| :: Australian Shepherd Tail docking :: |
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purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical or legal advice. Any recommendations are derived from our personal experiences and from years of study, however the decisions concerning feeding, vaccinations
and regular veterinary care - and how you implement those decisions - are yours and yours alone. Site owners, author, and contributors accept no responsibility for your decisions.
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| :: THE PROS & CONS OF TAIL DOCKING ~ AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD :: |
Those very familiar with Australian Shepherds already know that Aussies have very
short tails; appearance can seem to anyone not familiar with the breed! Our trips to town
nearly always leave us smiling - "Those dogs doesn't have tails!" leads us to once again
explain why our dogs are missing a certain common appendage.
This will give a little history as to why the Aussies have no tails, and we will also cover
another issue in the process. As breeders of the lovely "tail-less" Australian Shepherds,
and their miniature counterparts, we do get occasional requests from prospective puppy
owners wondering if we would consider keeping their puppy's tail intact. The answer to
whether we would consider this is... "Maybe" - but first we have to look at the reasonings
behind docking.
DO AUSSIES HAVE A NATURAL BOBTAIL OR ARE THEY DOCKED?
In some instances, an Aussie puppy may be born with a natural bobtail... However, in
most cases, the bobbed tail is formed by a quick, surgical procedure called "docking".
Docking, if completed by someone skilled and within 2-3 days of birth, is a quick and
reasonably painless practice resulting in relatively few "complications".
DO THEY SUFFER WHEN THEIR TAILS ARE DOCKED?
Please do not misunderstand us, as it is not entirely pain-free, but as we have watched,
and performed, dockings repeatedly over the years we can agree with the premise that
the puppies' nerve-endings are not fully mature at that age. We also use a special product
that stops bleeding and is an antiseptic as well. Puppies are generally back to nursing and
maneuvering around within minutes of the procedure; showing no obvious discomfort.
Docking of older puppies (weeks or months old) is extremely painful and, in our
estimation, should only be done if there is a serious medical reason requiring this
procedure.
BUT WHY ARE THEY DOCKED???
Sounds horrible, still? I will explain one reason why the Aussie tail is customarily docked.
This is a herding breed, and as such, these beautiful dogs have traditionally been used to
herd cattle, sheep, goats and other livestock. In spite of the changes in our society, the
Aussie is still commonly used in many areas for this very purpose!
The first reason for docking is simply to negate tail injuries altogether - the obvious logic
is "No tails = No tail injuries"! Herding can be a dangerous business! Dealing with much
larger animals that are not always "cooperative", tails are just one more part that can be
seriously injured, thus putting them out of commission for weeks. Ranchers and farmers
simply can't afford to have a good dog, a dog they rely upon, to be laid up "in bed" for
weeks over an easily preventable injury.
"Practicality" is another driving force behind the decision to dock tails. The terrain these
dogs normally cover in their travels is varied from desert and grassland to forest -
navigating through muddy creeks and rivers, over stickers, through bramble-bushes, etc.
In a refined setting, large, fluffy, exquisite tails are lovely! However, in a traditional role
these fabulous tails can spell hours of miserable grooming each week.
The third reason we choose to dock would be the "breed standard". A breed standard is
the set of specific guidelines detailing correct conformation, temperament, etc. It is
usually the standard every good breeder aims for. In this case, the standard calls for tails
to not exceed 3 inches in length. A dog may not be shown or be allowed to compete in
certain trials if the tail is intact!
Many breeders would list this as their first and most important reason for docking their
puppies' tails, however, we are not likely to follow our peers "just because" it was
traditionally done. In an issue as this, we would be willing to buck the system if we felt it
were appropriate.
BOBBED VERSUS TAILED? PROS AND CONS!
We have detailed (ha) the driving reasons behind tail-docking; however we will also share
some practical pros and cons to tail docking. Our experiences with tailless dogs have been
varied, but for the most part very good.
