Tail Docking

[kristen aiello]

When we purchased our pet Boerboel from a breeder, his tail was already docked.  Personally, I like the look.  I think some breeders are moving away from this.  What are current opinions on docked VS undocked tails?

[Sharon Bank]

I prefer a docked tail. It is against the law to dock in some countries -- UK, Scotland, Wales, etc. That might be the reason you see undocked tails. Most of the dogs in the US and SA seem to have docked tails. Where did you get your dog?

[kristen aiello]

We got him from Blues City Boerboels in Memphis.

[Carrie Kruczek]

Our boy is docked. I like docked..imo, less chance of injury (and it's hard to keep a bandage on a tail), and way less damage in the house! We have a lab with a tail that sweeps breakable objects off coffee tables, and I have also found that wet wagging lab tails leave big hairy smears on the walls. Technically, a natural tail allows you a better read on the dogs body language, how the tail is carried can gives clues. Of course in a lab it doesn't matter...it's always wagging and happy. With the short tail in our boerboel, it's still possible to read his major signals (a short tail still tucks down when he's nervous or scared, and still goes up like a flag with alertness/aggression,) you just can't see the subtler signs (is the tail high and curved over back, etc.) Boerboels have such expressive faces though that you can read so much there that the short tail doesn't matter to me. And besides, I enjoy not having candles and plants knocked off low tables!

[Aescleah]

i am on the fence on this one sorta. i could take or leave the docked tails, though i agree that its nice not having everything knocked over but for someone who feels this way and having 3 dogs all different breeds not one of them has a tail longer then three inches so maybe i should shush and admit i like docked tails better

Ashley

[Mandy Windt]

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. "

[Sharon Bank]

Mandy Windt said:

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. "

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

[Sharon Bank]

Back to the topic of undocked dogs having better balance than docked dogs, there are other wild animals that don't have tails or have very short tails: rabbits, lynx and bobcats. I found this short piece of information about why a bob-tailed animal may be better at stalking and killing prey:

"A contrast of prey chasing technique relating the tail can be found in Bobcats(Lynx Rufus) that have a naturally omitted tail(no tail, or extremely short tail) by their biological mechanics, whereby they take more prey by ambush or stalking(no chase, do not pursue) of requires pouncing(ambush) or prey being inside a circumference of 3 to 6 meters and the prey having less ability to accelerate(ambush, not an actual chase) if it detects the Bobcat before it attempts the attack.
A tail would be disastrous on a predator attempting ambush techniques as its primary method because of the reactive nature chase instinct has and the greater warning any movement would be to prey animals from psychologically triggered disruptions upon the predator that are beyond the predator's control e.g. wind striking its tail, young following in proximity."

[Sharon Bank]

Another day goes by and my mind came back to this topic. Aw shucks! I research and study everything to death, and then I think about it over and over again. It's part of my psyche!

Mandy, I hope you do not misinterpret my statements. If I were a breeder, I'm not sure that I would dock or leave the tails natural. I think there are benefits to both, as you can see from everyone's comments above. From a buyer's perspective, this is a much easier since the decision has already been made before we even get into the picture! It has to be a heart-wrenching decision for a breeder, because you know the pros, cons and pitfalls to both. I don't want to minimize your decisions regarding docking. Believe it or not, I do understand your decision and your points are well made.

The only thing I do know is that as a buyer I would not make a puppy selection based on whether its tail was docked or undocked. There are much more important factors to consider from a buyer's perspective. If a breeder loses a puppy sale because the pup was undocked and the buyer wanted docked, or vice versa, then that buyer was probably not worth having anyway. It is probably an easy way to screen out the crazies who think they want a Boerboel for all of the wrong reasons.

My 2 cents.

[Sweet Pea]

Just wanted to add my two cents on the topic since I have one Boerboel with a tail and one that is docked. I always preferred the look of a docked tail until I got Bear and his full tail. Having one dog with fear issues and one that is dog reactive, I find that it is very important to watch their every move in regards to body language. It is much easier to read
Bear with his full tail. With just a stump it is difficult to tell if it would be a full tail tucked between the legs or just tail down, or a full wag or just a swaying of the tail. What the tail does at the end is also important when reading a dog's behavior and you just can't do that as well with a stump. My behaviorist also claims that inter-dog communication is hindered by docked tails and cropped ears.

Sweet Pea's docked tail bothered her for the first year of her life. The tip didn't look all that great at first and she was always trying to bite at it. I know humans often experience phantom pain from amputated body parts and I wonder if it could be the same for dogs. That said, I think Pea would look funny with a full tail.

