawn
he believes wev eliminated the food allergy minefield
so we opted for giving her a short comfortable life
and pray for a miracleenjoy your beautifull dogs
rob
…
Added by rob hewitson at 11:32am on December 25, 2012
weeks onwards. In the absence of litter-mates we act as surrogates. This is an important process in raising a puppy that can mean the difference between a bruise and serious injury if the dog ever feels the need to bite a familiar later on in life. Discouraging or punishing play-biting curtails this very important step in a dog's basic education. While a chew-toy has an important role to play, it cannot teach this lesson. And while other dogs in the household might take a lot of pressure off the human play mates, it is important that the pup learns that humans bruise much more easily.
When you watch puppies at play, you'll see that all is fine, wild and pretty loud (relative to the intensity of the fighting) until someone gets hurt. (Getting hurt by a litter-mate at this point in life is not serious - it simply hurts.) That one throws a tantrum and runs away to 'sulk'. The one who did the biting is left alone to think about what happened. A few minutes later the offended one will return to make up and continue playing. So when we are playing surrogate, we should mimic this process. Give verbal feedback 'ouch' - 'Ouch' - 'OUCH' - 'OOOUUUCH' - and if it really hurt, throw a 'tantrum' and leave your puppy alone for a few minutes (don't chase or lock the pup away - it doesn't work that way around), then come back and make friends again. Don't forget to reciprocate the play-biting with some light tugging and twitching of the ears, chest and legs - just like puppies would do among themselves. You'll find that the pup's bites will gradually become softer. As this happens, start overreacting to soften the bite even further. At the end of this process you should be able to comfortably have your hand in your dog's mouth without fear of getting hurt.
In this play-fighting context I don't think there's anything wrong with rolling your pup. It's good to get to know both an empowered and dis-empowered role during this type of play-fighting. I however don't recommend letting your pup pin you down. Another acceptable rolling is one that is pleasurable, i.e. tummy rubs & tickles. You start training this when your dog is relaxed, even sleeping: if jumpy, don't grab the legs and turn, rather start rubbing the tummy in a pleasant, soothing way. Chances are your dog will turn over voluntarily to get you scratching the other side too. This is also important for inspection of the legs, feet, skin, etc. Your vet will thank you for this one. I agree that rolling to forcefully get a dog to submit is a really bad idea. You may want to do it with a Miniature Schnauzer, but not a Boerboel. If a Boerboel doesn't want to submit (and I don't mean rolling over), it's an indication that the relationship needs work.
I really do not like these electronic control measures. Boerboels desensitise easily and if your timing is off, you may just exacerbate a situation rather than prevent it. Then you'd do well to have some personal liability insurance...…
it cures itself in time.
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/mange-dogs-canine-scabies
My first BB had mange and I got an ointment from the vet but in time it would have gone away on it's own. We can all develop allergies at any time in our lives and your dog could be having ill effects from the starches in the food or anything else for that matter. I would rather not give meds and try a different food source. Dry dog food is sourced from all different things from many different places each time it is made. I am sure you are choosing the best dry food but unfortunately it is not a natural diet. I feel for you as far as being afraid of him choking on bones. I was too. But as long as the bones are not cooked and they are covered in meat he should do just fine. I only feed chicken bones and pork bones in a picnic roast, not ribs. Beef bones are too dense and should not be fed. They could crack a tooth on beef bones too. If it makes you feel better you could give him ground bones or give a calcium supplement and feed him just meat. There is a lot of support with those yahoo groups. I joined all of those and some facebook ones too. I don't know where you live but if there is wild game available like deer and you know a hunter you could be feeding your dog for free. I know it's scary and I know you want what's best for your dog as we all do. Just do some research on Prey Model Raw, not Barf and you'll be amazed at what you read and learn. I know I was and it's the best thing I ever did for my boy. Good luck!
~Lisa Elizabeth said:
Thanks Marco & Lisa for your replies. When I received Nala as a pup, she had mange, which I immediately started treatment for and ensured at all times that she was on the best possible dog food for dogs with skin allergies. At first I fed her Eukenuba, but then changed to a Dogsense
(Essential amino acids to support important muscle and organ maintenance, gelatinized carbo’s for improved energy availability, provides a good balance of Ω6 and Ω3 fatty acids to help ensure healthy skin and shiny coat. Provides a good balance of digestive fibers to aid in the prevention of the uncomfortable effects of constipation, and adequate levels of vitamins and minerals that orchestrate the many important biochemical reactions inside the body to support a lusty vivid life.)