The negative experiences:
A major "negative" occurs when inexperienced or uncaring breeders (puppy-mills) try to
dock tails. Injury can also occur when a veterinarian is inexperienced, or in a hurry. Over
the last couple years, we have seen several dogs docked by inexperienced people - people
attempting to produce extremely short "show" tails, resulting in loss of adequate bowel
control.
This condition results in "messy" rear-ends, where excrement collects under their tail
area and down the backs of their legs. These instances were not necessarily "dangerous",
just messy - of course frequent grooming is required to keep the poor dog clean. Now, in
some cases this can be far more serious, resulting in complete incontinence (complete loss
of bowel control) - they cannot even walk without excrement "falling" out.
I want to emphasize here that in a proper tail-docking, with someone who is skilled, these
are not issues!
The positive experiences:
Life is just plain GOOD with a tailless dog! Though you may not think a tailless dog is
necessary for your lifestyle, I would offer a bit of insight into why an Aussie's tailless state
might just "grow" on you!
We used to raise German Shepherds and though we adore them, the grooming is far more
involved than grooming our Aussies. As we live in the country, we very much enjoy letting
our Aussies outside knowing we won't be picking stickers and twigs from their tails for
hours each night; we don't face muddy "tail streaks" as they navigate down the hallway;
and certainly don't have to worry about possible tail injuries while they are working or
playing.
The following may sound downright silly if you have never owned a tailless dog, but these
are a few of the extra "perks" you would find while living with a tailless companion: Not
being "beaten" by a large tail is quite nice (mentioning this as we have always had tailed
dogs and even a large Cane Corso Mastiff!), not having toddlers knocked over by a wildly
wagging tail, or things swiped off the coffee table by an enthusiastic pup eager for a
petting session. Not having to worry about slamming their tails in the truck door as we
head off to town and being able to close the house door quickly to shut out the cold. These
things are simple, maybe even silly advantages. but we sure do enjoy having tailless dogs.
STILL POSITIVE YOU WANT A TAIL?
Then... we come to ethics. As Natural-Rearing breeders, we are always promoting the
"whole dog" - a naturally healthy, naturally-cared for companion. We have come to the
point where we would possibly consider leaving a tail on for a pet owner. In fact, we feel,
in the right circumstances, it might be a nice "statement" to show off a few of our lovelies
in all their splendor. However, there are several factors involved in making this decision.
As we traditionally dock our puppies' tails around day 2; this would require us to choose
your puppy at only 1 day old. Of course, it is quite possible to choose a puppy for
color/sex at this age, but impossible if we are looking at temperament as well. Generally,
our puppies are raised in such a way as to be adaptable into a wide variety of homes, so
this might be just fine; but we must consider the possibility of the chosen puppy not
developing the temperament you are seeking. What do we do then?!
For us, the resale of this hypothetical Aussie pup could prove to be difficult, as most
customers are seeking Aussies because they are distinguished and stand out from your
"ordinary" tailed pets. So, though we are not out to become rich, we do have to weigh the
monetary pros and cons.
I will be honest, we have seen tailed Aussies, on a couple occasions now, and their breed
status has come immediately to mind each time... It would be rare for a reputable breeder
to leave a tail because of this. "Is it really a purebred Aussie?" would be the first question
anyone knowledgeable would likely ask you. and you would be defending your puppy's
purebred status repeatedly. This is why resale would be difficult at best.
Another issue would be whether we have customers waiting on a breeding/agility/show
prospect. According to breed standards, as adults, Australian Shepherds MUST have a
tail 4 inches or shorter in order to compete in the Aussie realm, for Miniature Australian
Shepherds or Miniature American Shepherds, the standard calls for 3 inches or less.
Because one cannot assess how a newborn puppy will mature, it would be quite possible to
leave the tail on the very best puppy in the litter - thus negating any chance of its
competing in the show ring or in credible trials.