I just don't see the point in docking for cosmetic reasons. Why do something that causes pain or stress to a pup or that could lead to injury? Is it just to conform to a "standard"? Would you want a body part amputated? I just don't think it's very nice to do to dogs unless there's a medical reason. My viewpoint is that if they're born with it, leave them with it.

[Sharon Bank]

I don't want to beat a dead horse to death, truly I don't. When I hear of behaviorists' opinions, especially when they are not based on factual research, it makes me cringe. If I have some factual research on the subject, then I might be more inclined to understand this.

First off, what degree or level of education does one need to become a "dog behaviorist"? This is a question that I have yet to get a straight answer on. From my experience, and I admit it could be wrong, a dog behaviorist is someone who self-appoints themselves as such, rightly or wrongly. Let's go beyond that for the time being. If someone can answer the question and ascertain that a dog behaviorist has some sort of high level training that I am not aware of, then I will be most happy to listen.

What I do know is that I have had over 30+ dogs with long tails, and they did not seem to be able to better communicate with other dogs any better than my 2 dogs with cropped tails. Is this a fluke? Perhaps, but in my personal observations over the last 20+ years I have not noticed any difference. I will admit I could be wrong, but it has never seemed to me that long-tailed dogs have any better communication than short-tailed dogs.

Azaan has always been very amicable with dogs of all shapes and sizes. She doesn't have a long tail. Most dogs that see her know that she is friendly, even though she has a short tail. If strange dogs were only able to "read" her based on a long tail, wouldn't they then be afraid to approach her because of her short tail?

In contrast, dogs that meet Jaf are instantly wary of him. He also has a short tail. Why are the same dogs that are wary of Jaf with his short tail also completely trusting of Azaan with her short tail? Hmmm... Doesn't make sense, does it?

The first day Jaf was in the US I introduced him to Azaan with her short tail. He trusted her within a minute or two and the rest his history. The next day -- Day #2 of his arrival into the US from South Africa, a young Golden Retriever pup that was 8 months old came rushing over to him and he hated her -- she had a long tail. She was wagging that damn tail a million miles an hour, but Jaf hated her and tried to bite her face off. He was 9-1/2 weeks old at the time.

I wrote to Jenny immediately about Jaf's incident with the Golden Retriever pup. She was the most friendly, outgoing, exuberant, friendly Golden Retriever pup in the world. She had a long tail. Azaan loved her, but Jaf hated her. She had a long tail. If the hypothesis that the behaviorists is true, then both dogs would have been able to read the body language from her "wagging long tail" and would have liked her.

I have my theories on this -- the GR pup rushed over and got into Jaf's space -- he is very territorial and he doesn't like dogs of any tail length getting into his space without an invitation. He doesn't like dogs rushing at him, regardless of the length of their tail.

Azaan is different -- she likes all dogs regardless of their tail length or how they approach her. If they try to bite her or snap at her, then she will retaliate. Unless they get testy with her, she likes them. Again, she seems completely oblivious to tail length of the dog.

With my 30+ dogs, I can't say that the long-tailed dogs got any special treatment or were able to communicate better with other dogs. My aggressive long-tailed dogs didn't get along with other dogs, and my submissive long-tailed dogs submitted to other dogs. It didn't seem like the tail length had anything to do with the situation. My long-tailed submissive American Bulldog was afraid of all dogs, and she submitted to all dogs. My aggressive long-tailed Fila hated all dogs--and she attacked all dogs that came close to her -- short or long-tailed. I also owned 6 "cropped" dogs -- 4 Great Danes and 2 Dobermans, and I can't say that I noticed any different behavioral differences with the cropped dogs compared to uncropped ones.

It just seems to me that "behaviorists" are quick to blame a short tail or long tail on something that is way more complex than the length of a tail. There is SO much more body language that happens beyond a tail wag or stiffness of a tail. Jaf exudes an energy that goes way beyond his tail. When Jaf stares down a dog or another person, most dogs and people know that he means business. Likewise, Azaan exudes a friendly demeanor with dogs and people that goes well beyond her tail. If a short or long tail were the only defining factor in a dog's intention, then both dogs would elicit the same reaction from dogs and people. They don't!

I disagree 100% with behaviorists that try to simplify a dog's body language with only a tail wag. It's the easy way out! I am interested in hearing any dog behaviorist's reactions to my comments. A dog behaviorist that tries to simplify a dog's body language to only its tail is trying to take the easy way out!

On a separate note, I can understand a breeder not wanting to cut a dog's tail off for cosmetic reasons. I just disagree with the theorists that a cropped dog has a lack of ability to communicate or has a lack of balance. I just don't buy it. Dogs communicate through many methods beyond just their tail -- staring, stiffness of body, etc., etc.

