Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have two days old australian puppies but in a dilema to dock there tails or not? I think it would be cool to have a long tail on my Australian shepherd but not sure if people were buying one would want that. So what do you think?
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
8,309 posts, read 38,779,335 times
Reputation: 7185
Quote:
Originally Posted by latetotheparty
I vote "NO dock" .....
The creator gave 'em tails for a reason and I have never understood this compulsion to maim animals for our own aesthetic pleasure......
Besides, as gorgeous as aussies can be, i bet a beautiful flowing tail would just add to it......
Aussies tails aren't necessarily docked solely for aesthetics in working dogs. The hair on their tails is very prone to matting and the tail itself isn't naturally robust. If the dog is doing the job it was bred for it is very likely to sustain a tail injury at some point in its career that will require amputation, tail injuries tend to bleed like hell, and you will spend a lot of time cutting out matts, burrs and feces.
If you are not going to show the dog and are not going to put it through the paces as a shepherd, there isn't any real reason to do it that I can think of.
There is a definite 'NO' vote here. We have a Golden/Chow and her tail mats. If we were to 'show' her, we would be sure to keep her tail unmated. I find it a senseless act to dock a dogs tail just for the convenience of not having to groom it.
Aussies tails aren't necessarily docked solely for aesthetics in working dogs. The hair on their tails is very prone to matting and the tail itself isn't naturally robust. If the dog is doing the job it was bred for it is very likely to sustain a tail injury at some point in its career that will require amputation, tail injuries tend to bleed like hell, and you will spend a lot of time cutting out matts, burrs and feces.
If you are not going to show the dog and are not going to put it through the paces as a shepherd, there isn't any real reason to do it that I can think of.
i understand the reasoning for docking the tail of a TRUE working dog.... that would not be for aesthetics ..... docking the tail of a pet would be......
dogs use their tails to communicate with other dogs and for a number of other reasons..... unless it is absolutely a liability, then it should remain in place.....
only a few breeds need to be docked due to weak tails inherent in the breed .. Boxers being one
I prefer NO docking but relize that for some its needed for the dogs long term comfort .. again boxers being a breed that I have had and delt with .. better to dock at birth or in the 3 days after as to do a very painfull amputation later ..
Ear cropping tho .. thats a huge no no to me .. breed standards be damnned ear crops are wrong IMHO
Now as to the aussie .. I thought those dogs were naturally a bob-tail breed.. How ever I think a tail would enhance that beauty dog. If your dog is a pet then why mar the dogs beauty? .. AND besides if this is a new puppy in your home the time to dock is LONG past .. You should have asked for a bob-tail in the beginning..
woot heres a beauty WITH a tail ..
please dont dock the aussie!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
