Docking advice

[Trigger260]

I have a litter of sprockers due this week and the vet is all arranged for tail docking.
Friends of ours who are taking a pup for a pet are wanting the tail left alone.
I'm not particularly against the idea but I'm slightly worried that the other pups or even the mother could treat this particular pup as an outcast.
Am I over thinking it???

 

[Buchan]

I doubt it will be an issue although it might be interesting to see how the mutilated pups communicate with the normal pup....

 

[Tim.243]

I have a litter of sprockers due this week and the vet is all arranged for tail docking.
Friends of ours who are taking a pup for a pet are wanting the tail left alone.
I'm not particularly against the idea but I'm slightly worried that the other pups or even the mother could treat this particular pup as an outcast.
Am I over thinking it???

Are they going as working dogs or walking dogs.....

Our last litter I held the pups as the vet counted down the length to snip them off....

They seem v happy......

 

[Trigger260]

Are they going as working dogs or walking dogs.....

Our last litter I held the pups as the vet counted down the length to snip them off....

They seem v happy......

Thanks for the reply,
Working homes except the one dog

 

[Dunwaters]

It won’t be a problem, you’re lucky that you know what the new owners want, I normally dock the last 1/3 , but some vets will cut right up to the arse so be sure to specify what you want.

 

[Buchan]

It won’t be a problem, you’re lucky that you know what the new owners want, I normally dock the last 1/3 , but some vets will cut right up to the arse so be sure to specify what you want.

I'd be surprised at this. If we HAD to dock, leaving the clostest third is important as one of the anal muscles (levator ani) inserts at about that point. Too close a dock could result in incontinence issues as well as being less likely to heal well.

 

[Trigger260]

It won’t be a problem, you’re lucky that you know what the new owners want, I normally dock the last 1/3 , but some vets will cut right up to the arse so be sure to specify what you want.

Thanks for the advise dunwater

 

[Dunwaters]

I'd be surprised at this. If we HAD to dock, leaving the clostest third is important as one of the anal muscles (levator ani) inserts at about that point. Too close a dock could result in incontinence issues as well as being less likely to heal well.

I may not have been clear, dock the last 1/3, leaving 2/3, its usually the very last bit of the tail that gets damaged, but I’ve seen a few GSP’s and spaniels docked like Rottweilers, not a good look and not necessary.
Get the pup docked within the first 72 hours if possible, when it was legal to do so I used to do my own, at that age a pup often wouldn’t even wake up during the procedure.

 

[Lloyd90]

Some leave longer (up to as much as 3/4), usually you go to the back of the hock on the back leg. Cockers can sometimes have them a bit shorter.
I would look to take off around 1/3 and leave 2/3 still on.

I would be VERY CLEAR to the vet that you don't want them docked with stub tails.

 

[Lloyd90]

I doubt it will be an issue although it might be interesting to see how the mutilated pups communicate with the normal pup....

Mutilated?

It is NORMAL to dock gundogs, especially spaniels, especially after the damage they can suffer from being undocked.

The evidence for the importance of docking spaniels was so overwhelmed even the mad Scottish Government overturned their view and made an exemption for working spaniels to be docked.

 

[Kjf]

Always been told dock to the hock as a pup , the Bitch or Dog can at least cover / protect its bits when required

 

[Trigger260]

I may not have been clear, dock the last 1/3, leaving 2/3, its usually the very last bit of the tail that gets damaged, but I’ve seen a few GSP’s and spaniels docked like Rottweilers, not a good look and not necessary.
Get the pup docked within the first 72 hours if possible, when it was legal to do so I used to do my own, at that age a pup often wouldn’t even wake up during the procedure.

Thanks dunwater,
I thought you were clear enough the first time

 

[Waz77]

As far as I know they can only be legally docked if going to working homes and pet homes should be left undocked

 

[Trigger260]

As far as I know they can only be legally docked if going to working homes and pet homes should be left undocked

Thanks Waz, i didn't realise

 

[Lloyd90]

As far as I know they can only be legally docked if going to working homes and pet homes should be left undocked

You don’t know which pups are going to working homes and which ones are not when they are 2-3 days old.

Any decent breeder won’t pick their pup until they have seen how the pups develop over the matter of several weeks (and even then it’s hard to tell hence some will keep several back to run on).

They get the whole litter docked, and if some of them just happen to go to pet homes then they were still legally docked at the time.


If I was breeding, for starters I wouldn’t let anyone pick their pup until I had picked my own first, and if someone wanted to leave some of the pups undocked I would tell them to go find another breeder / litter.

 

[Lloyd90]

Thanks Waz, i didn't realise

I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s not how it’s done.

 

[Trigger260]

You don’t know which pups are going to working homes and which ones are not when they are 2-3 days old.

Any decent breeder won’t pick their pup until they have seen how the pups develop over the matter of several weeks (and even then it’s hard to tell hence some will keep several back to run on).

They get the whole litter docked, and if some of them just happen to go to pet homes then they were still legally docked at the time.


If I was breeding, for starters I wouldn’t let anyone pick their pup until I had picked my own first, and if someone wanted to leave some of the pups undocked I would tell them to go find another breeder / litter.

I get that lloyd!
The pup in question will be a dog and I will be keeping a bitch!
Why anyone would want to pick a pup at 1or 2 days old is beyond me!
Maybe I'll just dock the litter! If they don't want one it wont be the end of the world!
Thanks for your views guys.
I just want them out now and everything to be ok!

Cheers trigger260

 

[Waz77]

You don’t know which pups are going to working homes and which ones are not when they are 2-3 days old.

Any decent breeder won’t pick their pup until they have seen how the pups develop over the matter of several weeks (and even then it’s hard to tell hence some will keep several back to run on).

They get the whole litter docked, and if some of them just happen to go to pet homes then they were still legally docked at the time.


If I was breeding, for starters I wouldn’t let anyone pick their pup until I had picked my own first, and if someone wanted to leave some of the pups undocked I would tell them to go find another breeder / litter.

I'm not saying that's what happens, just what the legislation is, I've been docking my working dogs for the last 32yrs without issue, used to do them myself years back

 

[Buchan]

Mutilated?

It is NORMAL to dock gundogs, especially spaniels, especially after the damage they can suffer from being undocked.

The evidence for the importance of docking spaniels was so overwhelmed even the mad Scottish Government overturned their view and made an exemption for working spaniels to be docked.

It's always been a mutilation in law, just one that was permitted.
I've always wondered why no-one bred a dog with a tail that didn't get damaged...

 

[Lloyd90]

I'm not saying that's what happens, just what the legislation is, I've been docking my working dogs for the last 32yrs without issue, used to do them myself years back

It was probably better done long ago by people who knew what they were doing. Some vets do an awful job.