PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
As title. Why spaniels but not setters or labs and pointers, for instance. And why dobes, boxers and rotties? Purely aesthetics?
Thankies
Thankies
Why was docking started?
- Thread starter PapaFrita
- Start date
SusieT
Well-Known Member
Rotties etc. partially due to using them as guard dogs-short tail=less to grab and also look fiercer!
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
That's what I thought about guard dogs, but then again... what about GSDs (apart from the fact that they'd look hideous) What about gundogs though?
kirstyhen
Well-Known Member
Spaniels are docked because their primary job is to flush birds from cover. That means entering thick brambles etc, often at high speed and with a wagging tail, so you can end up with some horrible injuries where the cover rips the tail open.
The Irish Water Spaniel (and American Water Spaniel) are exceptions to the Spaniels docking rule, as they are classed as retrievers, not flushing dogs, their natural landscape is also bogs, so not much to shred their tail were they to end up in cover.
Labs are used primarily for retrieving, so they often won't be entering the same sort of cover. If the do, they tend to go over not through it and rarely hit it with the same ferocity of a spaniel. Same with any breed of retriever.
These two I'm not 100% sure about, but I think Hunt, Point, Retrieve dogs (Vizlas, Weimeraners, GSP/GWP) are docked because again they are hitting cover to flush game, whereas Setters were used to trap game, so agin would not be hitting cover, hence the lack of dock.
The Irish Water Spaniel (and American Water Spaniel) are exceptions to the Spaniels docking rule, as they are classed as retrievers, not flushing dogs, their natural landscape is also bogs, so not much to shred their tail were they to end up in cover.
Labs are used primarily for retrieving, so they often won't be entering the same sort of cover. If the do, they tend to go over not through it and rarely hit it with the same ferocity of a spaniel. Same with any breed of retriever.
These two I'm not 100% sure about, but I think Hunt, Point, Retrieve dogs (Vizlas, Weimeraners, GSP/GWP) are docked because again they are hitting cover to flush game, whereas Setters were used to trap game, so agin would not be hitting cover, hence the lack of dock.
kirstyhen
Well-Known Member
Also GSD's are originally Herding dogs, not Guard Dogs, so apart from protecting the flock, had no real need to look terrifying.
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
You beat me to it re GSDs Hen, careful you are going to be eligible for the GSD Mafia soon with all these nuggets of information
kirstyhen
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
You beat me to it re GSDs Hen, careful you are going to be eligible for the GSD Mafia soon with all these nuggets of information
[/ QUOTE ]
Never!!
You beat me to it re GSDs Hen, careful you are going to be eligible for the GSD Mafia soon with all these nuggets of information
[/ QUOTE ]
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
Thank you!
zoeshiloh
Well-Known Member
Rotties were originally used to herd cattle in Germany. My brother breeds them, so I will ask him why they were originally docked, but I think it was something to do with cattle being able to grab hold of their tails?
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You beat me to it re GSDs Hen, careful you are going to be eligible for the GSD Mafia soon with all these nuggets of information
[/ QUOTE ]
Never!!
[/ QUOTE ]
Come on in...we're lovely
[ QUOTE ]
You beat me to it re GSDs Hen, careful you are going to be eligible for the GSD Mafia soon with all these nuggets of information
[/ QUOTE ]
[/ QUOTE ]
Come on in...we're lovely
Slinkyunicorn
Well-Known Member
Don't do it Hen!!
You know there is nothing better than a spangle......
You know there is nothing better than a spangle......
Scranny_Ann
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Don't do it Hen!!
You know there is nothing better than a spangle......
[/ QUOTE ]
She's right *but don't tell Kensa i said that*
Don't do it Hen!!
You know there is nothing better than a spangle......
[/ QUOTE ]
She's right *but don't tell Kensa i said that*
BayJosie
Well-Known Member
German Pointers had/have their tails docked becuase as said, they flush game.
English Pointers do not becuase their job is to point to the game and they need their tails for this.
English Pointers do not becuase their job is to point to the game and they need their tails for this.
mattilda
Well-Known Member
Rotties were also used to pull things so that may have something to do with it. Can't imagine hitching my two to anything, I'd never see it again!!