While not all Australian Shepherd dogs are born naturally bobbed tailed, the majority of Aussies sport the classic bobbed tail look. Whether you are anti-docking or indifferent, it is hard to ignore the medical benefits and reduction in memorable pain that come as a result of the procedure.
The Australian Shepherd and mini Australian Shepherd both often undergo tail docking for the following reasons: It's considered a standard of the breed. An undocked tail is long, messy, and could get matted. To prevent damage from tall grass, weeds, and other outdoor dangers.
Many have naturally short tails.
In addition to having a genetic predisposition for heterochromia, Aussies have a one-in-five chance of being born with a naturally bobbed tail,. Ranchers purposely bred Aussies that had these naturally short tails because they are safer when it comes to herding.
Cosmetic tail docking is cruel to puppies, and other species, especially when done without anaesthesia. Veterinary and Animal Welfare Associations in African countries should therefore move a legislative process that could lead to a ban of the procedure.
So, do Aussies have tails or not? Most Australian Shepherds have their tails surgically removed at an early age. But despite popular belief, the Aussies without tails are not always docked. In fact, 1 in 5 puppies are born without a tail.
On the other hand, he says, “research shows that an intact tail is unlikely to become injured, and if it does, injuries are usually minor and heal easily.” Research shows that at least 80 percent of dogs won't get ear infections, “and the breeds that are most likely to get them, such as cocker spaniels and poodles, don ...
Any non-veterinarian who docks a dog's tail, or any veterinarian who docks for a reason other than the dog's welfare, is liable for prosecution. A maximum penalty of $14,375 applies for individuals and up to 5 times more for corporations. Dog tail docking is banned in all other Australian states and territories.
A: Tailing docking is painful. The intensity or duration of the pain under ideal or typical circumstances is difficult to quantify.
Tail docking is painful
Docking a puppy's tail involves cutting through muscles, tendons, up to seven pairs of highly sensitive nerves and severing bone and cartilage connections. Tail docking is usually carried out without any anaesthesia or analgesia (pain relief).
When a dog's tail is docked, they can develop an infection or even a nerve tumor called a neuroma. Either of these will be painful, and could even cause the dog to become overly protective of his tail. Dogs use their tails to communicate with each other and humans to express happiness, fear, anger, and excitement.
About the Breed
Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are a natural bob-tail breed. Some Stumpy Tail pups are born with long tails and should not be discarded from a breeding program if they are of structural quality, and bred back to quality natural bob tails.
Most Mini Aussies are born with long tails, later docked or shortened by a veterinarian. However, some breeders are now breeding Mini Aussies with natural or undocked tails. Many believe that Mini Aussies with natural tails are more athletic and agile than their docked counterparts.
The behavior is a good sign that your dog is happy at home, happy with you, and happy with any other pets or friends that he might encounter throughout the day. As a general rule, Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation in order to feel happy.
Any non-veterinarian who docks a dog's tail, or any veterinarian who docks for a reason other than the dog's welfare, is liable for prosecution. A maximum penalty of $14,375 applies for individuals and up to 5 times more for corporations. Dog tail docking is banned in all other Australian states and territories.
Scientific research suggests that tail docking, a practice known to cause distress, pain, and stress in cows, benefits neither animal nor human health.
There is a continuing tradition of docking working dogs' tails with the goal of preventing tail injury during activities such as hunting (see related question below).
Breeds with naturally docked tails
The most familiar dog breeds with docked tails include Australian Shepherd, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Brittany Spaniel, Danish Swedish Farmdog, Jack Russell Terrier, Schipperke, and Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Though docking and cropping are done mostly for appearance's sake, many owners and breeders say removing hunting and farm dogs' tails might prevent injuries during chases or herding. Others say docking keeps energetic breeds like boxers from hurting their tails by thumping them against walls or dog crates.
So people docked their dogs' tails to indicate that they were working dogs and therefore not subject to taxation. In this way terriers used for ratting and rabbiting, herding dogs used on farms, and some hunting dogs were docked routinely.
Complications - As with any surgical procedure, there is potential for complications, such as excessive bleeding, infection, delayed healing and necrosis. Neuromas, which have been associated with chronic pain, may develop, but their incidence and persistence is not known.
The stated goals of tail docking in dairy cows include improved comfort for milking personnel, enhanced udder cleanliness, reduced incidence of mastitis, and improved milk quality and milk hygiene.
Tails provide a muscle anchor, which helps regulate the proper function of the rectum. The shorter a tail is docked, the more painful it is for the sheep. The risk of flystrike is increased by having a tail either too long or too short.
While waiting to be killed, the animals screamed in agony as they wounded themselves on the metal gratings. When animals are slaughtered, they are not completely stunned and are still aware of what is happening. They continue to kick and flail until they bleed to death.
Tail docking is performed in sheep to reduce the incidence of blowfly strike that may result from urine and faecal staining of the perineum. Castration is performed for management reasons and perceived meat quality benefits. If the intention is to slaughter lambs at an early age, castration may not be required.
Clamp and surgical removal A clamp is applied to the tail to crush the bone and kill the nerves. The tail is left to die off and is then cut off a few days later using hot irons. This is a hangover from when farmers used to cut tails using a knife (which is now not allowed).