After all of this, "yes", under the right circumstances, we would still possibly consider
leaving a tail on - but it would be after much discussion. You are welcome to broach the
subject with us and we will see where the conversation takes us!
Dan & Jaque
short tails; appearance can seem to anyone not familiar with the breed! Our trips to town
nearly always leave us smiling - "Those dogs doesn't have tails!" leads us to once again
explain why our dogs are missing a certain common appendage.
This will give a little history as to why the Aussies have no tails, and we will also cover
another issue in the process. As breeders of the lovely "tail-less" Australian Shepherds,
and their miniature counterparts, we do get occasional requests from prospective puppy
owners wondering if we would consider keeping their puppy's tail intact. The answer to
whether we would consider this is... "Maybe" - but first we have to look at the reasonings
behind docking.
DO AUSSIES HAVE A NATURAL BOBTAIL OR ARE THEY DOCKED?
In some instances, an Aussie puppy may be born with a natural bobtail... However, in
most cases, the bobbed tail is formed by a quick, surgical procedure called "docking".
Docking, if completed by someone skilled and within 2-3 days of birth, is a quick and
reasonably painless practice resulting in relatively few "complications".
DO THEY SUFFER WHEN THEIR TAILS ARE DOCKED?
Please do not misunderstand us, as it is not entirely pain-free, but as we have watched,
and performed, dockings repeatedly over the years we can agree with the premise that
the puppies' nerve-endings are not fully mature at that age. We also use a special product
that stops bleeding and is an antiseptic as well. Puppies are generally back to nursing and
maneuvering around within minutes of the procedure; showing no obvious discomfort.
Docking of older puppies (weeks or months old) is extremely painful and, in our
estimation, should only be done if there is a serious medical reason requiring this
procedure.
BUT WHY ARE THEY DOCKED???
Sounds horrible, still? I will explain one reason why the Aussie tail is customarily docked.
This is a herding breed, and as such, these beautiful dogs have traditionally been used to
herd cattle, sheep, goats and other livestock. In spite of the changes in our society, the
Aussie is still commonly used in many areas for this very purpose!
The first reason for docking is simply to negate tail injuries altogether - the obvious logic
is "No tails = No tail injuries"! Herding can be a dangerous business! Dealing with much
larger animals that are not always "cooperative", tails are just one more part that can be
seriously injured, thus putting them out of commission for weeks. Ranchers and farmers
simply can't afford to have a good dog, a dog they rely upon, to be laid up "in bed" for
weeks over an easily preventable injury.
"Practicality" is another driving force behind the decision to dock tails. The terrain these
dogs normally cover in their travels is varied from desert and grassland to forest -
navigating through muddy creeks and rivers, over stickers, through bramble-bushes, etc.
In a refined setting, large, fluffy, exquisite tails are lovely! However, in a traditional role
these fabulous tails can spell hours of miserable grooming each week.
The third reason we choose to dock would be the "breed standard". A breed standard is
the set of specific guidelines detailing correct conformation, temperament, etc. It is
usually the standard every good breeder aims for. In this case, the standard calls for tails
to not exceed 3 inches in length. A dog may not be shown or be allowed to compete in
certain trials if the tail is intact!
Many breeders would list this as their first and most important reason for docking their
puppies' tails, however, we are not likely to follow our peers "just because" it was
traditionally done. In an issue as this, we would be willing to buck the system if we felt it
were appropriate.
BOBBED VERSUS TAILED? PROS AND CONS!
We have detailed (ha) the driving reasons behind tail-docking; however we will also share
some practical pros and cons to tail docking. Our experiences with tailless dogs have been
varied, but for the most part very good.
The negative experiences:
A major "negative" occurs when inexperienced or uncaring breeders (puppy-mills) try to
dock tails. Injury can also occur when a veterinarian is inexperienced, or in a hurry. Over
the last couple years, we have seen several dogs docked by inexperienced people - people
attempting to produce extremely short "show" tails, resulting in loss of adequate bowel
control.