[Mandy Windt]

Hi Sharon and Kimberley, I trust you are both keeping well. Sharon lovely pics of the dogs as usual.

I think the topic of tails can be discussed until all is blue in the face and everybody will still have a different opinion/view point.

Sharon I have not misintreperted your statements but comparing a docked/undocked tail in dogs to animals that have natural bob- tailed does not make sense to me.Interesting though.

Sharon you made a very valid point, namely: owners come into the picture after the decision has already been made to dock or not. A breeder has to make these decisions, a breeder is the one that has to either cut that little tail or put a band around it and wait a few days for it to either drop off or still have to cut the dead piece off. Personally I feel each breeder has the right to decide what they feel is best for their kennel.

The comment made: " 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." You would be amazed how many people will turn down a pup purely because of undocked tail. Do I loose sale because of my undocked boerboels? Yes, but then again if that is the basis of selection for some, you are 100% correct they then dont deserve a pup from us, there are many much more important factors.

With regards to balance and agility: I currently have 4 docked and one undocked boerboel. Never had or saw a problem with balance until you compare the docked versus the undocked. E.g. my one female CAlli is extremly agile and has great fast movement and balance . I am not talking in a appraisal ring I am talking about normal play run jumping etc. However to watch her and Maya, my undocked female the difference becomes much clearer. Maya can do much faster tighter turns and jumps etc, her tail balances her and whips from side to side depending on which way she is turning etc.

Balance in puppies: (our expereince) We docked for just over 8 years and have not docked for the last just over two years. Currently 4 undocked litters. The difference in puppies with regards to balance is very noticable in a young age when you compare them to the docked. There is no wobbling and falling over, the tails goes in the air and "balances" them, I suppose just like a gymnast using arms out to balance etc

Tail kinks: I am trying to find all my notes on the webinar, a major mission as sadly my filing leaves a lot to be desired! The webinar was done by BBI, the speakers were from a Veterinary practise etc. I cannot confidently give you the correct information without my notes, so here is a very basic overview from memory. A major part of the discussion had to do with the effect of the mesoderm cells (and others, rather complicated process) that are responsible for the formation of certain organs (heart), bone formation/growth (skeleton), blood cells and muscle etc When something goes wrong during this "process" (mother and father are contributors) it can effect certain organs e.g. heart, tissue, skeleton etc. It was mentioned (from reserach done) that a tail kink is/can be the first outward indication/sign of more serious problems that will only become visible later in life.

By docking at 3 to 5 days, a kink will not necessaryly be visible yet, therefor it elimanates the chance for a breeder to firstly be aware of it and secondly to make more informed decisions with regards to the future.

Sharon I dont see your comments as minamizing our decision to not dock/or my comments on the subject. I consider my kennel as progressive and my decisions are based on what I consider to be better for my puppies and dogs taking into account information supplies by qualified vet's, professors, animal behavioralists, and experiences with the breed for going on eleven years.

Kind regards Mandy

[Carrie Kruczek]

Sharon, I agree that the tail thing is over rated. As far as the behaviorist qualifications...the first one that we used with Gage had a PhD in animal behavior. LOL, from what I can tell that made him totally unqualified to tell us anything! Really, he was of no use to us at all, and when we were having trouble with Gage at 6 months old lunging aggressively at people...that trainer told me to whack him underneath the chin as hard as I could!! Our second animal behaviorist again had a PhD, but in behavioral counseling with additional training at the Companion Dog Instittue in Wash. DC. She was afraid to touch him in a 2 1/2 hour visit, and said that 4 out of 5 behaviorists would recommend euthanasia. Now, I don't use "Animal Behaviorists!" We go with more practical experience, and just use "trainers." Our new trainer she is a member of IAABC, and a Certified Pet Dog Trainer), this is an organization that was recommended to me by a mastiff rescue trainer with years of experience. This trainer is great....and she talks a lot about reading your dog's body language...but she doesn't feel that Gage's docked tail makes it difficult at all. She says their faces are very expressive, and with body posture signals she says he is super easy to read. Even his docked tail sends off clear signals. As far as the agility with a tail....I can't imagine that it helps. I've seen pictures of Azaan and Jaf....if they were any more agile, they'd be olympic medal winning gymnasts. I'm prejudiced towards docked tails though, I had Dobermans for years. We were showing at the time, and long tails/uncropped ears were not an option. I agree that both procedures are painful, and I was personally present and assisted in the tail docking and ear cropping. Hated it. I like the look of our boy's docked tail, but that's the way he came to us. With my next boerboel (if there is another!) the tail will be last on my list of concerns!!! If people only knew how many serious temperament problems and health problems are present in this breed, they'd take a nice stable healthy puppy with two tails! Well, lol, that would be extreme but you get my point...