Tail docking is painful even in puppies. Cutting through skin, muscle, nerves, and between bones is never a non-painful procedure, even if a puppy is only 2 days old. It will still feel the procedure but many breeders do it without anesthetics or sedation since the puppies are easily restrained.
However, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and British Veterinary Association (BVA) maintain that tail docking is painful and may negatively affect the development of a puppy's vulnerable nervous system. Additionally, poorly performed docking can lead to chronic pain.
Historically, tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the back, increase the animal's speed, and prevent injuries when ratting, fighting, and baiting. Tail docking is done in modern times either for prophylactic, therapeutic, cosmetic purposes, and/or to prevent injury.
Docking Your Dog's Tail
This procedure is typically performed on puppies between 3 and 7 days of age. No anesthetic is involved, and the tails are docked or cut to an appropriate length for the breed.
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.
There are several breeds where puppies are born without 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.
In the case of the Australian Shepherd pup, tail docking is a procedure that benefits the life of the dog. A shorter tail prevents potential breaking later in life and ensures a cleaner and more sanitary lifestyle for the dog and its owner.
Do dogs feel pain in their tail? That's because the tail DOES have pain receptors, but they do not react the same when relaxed as when excited. By the way, because a dog does not feel pain does not mean they cannot do damage.
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.
Several situations can cause chronic pain after tail docking: a) the dog may experience phantom limb pain of the tail, a common occurrence after any amputation; b) the person amputating the tail may cut through a tail bone instead of between two bones; c) insufficient skin may remain to cover the boney stub; and d) a ...
Legislation, policy and acceptability
Across a range of countries routine tail docking of dogs is considered unacceptable by most veterinarians (83 to 92%15) and the general public (68 to 88%16). In contrast, many breeders with a prior commitment to this practice remain in favor of tail docking.
These procedures are so cruel that they are banned in many European countries. For example, British kennel clubs outlawed ear-cropping a century ago, and cosmetic tail-docking was stopped the U.K. in 1993. Sadly, some veterinarians still see nothing wrong with mutilating a dog whose guardian is willing to pay for it.
The Root of the Behavior
Some dogs might resist you touching their paws simply because it makes them feel awkward or vulnerable. While the leathery bottoms are padded to withstand changing terrain and temperatures, the tops are among the most sensitive parts of a dog's body.
Tail pull injuries can cause damage to nerves higher up in the spinal cord that control urination and defecation. If the nerves that control urination and defecation are injured, your dog may become incontinent. With time, nerve function may return; however, some dogs remain unable to control their bladder or bowels.
If your dog is chewing the hair off the tail or losing hair due to hormonal issues, then hair regrowth can be expected once they stop chewing the tail or the hormonal condition is controlled.
Cosmetic tail docking is entirely a matter of personal preference. Docking a puppy's tail is a personal decision that should be made based on your circumstances and preferences. However, it is essential to remember that this procedure does have some risks and should only be performed by a qualified veterinarian.
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.
The simplest and most common method of tail docking is to apply a rubber ring (band) to the tail using an elastrator tool. Banding is a bloodless method of tail docking. The band cuts off the blood supply to the tail, and the tail falls off in 7 to 10 days. Some producers cut the “dead” tail off before it falls off.
University of Victoria scientists found that docking a dog's tail (cutting it short or off entirely) can make it more aggressive, likely because a tail is an important communication tool for dogs and their behavior is negatively affected without it.
Tail docking a puppy is an inexpensive procedure. Generally, it runs from $10 to $20 per animal. This procedure is paired with the dog's first check-up, which can cost up to $100. If the dog is older, the cost is greatly increased.
By kicking up dirt afterward, they're compounding the scent of the bathroom along with the pheromones coming from their feet glands to create one strong scent. In addition, the disturbed grass also serves as a visual clue to other dogs that they're walking on someone else's territory.
As such they aim to protect it from any potential harm that may come their way. So much like you would recoil and try to protect your eyes, they would do the same for their nose. The nose consists of fragile mucus glands, so any drying or agitation could hurt. This all being said, you probably shouldn't touch it.
The way our four legged friends react to an unexpected show of dominance is by retaliating. When you show your dog the middle finger, he doesn't really know what your intentions are, he could easily misinterpret your actions and think, in his own peculiar doggy way, that you're instigating a fight.
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.
Traditionally, a Rottweiler's tail was docked (cut short) so it would not get in the way when the dog performed certain tasks, such as pulling a cart. If a working dog's tail is docked, it cannot get caught in something or be stepped on. Tails are also docked for visual appeal and home safety.