, a locally manufactured dry dog food containing:
Protein 21% (min) Moisture 10% (max) Oils and fats 6% (min) Fibre 40% (max) Ash 50% (max) Ca:P ratio 1.1-1.6:1 Calcium 10% (min) Phosphorous 8% (min) Linoleic acid 20% (min) Omega 6:3 ratio 5-10:1
After the meds were completed for her Mange and I switched to the above dog food, mange was something of the past. I noticed in the other discussions that some of the dogs also had reactions to flee bites, which Nala also has, but she is bathed regularly and dipped, as she LOVES running in the mountain ( Lots of ticks & Flees there), but hardly ever have a skin reaction in the last couple of years - and this also tells me she is prone to allergies.
I don't only feed the dry dog food, for the last 2 years, she also as a mixed diet, where she received a bowl of white chicken meat & rice ( recommended by the vet) - and this she LOVES. I tend not to feed bones to any of my dogs, I'm absolutely terrified of them getting stuck in their throats, as I have lost a dog like that.
The dog food that I have purchased for her now is called Hills Prescription diet, z/d, Ultra allergen free with the following ingredients:
Starch, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Soybean Oil (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), Hydrolyzed Chicken, Powdered Cellulose, Lactic Acid, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Glyceryl Monostearate, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), DL-Methionine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract, Beta-Carotene.
Nutritional Information
Nutrient
Dry Matter1%
Protein
19.6
Fat
13.3
Carbohydrate (NFE)
59.5
Crude Fiber
2.9
Calcium
0.66
Phosphorus
0.54
Sodium
0.29
Potassium
0.67
Magnesium
0.055
Vitamin C
111 mg/kg
Vitamin E
611 IU/kg
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Total
0.53
Omega-6 Fatty Acids Total
4.40
After 3 cortozone tablets her bark has improved quite a bit, probably showing that the cortozone is working, supporting the fact that this is an allergy and not age. I will most definitely go and read up on the raw feeding and I have also joined the Yahoo group on canine allergies.
Marco, no offence taken. She is never tied to any post. She is a very obedient dog and well trained, no need to tie her. Even when we go for walks she is free to run where she wants to run. You would think she is a pup when it is walk time, she start jumping up and down like a goat :)
Will keep you up to date on her progress and any allergies I can pinpoint.
…
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. "…
Added by Mandy Windt at 5:27am on November 11, 2010
ks that everything I have tried has far too much protein). What food are you currently using? Did you stick with the Iams? I am pretty sure that my vet would consider that to be a good option for me at this point. I have called him and emailed him dozens of times with questions about her loose stools. I did use the canned pumpkin for a little while a few months ago and had some really good success with it. I didn't really have a good reason to switch to cottage cheese other than I just wanted to see if it would make a difference. I cannot offer my girl a single scrap from the table or anything...she will quickly get diarrhea. She will even get it from the big knuckle bones at pet stores and bully sticks. She will typically get loose stools when we get home from training, because the training treats make her somewhat sick as well (they are Zoooks brand or something). I doubt that my girl is having these issues from teething but that may have played a part in this in the past. She is nearly 14 months at this time. But the teething does make sense to me. I hope everything works out for your boy! Thanks again! Lisa Tiro said:
Hi Jon,
My boy Axel is 8 months old now. When he came to me his stools were fine. I wanted to feed what the breeder was feeding but it isn't available to me here in MA. So, I researched and put him on Precise Holistic Complete Large/Giant Breed puppy food. It has the right balance as far as calories per cup, protein, calcium and phospherous etc. He started getting the diarrhea too. I called the vet and his stool sample had been fine the week before when I brought it in so they told me to fast him for 12 hours and then feed bland diet. He was still getting the diarrhea even with the rice and chicken so I called back. They said start him back on his regular food, so I did. Still loose and I'm talking I was up every 1-2 hours all night long taking him out for 2 weeks or more! My son and husband were freaking out so they took in another stool sample to the doctor, again it was clean. So I changed his food thinking maybe it was too rich for him. It took about 2 weeks and I bought Iams, the cheap stuff. His stool finally was more solid. I gradually changed him back to the premium food and when the stools were looking loose again, not quite diarrhea I started adding canned pumpkin in about 1 tablespoon to about 2 cups of dry food 3x a day. He loved it and his stools looked good. In the meantime I had been researching this online (that's where I heard about the pumpkin) and I googled teething in pups and I found some people saying that this happened to their pups when they were getting their adult teeth and this is when it happened to Axel. Then at about 6 1/2 months it happened again when his 7 month molars were coming in. He did not have any skin issues so your boy could have an allergy or a sensitivity to something in the food be it grains or maybe chicken. I know chicken is a common allergy as my cat is allergic to chicken and can only eat duck or rabbit and peas. He pulls his fur out. But I think it was his teeth the whole time. His gums were really red and raw and I was finding his baby teeth all over the place. They make more saliva and swallow it and it causes the stomach to be upset and out of balance. I now add in soft food and some table scraps here and there to spice up his kibble or he just won't eat it. I would love to feed raw but I just can't now, maybe in the future but now it would be too hard.
