tail docking

JR73

Active Member
hi as tail docking for working dogs is banned in scotland what are the rules on taking my bitch and pups over the border should i take a litter from her to get them docked ?? and what/if vets will do it just the other side of the border for me??
 
From what I understand the answer is no. I expect some more experianced guys on here will know the full regulations.
 
Against the law.

Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006:
Section 20
(3)A person commits an offence if the person takes a protected animal, or causes a protected animal to be taken, from a place in Scotland for the purpose of having a prohibited procedure carried out on the animal at a place outwith Scotland.
 
You'd need a lawyers interpretation but I believe this is why a number of bitches come to England to have their puppies............
 
I know folk who have done this. The loophole is that the bitch must whelp in England and her pups docked there. I also think the paperwork must show that the bitch is registered through the KC to that address as well. All of those restrictions are easily overcome with the assistance of a friend who stays there and a local vet who agrees that the pups will be working dogs and is in favour of tail docking, obviously. Happy to be corrected on any of those points. It makes a whole farce of the legislation which is virtually unmanageable and suggests its cruel in Scotland but not in England????

De-budding and de-balling of young bullocks, rubber bands on lambs tails and so on all still practiced, but no docking of a 3-4 day old pups tail???? Yet the dew claws can still be cut off which having assisted my vet with a litter a few years ago, causes more of a yelp than the tail ever did.

One of the most ridiculous decisions ever made to effect shooters/working dog owners in my opinion...
 
Cheers guy's.

Jamross in total agreement with you. Having seen a friends Springer that was unlocked then had to get dock as the tail was damaged. it's a crazy law
 
Not correcting you Jamross, but the KC registration document asks for the "breeders" name and address and then the notes say that you must sign as confirmation that the pups were born at the address you note. If you get a mate to whelp them in England then by definition you would need to put the English address in this section.

By doing so though, that is surely conflicting with your kennel club kennel's name's registered address.

I assume that as the docking certificate is the legal document then you would have the English address on it, whereas the KC registration is simply a "club" membership so is less of an issue if the place of birth is incorrect??

I agree though, the most ridiculous of laws!!

I know folk who have done this. The loophole is that the bitch must whelp in England and her pups docked there. I also think the paperwork must show that the bitch is registered through the KC to that address as well. All of those restrictions are easily overcome with the assistance of a friend who stays there and a local vet who agrees that the pups will be working dogs and is in favour of tail docking, obviously. Happy to be corrected on any of those points.
 
Not correcting you Jamross, but the KC registration document asks for the "breeders" name and address and then the notes say that you must sign as confirmation that the pups were born at the address you note. If you get a mate to whelp them in England then by definition you would need to put the English address in this section.

By doing so though, that is surely conflicting with your kennel club kennel's name's registered address.

I assume that as the docking certificate is the legal document then you would have the English address on it, whereas the KC registration is simply a "club" membership so is less of an issue if the place of birth is incorrect??

I agree though, the most ridiculous of laws!!

No, your likely correct and that is what I was getting at with suggesting the address for registration had to be in England. I wasn't aware of the exact wording or the pice of documentation to reflect that address but knew it referred to an address south of the border.

Thanks for for pointing that out. :thumb:
 

I have signed numerous petitions, written to our MSP's and sought support from the Veterinary profession on this issue, to no avail. I'm now down to one docked springer who is sadly too old to do the job he has loved so much and his line as many others in Scotland will be lost due to this ridiculous ban.

The irony in this is that I bought a labrador who had severe 'Happy Tail' and I could've had his tail amputated (not docked) to a stump in an instant.

Docking 1/3 of a working spaniels tail two to three days after birth can prevent years of potential misery.

Our MSP's should hang their heads in shame.
 
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I recall a few years back taking one of my springers to my vet. I was seen by a new vet who on entering his surgery immediately stated that it was nice to see a springer with a full tail. I had a laugh on telling him that this springer was docked having 1/3 of his tail docked at two days old. Sad thing is that if an MSP was asking opinion between him and I as to tail docking he would be the expert.
Like you trackerman I have written to MSPs, signed petitions, taken part in studies etc. but still we are stuck with this crazy legislation.
 
As the law stands I had too travel down to England to get a springer pup, as I would not work one with a full tail. That was in 2011 now she is working great, it is coming to the time do I take a litter? as she has a tremendous ped. I also took her brother up to Scotland for some one else, later in 2011 I travelled down with my mate so he also could get one with docked tail. Not only did Mr Salmond lie to every one that he would reverse the decision on tail docking five year ago. How much money is being lost in Scotland with people like ourselves having to purchase outside Scotland just to stay legal
First question my vet asked o a docked tail, who had done it? Country it was done, paper work for it, microchip cert etc. then preceded to check micro chip to confirm every thing was in order, I was then told if it did not all match up they would have to report it. Only then they went on to give injections.

cheers

Jim
 
............First question my vet asked o a docked tail, who had done it? Country it was done, paper work for it, microchip cert etc. then preceded to check micro chip to confirm every thing was in order, I was then told if it did not all match up they would have to report it. Only then they went on to give injections.

Yep, walk into the vet in the interest of animal welfare, walk out feeeling like a crimminal.

Not the vets fault I know as they must report any suspect dockings,............................... just madness.
:cuckoo:
 
............First question my vet asked o a docked tail, who had done it? Country it was done, paper work for it, microchip cert etc. then preceded to check micro chip to confirm every thing was in order, I was then told if it did not all match up they would have to report it. Only then they went on to give injections.

Yep, walk into the vet in the interest of animal welfare, walk out feeeling like a crimminal.

Not the vets fault I know as they must report any suspect dockings,............................... just madness.
:cuckoo:
Been there was the same with my spaniel
 
And this is what happens quite offten when tails arnt docked. Im sure you guys with undocked working dogs already know?


Steve
 

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image.webpThis was my dog after the shoot today. I'm now considering having it amputated but obviously that can have its own complications. Does anyone have experience of having their dogs tails amputated and could offer any advice?

Thanks,
Dave
 
View attachment 35932This was my dog after the shoot today. I'm now considering having it amputated but obviously that can have its own complications. Does anyone have experience of having their dogs tails amputated and could offer any advice?

Thanks,
Dave

The only advice I have it get it docked quite short. If you just take a bit if you will end up in the same situation.
 
The only advice I have it get it docked quite short. If you just take a bit if you will end up in the same situation.

Got to totally and absoultely disagree with you here Apache. 1/3 of the total length of the tail should be docked at two days. This leaves the dog with a tail but greatly lessens the arc of the wagging tail. Keeping hair on the tail short also stops it being snagged so easily. But what do I know. I have worked spaniels in some horrendous cover over 30+ years without ever a problem of tail damage. One small snip and if necessary a single stich at two days old compared to a general anaesthetic, operation and several weeks of recovery to remove a damaged tail in adulthood. But the politicians know best.
 
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