Docking Tails Make A Dog Mean

[Whisper]

Victoria, B.C.- Many people in the world of Dog Breeding are adherents to the practice of bobbing, or docking the tail on dogs. That is the practice of cutting the tail off or trimming it very short, for show purposes in many cases.

Researchers working in Victoria British Columbia have discovered that the practice robs the animal of the ability to communicate, and often leads to increased aggressive behaviors in the dog. They discovered that other dogs would deal with a docked tail with a lot more caution, as they cannot tell what is happening or the reaction of the first dog.

Graduate Student Steve Leaver, and biologist Tom Reimchen, both of the University of Victoria has found that the practice of bobbing a dog’s tail leads to more aggression and remote behaviors.

They studied 492 dogs and their reactions in a study in the summer of 2006. They used live dogs with bobbed tails, and also the reactions of dogs to a robotic dog with a bobbed tail, and interchangeably a regular tail.
The reactions of the dogs to a bobbed tail, with both the robot and with live bobbed tail dogs was nearly universal. The experiences with having a bobbed tail leads to much increased aggressive behavior in dogs, and to have an animal that is much more anti social.

The bobbed tail tends to be used in breeds that are bred for aggression, so it is an interesting factor that such breeds have a practice of having a bobbed tail. Dog breeds such as Rottweillers and Doberman Pinschers have normally docked tails, and this leads to interesting research as to when this first became a practice for the breed.

[japanman]

DAM IT i hate this so much why do we have to genetacaly hurt animals dogs were born with tails so they should have them grrr i hate when we do this.:mad:

[Dolphus Raymond]

That's interesting.

How did this practice start? Is it only for aesthetic "show"? That's kind of messed up...poor dogs.

[Techno Monster]

That is sad that the dogs can`t communicate.

[robbiehay1]

OK firstly if the dog is docked properly it will not cause them any pain what so ever

secondly dobermans tails are very long and can break very easily and would cause them pain that's one of the reasons they are docked

and last of all it does not make them more aggressive and they can communicate easyly ooh and its the owners fualt if there aggresive

[Whisper]

and last of all it does not make them more aggressive and they can communicate easyly ooh and its the owners fualt if there aggresive

really?
You've done studies?

[robbiehay1]

you dont have need to have done studies, i have 2 dobermans they had 7 puppies well 10 but 3 died at birth.
every one of those was docked using the technique known as "banding", in which a ligature, normally an orthodontic band, was placed over the end of the puppies tail at 24-96 hours old. This effectively cuts off the blood supply to the end of the tail, which comes away within 3 days.

all of the puppies are have an extremly good temprement as do my two dogs

i know about dogs iv had plenty of them

[ScotsGirl]

you dont have need to have done studies, i have 2 dobermans they had 7 puppies well 10 but 3 died at birth.
every one of those was docked using the technique known as "banding", in which a ligature, normally an orthodontic band, was placed over the end of the puppies tail at 24-96 hours old. This effectively cuts off the blood supply to the end of the tail, which comes away within 3 days.

all of the puppies are have an extremly good temprement as do my two dogs

i know about dogs iv had plenty of them

I have had a lot of dogs and a lot of experiance with them, it doesn't mean I know all about them and I definitely wouldn't claim to.

True docking, when done properly, shouldn't cause distress to the dog and for many dogs, it isn't for show purposes, it is for their own wellbeing, especially working dogs.

Anyway, I think the article is interesting, however a lot more research would need to be done before anything could be conclusive because there are so many factors that can influence aggression.

Docking has actually been banned in Scotland, however, anyone can go next door to England and have it done... :eyebrow:

xxx

[robbiehay1]

i dont claim to know all about them i just know alot about them

and docking is now banned in england and wales aswell tho even tho it has been banned i bet than 5 years from now people will still be docking tails in this country

[ScotsGirl]

Knowing a lot about them doesnt mean you know whether docking tails can be a factor in later life aggression. That is only something that can be found out be doing lots of research and studies. :P And by 'a factor', I dont mean they are trying to prove every dog that has had their tail docked is aggressive, because we all know thats not true. :P

But I didnt realise that docking was banned in England and Wales now, is that recent? Do you know about Northern Ireland?

xxx

[Whisper]

I've had many dogs as well, right now I have 4
So don't treat me like an idiot
Its rude


"They studied 492 dogs and their reactions in a study in the summer of 2006. They used live dogs with bobbed tails, and also the reactions of dogs to a robotic dog with a bobbed tail, and interchangeably a regular tail.
The reactions of the dogs to a bobbed tail, with both the robot and with live bobbed tail dogs was nearly universal. The experiences with having a bobbed tail leads to much increased aggressive behavior in dogs, and to have an animal that is much more anti social."

Its one study done in the summer of 06
I'm not saying its rock solid
But it is DEFIANTLY worth noting and deserves further study and research with more breeds, in different areas, different ages, different sex, etc...


For you to demand that its completely wrong and holds no ground on the sole basis of a few dogs you have is naive