Lisa
…
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&
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. "
I would not select a Boerboel puppy based on whether its tail was cropped, or uncropped. I can't imagine that anyone would use the tail as a basis for selection of a puppy. Perhaps I'm wrong, I don't know. I know I wouldn't select a puppy based on little things like a tail. Temperament, health and athleticism are so much more important to me.
With that said, I don't think I agree with people who say that a dog needs a tail for balance, and that dogs with tails are more balanced. I don't believe anyone has done any research studies on this, so these claims must be based on personal opinion from the person stating the claim. I also disagree that a dog that has a cropped tail has more difficulty communicating. Unless the tail is completely removed, it is still pretty easy to see a cropped dog wag its tail, tuck it, or hold it erect.
With respect to balance of docked dogs compared to undocked dogs, I have owned 30+ dogs in my lifetime. The 2 Boerboels were the first 2 docked dogs I have ever owned. I had a docked Doberman from German working lines for a short period as we rehabilitated it, but I did not have him for a long period of time as he went back to his original home. All of my other dogs -- over 25 -- were undocked, but I did not see that they were more balanced than the 2 BB's I have now. In fact, in my experience, both Boerboels are much better balanced than my undocked dogs.
Now there could be a lot of reasons for this -- the BB's just may be better balanced overall than my other dogs. I don't know. One thing I do know is that over a year ago I started training Azaan in Agility since she seemed to show an affinity towards it. I would not have done this if I thought she was handicapped from a docked tail. The Agility trainers I worked with over the 18 month period when we were in training said that she was the most athletic large dog they had ever seen. They usually don't recommend a dog over 60 pounds try to do Agility. Azaan was able to trot down the dog walk which is 4 feet high and only 10 inches wide. When up there, she could make a u-turn without falling off. The 5 trainers I worked with said that they had never even seen a Jack Russell or a small dog try a u-turn on the dog walk. If she wasn't balanced, there isn't anyway a dog as wide as a Boerboel could make a u-turn on a dog walk that is only 10 inches wide.
I enjoy watching Olympic gymnasts walk the balance beam and perform spins and turns. Humans don't have tails, but these gymnasts don't seem to have any problem balancing. Sure, they will swing out their arms if they start to lose their balance, but dogs also have 4 legs to negotiate. Horses also have a short tail in relationship to their size. The tail appears longer because of the hair, but the actual tail bone only comes halfway down to the hock.
I am also skeptical that a kinked tail can be a sign of heart problems or spine problems. Has there been any research on this? My Bandog that passed away a few years ago was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), and she had a long, unkinked tail. She was the only dog I had that had heart problems. I know my personal experience with one dog is not a scientific experiment.
I would be interested in reading factual research studies that support these claims. Again, I personally would not make a decision on a puppy based on the length of its tail.
Sharon…
Added by Sharon Bank at 5:48pm on November 11, 2010
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"Hello Kim welcome and thanks for posting. Sorry to hear you having trouble with your puppy. First off have you taken her to the vet? Do they know of the situation? Have they taken a urine sample? If your girl has a UTI…"
Our 12 week old Boerboel wants to drink water - she has had a urinary infection that we have been treating.. but this is crazy... she searches for mud puddles, rain, condensation... drinks until she is miserable and burping then lays around and pees... potty training is near impossible as she is more interested in water than life... ANY IDEAS? See More