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?

[Jennifer Sider]

I always find these discussions amusing; mostly because there never seems to be a legitimate reason for docking that makes sense when further investigated.

Let me say I do believe that as long as the amputation is done with proper veterinarian oversight; then my personal opinion shouldn't affect your personal liberties.

Let's look at some of the whys.

Split tails -- never gonna happen to Dora's tail -- it's too thick; never happened to my APBT -- it was too thick, never happened to Dora's brother; even thought he's of a smaller build; he never suffers from happy tail; and these suckers wag. Sometimes when I hear of happy tail as an excuse, I wonder perhaps did the original breed founders just quit at a good serviceable dog (like the Doberman -- who tend to suffer towards happy tail with their thin whippy tails), without worrying about tails and lop off what didn't work.
Also heard working ability - meaning both livestock work (stock damaging the tail) and manwork (the tail being used as a handle) -- I cry bullpucky for both; since if you look at the list below of breeds docked/breed non-docked; the working ability originally overlapped; but the breed standard of docked/undocked seems arbitrary.

Terrier breeds - they seem to be the only breed that really needs a "handle" created by man -- apparently there can be serious damage to a tail on a go-to-ground terrier while underground -- I don't have personal experience since I don't have a go-to-ground terrier. Spaniels are probably the other breed type that requires docking, at least if they are hunting bred; this seems to be quite the concern for hunters; but again that may have a lot to do NOT breeding for tail type; and again if you have a good dog that hunts; stop while you are ahead and lop off the offending or poor type of tail.

Mastiff Breeds - Central Asian Shepherd - docked - Caucasian/Tibetan/Kangal - not docked, Neo/Cane Corso/Boxer/Rottie - docked, Dogue/Great Dane/Dogo Argentino/Presa Canario/English/Bull/Fila - not docked,
Herders - GSD/Mali/Dutchie/Collie/Border Collie/Beauceron/Koolie/Kelpie/Corgi/ACD - not docked Aussie/Corgi/OES - docked

Really, if you compare the above breeds and compare where they originated; or what society used them; there appears to be no real justification for docking, just a personal preference or breed club preference.

I personally can't find any peer reviewed journal entries that indicate a relationship between kinked tails and health problems; vague mentions of personal anecdotes seem to be more the norm.

Comparing lynxes and bobcats (genetically short-tailed) to a dog that genetically has a long tail; doesn't strike me as very useful. Comparing perhaps to the traits of a cougar/puma/leopard would maybe be useful; but of course we are comparing domestic dogs to wild cats.
I have heard from some judges that the Boerboel breed is supposed to be patterned after the Lion; hmmmm - long tail displayed there.

I have heard the same anecdotal evidence that puppies with tails walk earlier/balance better/etc. This is coming from people who have had litters where they docked; and then litters where the pups were left natural.

Finally; I agree with everyone here that posted; my concerns with the Boerboel are; correct guardian temperament, good measured health scores and good general health over the concerns of docked/non-docked any day. Least of my concerns.

Jen and Dora (tailed out of docked X docked)

[Sweet Pea]

I know I'm coming back in late in the discussion and certainly don't want to beat a dead horse, but I thought I'd add a few things. There's definitely more critical issues in the breed than tails, but this seems to always be a hot topic and everyone seems to bring up valid points.

Sharon, you brought up a valid question regarding what credentials are required to call someone a behaviorist. I had that same question after someone claimed on one of the other Boerboel sites to be a "behaviorist" but they just didn't seem to fit the bill. There are actual degrees in animal behavior--CAAB or certified applied animal behaviorists and, as Carrie mentioned, there are trainers certified through the IAABC--international association of animal behavior consultants. And then there's your board certified veterinary behaviorists that can prescribe medication. It is not a self appointed title, although I'm sure there are many claiming to be behaviorists. Since there is such a thing as a credentialed behaviorist, all one has to do is ask for those credentials to verify.

Let me clarify something...I did not state that a tail is the only aspect of a dog's communication. I am aware that dogs are more socially complex than that and the tail is not the end-all be-all of canine communication. It's is one aspect, and I don't believe anyone is trying to sum up dog behavior in just the wag of a tail. To me it's quite useful as I always have to be ready to read my two dysfunctional dogs.

There actually was a study done on inter-dog communication and docked tails by scientists at the University of Victoria in Canada that included 492 dogs. It was published a few years ago. For those that are interested, this is the link to a brief synopsis by Nicole Wilde, CPDT and instructor for the International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior: http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/robo-dog-and-docking-debate and here is the link to the actual 14-page journal article: http://web.uvic.ca/~reimlab/robodog.pdf

Everyone has different preferences and beliefs and the right to choose what's best for their dog. I would never select a breeder or puppy based on tail docking alone as there are far more important qualities--the full tail is just my preference. As Carrie stated I would also take a healthy dog with a stable temperament if it had 2 tails or no tail!

[Sharon Bank]

I don't want to beat a dead horse either. Actually, I don't like dead horses, but I digress!

I looked at the first study that you referenced, and what I find curious is that they *blame* the problems on the dog that is being approached.

"When robo-dog wore the average-sized tail and wagged it in typical, life-is-good Lab style, other dogs approached confidently. When the average-sized tail was held stiffly and upright, other dogs approached less confidently, if at all."

I personally could care less how approaching dogs feel about my dogs. Having a strange dog approach less confidently sounds like a good thing to me! I really don't want dogs approaching mine, confidently or less confidently. Am I wrong about this? If dogs are wary of mine because mine have a docked tail, then that is a good reason to dock a tail, in my opinion. I don't want strange dogs to approach mine.

The other thing I found quite amusing about this article was this point:

"Would we take a baby and perform unnecessary, painful surgery to amputate part of a limb because we felt it would be more attractive?"

Considering the fact that circumcision of male babies is common practice in the US, I found this comment laughable.

I agree that I would never make a decision on a puppy based on whether its tail was docked or undocked. I have owned 30+ dogs in the past where the tail was undocked. The two Boerboels I have are the first 2 dogs I have ever owned that were docked before I got them. To be honest, the more I read about this, I am even more convinced that a docked dog has a lot of advantages over an undocked one.

[barb charland]

Keeping this simple as a buyer ,I was thrilled the pups had the tail. And he don't knock thing's over

I have noticed when he run's the tail act's as a rotor as he turn's.

[Andrija Markovic]

I think that one should respect nature.

If you are born with a tail........Let it live with a tail

[Dries Lloyd]

Totally, agree - leave tails as nature intended!! I for one will not dock tails, and happy to see back of potential buyers who "don't like long tails". If you want to be so small-minded to only see the long tail, and not even appreciate other attributes - good on you!! The other issue in S.A. - the fact that vets are not allowed to dock tails which results in in-experienced people having to perform docking, and probably more importantly - buyers/pet owners/breeders fearing taking pups to vets for vaccinations or any other emergency for fear of having to answer uncomfortabe questions and fear of prosecution for breeders, leading to self-medication etc. Why put yourself (and your puppies and mom) through that. IMO it's like swimming upstream. In 10 years - people will be asking "did you see that boerboel with the docked tail - how weird"!! Some food for thought.

[Peter Hoekstra]

What i always see in these discussions is ,of it is a personal thing,looks better with ore without
and the pain and stress for the pups,ore i yust want a healty dog
but what about kinkedtails,you cant never see if your dog has a kinkedtail after docking
kinkedtail is yust the name because it is the visual thing of this genectic problem
the things you dont see are,Heart ball,cleft palate,carpback and more sow not so healty anymore
today they docking tails under medical reassen ,most of the time its a kinkedtail ,what is a genetic problem
thats why i never want a docked dog