To dock or not?

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FairyLights

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Hope to be getting a Jack Russel puppy . The mother is due to give birth next week. I have the option of having the pup 's tail docked and any dew claws removed. Dont know what to do TBH. Dog will be with me at home and around the yard and horses.
 
Docking is only legal for working breeds ( which does include terriers) if the vet has proof the dog will be working. Quite surprised that the offer is there to dock what would be a pet so no I would not bother!
 
If it is truely working bred I'm surprised you are being given a choice.
Certainly the dewclaws should be removed but leaving a tail on one means your selection has to be made before three days of age.
If I had bred a working litter they would all be docked.
 
Actually it's 5 days and the vet does need to have proof it will be a working dog. We had this discussion at my yard as I had not thought it was legal.
 
They have to be docked before five days are up so anyone with any sense arranges docking at four days in case for some reason there is a problem getting the vet.
This generally means you have to choose by three days.

You don't have to have proof each puppy will be a working dog but need proof that the breeder works dogs.
 
Considering the fact that you have been given the option, which surprises me, in your shoes I'm really not sure what I'd do. Whilst Terriers with full tails look daft, in my opinion, and then considering all the clap trap about docking and leaving a full handful of tail, for extraction from underground, leaves me wondering; "Why a full handful, wouldn't a full tail have been of more use"?

On balance, I suppose that I'd have the tail off, but in truth and with terriers, it's only vanity! ;)

Alec.
 
Thanks for these replies. The breeders do work their dogs. The only work thedog would be doing with me is ratting in the hay shed if/when he sees a rat whilst with me at the yard, so not strictly working I suppose. My OH wants the puppy docked as he thinks they dont look right with tails, but thats only fashion/what people are used to seeing. Is docking done with a local anasthetic? or is the tail just chopped off? I remember years ago a vet just chopping off some Yorkshire terriers tails and applying potasium permanganate. The owners of the bitch were horrified. They'd never bred puppies before and thought some anasthetic was involved.
 
If it was me I would have the puppy docked, but then I have working dogs. I would definitely have dew claws removed even if only a pet.

Even just ratting can cause damage to the end of the tail.

My Vet injects local into the tail before docking.
 
I was in this same position 11 years ago. Ozzie kept his tail.;)

He only had front dew claws, he kept those too.

He rats round the yard and rabbits whilst out hacking, has never had a problem.
 
Horsesforever1 said:
Is docking done with a local anasthetic?
Click to expand...

Tails are normally docked at 2 to 5 days of age without anaesthetic being used.

I believe banding (was going to be used on the other pups) where a ligature, is placed over the end of the puppies tail at (24-48 hours old?). This cuts off the blood supply to the end of the tail, which then drops off within 3 days.

However they can just be chopped off.
 
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How pathetic to even consider removing a dogs tail for any purpose let alone just for vanity. Having had 8 jrt's all with tails all farm ratters saved many times from rabbit holes via their tails. Don't give in to ignorance ;)
 
LJR said:
If it was me I would have the puppy docked, but then I have working dogs. I would definitely have dew claws removed even if only a pet.

Even just ratting can cause damage to the end of the tail.

My Vet injects local into the tail before docking.
Click to expand...

That's interesting about the local , I had been about to post that I thought injecting a local would cause discomfort for longer than the actual docking. I have only been witness to one litter being docked, when we had a litter of JRTs done many moons ago. I was not looking forward to the process but in those days it was the norm. The pups were done by an experienced terrier man, and as said above it was a quick cut and then dipped in pot permanganate. I can honestly say they barely squeaked and within seconds were back feeding from mum.

In your case OP I would probably leave the tail on, though that does mean you may have limited choice if the majority of the litter are docked at 3/4 days.

Alec, I also could never understand why a full tail was not a better handle for pulling a terrier out of a hole, rather than the "mans fist" that is traditionally left.
 
The handful dock was to prevent the weaker tail tip being grabbed which could result in injury.
I have seen a degloved tail end - not a pretty sight and took ages to try to heal before having to be amputated.

I have docked and had docked several litters. The whelps hardly notice and settle back down with mum. Dew claws cause more squeeks but again not a sound once back on mum.

Local anesthetic would be more painful than a quick proceedure.

Since the docking ban we are seeing many more dogs needing dewclaws removed after injury. They used to be done at the same time as docking but a lot of "breeders" are not bothering with the less visible proceedure.
 
I would have though s4sugar's comment was common sense.
Grab the thin end of a tail and pull the weight of a resisting dog with it is always going to cause damage.
A firm grip at the base would do no harm.
Without ever having done it either way, that is just commen sense.
 
ribbons said:
.......

Grab the thin end of a tail and pull the weight of a resisting dog with it is always going to cause damage.
.......
Click to expand...

I don't agree. Those who are Terrier-men, would apply a reasonable amount, or better still a measured amount, of pressure. The argument that removal from below ground, when holding, say the last hands-worth, wouldn't cause any damage, at all.

I rarely sit on the fence, on any subject I'll agree, but on this, I'm swayed in two directions, firstly that undocked terriers look daft, and then secondly, that there really is no need for the op (excepting that the dog looks daft, in my view!! :D:D).

I wonder if docked terriers are as horrible as they are, by way of exacting revenge!! :D:D

Alec.
 
For me, the only terrier that should keep a tail is a Border which should have a very straight carrot shaped tail not the furly funkies you see on other breeds; any other breed looks completely wrong with a tail to me.

I'd have both tail and dewclaws off without a doubt if it was my litter.
 
After some thought and careful reading of these threads I'm going to go for the docked option. Not for looks per se but because I believe it will be better in the long run re injuries.
Thank you all for posting and helping me make up my mind.
 
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