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.
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.
A: Tail docking of some breeds may be based on a belief that their non-working members experience risks similar to working dogs; more commonly, however, it is to conform to a distinctive breed appearance or standard. Survey data indicate that preventive tail docking of pet dogs is unnecessary.
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.
Bobbed tails are naturally shortened (bobbed) tails that dogs are born with. The length of the bobbed tail can vary for each dog. Docking is when part or all of the tail is removed from the dog. It's typically done when dogs are only a few days old because their tails are still “soft” at this time.
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. Many of those are due to a gene mutation called C189G. Breeding removed their tails.
Short-docked tails have been associated with increased incidence of rectal prolapse in some studies. Though there is pain associated with tail docking, fly strike can lead to discomfort, pain and eventually death of the lamb.
Tail docking or ear cropping can only be carried out in Victoria by a registered veterinary practitioner for therapeutic reasons (for the health or welfare of the animal). Docking (in relation to the tail of a dog) means the amputation, removal or shortening of the tail, other than the shortening of the tail hairs.
“Docking's usually performed by a veterinarian or breeder without anesthesia, the rationale being that although it certainly causes pain, the puppy isn't fully alert yet and won't remember it,” says Emily Patterson-Kane, PhD, an animal welfare scientist at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Evidence indicates that puppies have similar sensitivity to pain as adult dogs. Docking a puppy's tail involves cutting through muscles, tendons, up to seven pairs of highly sensitive nerves and severing bone and cartilage connections.
Tails are normally docked at 2 to 5 days of age without anaesthetic being used. When carried out correctly, the procedure causes no more than momentary discomfort since the puppy does not have a fully developed nervous system.
Dogs have incredibly sensitive nerve endings in their tails, and this can lead to pain if the tail is pulled or handled roughly. Furthermore, depending on the individual dog, touching their tails can cause fear, discomfort, or aggression.
Happy tail syndrome in dogs occurs when this strong tail repeatedly hits solid objects with force during a wagging session, resulting in the thin skin of the tail splitting open. You would think that this injury would be enough to stop even the happiest tail in its tracks, but alas this is not usually the end of it.
The Australian Shepherd is one dog breed of many that gets its tail docked. This involves using surgery or tightly constricting the tail to get it to about four inches total.
Aussies are best suited for families with an active lifestyle and a large fenced yard. They need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. They can weigh between 35 and 70 pounds and have an average life span of 12-13 years.
Aussies are very sociable dogs. They can feel lonely when they're left alone often and are prone to suffering from separation anxiety. This is when dogs feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety over being apart from their owners.
The study found that dogs with shorter tails (docked tails) would be approached with caution, as if the approaching dog was unsure of the emotional state of the docked dog. The study goes on to suggest that dogs with docked tails may grow up to be more aggressive.
Sometimes when dogs are chasing their tails, they're simply having fun. They're learning about their bodies and seeing what they can do. Other times though, tail chasing may be a sign of a compulsive behavior.
The dead portion of the tail usually falls off about three days later. This can be likened to slamming your finger in a car door and leaving it there. Puppies undergoing any method of tail-docking squeal and cry, yet advocates assert that the newborn pup's nervous system is unable to feel the pain.
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.
In Queensland, it is an offence under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 to dock a dog's tail.
It's a painful process where a dog's outer ears are removed altogether or are surgically altered, with the tips or huge sections of the outer ear being cut off. It's against the law to carry out this procedure yourself or to send your dog to a vet in this country or abroad to have their ears cropped.
Regardless of the approach used, the timing remains the same. Tail docking should be performed on newborn puppies between 2 and 5 days old.
Amputating an adult dog's tail is quite a serious operation, and the stump can take four to six weeks to fully heal.
The typical stay following a tail docking is 2 to 3 hours but will vary depending on the overall health of the dog and the underlying reason for the surgery. Most puppies are docked without anesthesia and are typically taken home shortly after the procedure.