This condition results in "messy" rear-ends, where excrement collects under their tail
area and down the backs of their legs. These instances were not necessarily "dangerous",
just messy - of course frequent grooming is required to keep the poor dog clean. Now, in
some cases this can be far more serious, resulting in complete incontinence (complete loss
of bowel control) - they cannot even walk without excrement "falling" out.
I want to emphasize here that in a proper tail-docking, with someone who is skilled, these
are not issues!
The positive experiences:
Life is just plain GOOD with a tailless dog! Though you may not think a tailless dog is
necessary for your lifestyle, I would offer a bit of insight into why an Aussie's tailless state
might just "grow" on you!
We used to raise German Shepherds and though we adore them, the grooming is far more
involved than grooming our Aussies. As we live in the country, we very much enjoy letting
our Aussies outside knowing we won't be picking stickers and twigs from their tails for
hours each night; we don't face muddy "tail streaks" as they navigate down the hallway;
and certainly don't have to worry about possible tail injuries while they are working or
playing.
The following may sound downright silly if you have never owned a tailless dog, but these
are a few of the extra "perks" you would find while living with a tailless companion: Not
being "beaten" by a large tail is quite nice (mentioning this as we have always had tailed
dogs and even a large Cane Corso Mastiff!), not having toddlers knocked over by a wildly
wagging tail, or things swiped off the coffee table by an enthusiastic pup eager for a
petting session. Not having to worry about slamming their tails in the truck door as we
head off to town and being able to close the house door quickly to shut out the cold. These
things are simple, maybe even silly advantages. but we sure do enjoy having tailless dogs.
STILL POSITIVE YOU WANT A TAIL?
Then... we come to ethics. As Natural-Rearing breeders, we are always promoting the
"whole dog" - a naturally healthy, naturally-cared for companion. We have come to the
point where we would possibly consider leaving a tail on for a pet owner. In fact, we feel,
in the right circumstances, it might be a nice "statement" to show off a few of our lovelies
in all their splendor. However, there are several factors involved in making this decision.
As we traditionally dock our puppies' tails around day 2; this would require us to choose
your puppy at only 1 day old. Of course, it is quite possible to choose a puppy for
color/sex at this age, but impossible if we are looking at temperament as well. Generally,
our puppies are raised in such a way as to be adaptable into a wide variety of homes, so
this might be just fine; but we must consider the possibility of the chosen puppy not
developing the temperament you are seeking. What do we do then?!
For us, the resale of this hypothetical Aussie pup could prove to be difficult, as most
customers are seeking Aussies because they are distinguished and stand out from your
"ordinary" tailed pets. So, though we are not out to become rich, we do have to weigh the
monetary pros and cons.
I will be honest, we have seen tailed Aussies, on a couple occasions now, and their breed
status has come immediately to mind each time... It would be rare for a reputable breeder
to leave a tail because of this. "Is it really a purebred Aussie?" would be the first question
anyone knowledgeable would likely ask you. and you would be defending your puppy's
purebred status repeatedly. This is why resale would be difficult at best.
Another issue would be whether we have customers waiting on a breeding/agility/show
prospect. According to breed standards, as adults, Australian Shepherds MUST have a
tail 4 inches or shorter in order to compete in the Aussie realm, for Miniature Australian
Shepherds or Miniature American Shepherds, the standard calls for 3 inches or less.
Because one cannot assess how a newborn puppy will mature, it would be quite possible to
leave the tail on the very best puppy in the litter - thus negating any chance of its
competing in the show ring or in credible trials.
After all of this, "yes", under the right circumstances, we would still possibly consider
leaving a tail on - but it would be after much discussion. You are welcome to broach the
subject with us and we will see where the conversation takes us!
Dan & Jaque
| A natural-bob tail! How cute is this? |
