Tail docking for working dogs

[An Gof]

How do folk get on with having tails docked on working gungog puppies.
I am a bit miffed that my vets, who I consider very much still as a strong agricultural practice have refused to dock tails for a litter of cocker pups. These will be working gundogs and for their own welfare news to have their tails docked.
Its both annoying and disappointing when a farm and rural vet practice you have worked with for over 50 years refuses to supply this service.
Anyone point me to more practically minded vets on the Devon/Cornwall border.

 

[tr250]

I’m led to believe that people come from all over to our vets as they are one of the only ones in the midlands doing it. Doesn’t bother me as I have labs

 

[Anymulewilldo]

The last vet in my area that would dock pups and sort the certificates for you retired last year.

None of the others will have anything too do with it. Not helpful!

 

[An Gof]

It’s madness, I’ve clipped enough piglets tails in the past that I could do it myself ……. But that isn’t an option these days.
I do not want to dock for fashionable or breed specific reasons I want to dock for practical reasons and welfare of working dogs hunting regularly in thick cover and brambles.

 

[Martyn]

It’s madness, I’ve clipped enough piglets tails in the past that I could do it myself ……. But that isn’t an option these days.
I do not want to dock for fashionable or breed specific reasons I want to dock for practical reasons and welfare of working dogs hunting regularly in thick cover and brambles.

Is it the practice starting with "C" if so it's due to a lot of ownership changes. The practice my wife works at will providing they are sold to working home but I don't know if outside clients can go there. I'll ask. I know often they will do a couple in a littler specific for working.

 

[Global ovine]

Tail docking of pups also now illegal in NZ. I see quite a lot of long haired competition gun dogs with clipped tails, feet and ears to prevent seed and burr problems.

 

[An Gof]

Is it the practice starting with "C" if so it's due to a lot of ownership changes. The practice my wife works at will providing they are sold to working home but I don't know if outside clients can go there. I'll ask. I know often they will do a couple in a littler specific for working.

Yes, if appropriate can you private message your wife’s practice

 

[CopperBeech]

Ours does it, just got to have a letter proving you work them. Nothing worse than a long tailed terrier!

 

[NEmesis]

Scissors and purple spray, not rocket science. What a daft society you’re encouraging.

 

[An Gof]

Scissors and purple spray, not rocket science. What a daft society you’re encouraging.

I wasn’t aware I was encouraging a daft society just trying to comply with one.
To my knowledge the DIY approach is illegal and I would stand the risk of possible prosecution and a court appearance. And you know what that’s like ………

 

[Boysground]

It’s surprising how many cockers I see shooting with complete tails now. I suppose in time it will just be accepted as normal.
With 3 labs it’s not an issue I need to worry about. They just find other reasons for me to get a vet bill.

Bg

 

[unlacedgecko]

Ours does it, just got to have a letter proving you work them. Nothing worse than a long tailed terrier!

A long tailed spaniel

 

[toquark]

Scotland reversed its ban but not without significant suffering in the meantime. We had to get our working cocker's tail docked aged 2 1/2 as he kept bursting it, he was bought during the ban. Would never ever work a spaniel with a full tail again just led to miserable consequences for the dog.

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Scissors and purple spray, not rocket science. What a daft society you’re encouraging.

Worth deleting this.

 

[Dry Rot]

In theory, it ought to be possible to breed a strain of short tailed dogs as kinks in the tail is common enough and this fault seems to be variable to the extreme degree where part of the tail is missing. In the future gene editing may be possible.

From a purely legal perspective are we obliged to incriminate ourselves? If asked, "Is your dog legally docked?", is the owner obliged to confess or can he not simply reply "No comment"? And how do they prove it's been legally docked?

I was challenged by police for taking photographs, perfectly legally, from a property I had every right to be on. Nothing sinister! It was actually to obtain evidence of an illegal activity (unlawful development), and the perpetrator reported me in an attempt to cover his tracks. I was so annoyed that I initially told the police that if they had any evidence that I was doing something wrong, it was their duty to arrest me! After that, things cooled down and they happily went on their way. But I don't think I am obliged to account for my actions, do I? (I don't keep short tailed breeds these days anyway).

 

[NEmesis]

If the modern vet is refusing and you know a spaniel will wreck/suffer its tail working in brambles for next ten plus years and that’s what you want the dog for....you got a dilemma which is surely what this threads about.
Docking in week one is the right thing to do.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Can't dock a working dog to save it a life time of discomfort, but perfectly legal to cut the foreskin off your infant son because your imaginary friend demands it.

Britain 2021 everyone

 

[An Gof]

Thanks to those who sent PM’s
I have spoken with a vet who will do the job when pups arrive so the situation is resolved, albeit with some travel.

 

[Yorkshire lad]

Mrs YL has just had a litter of springers tail docked Two vets out of 11 in our rural practice will dock tails. One of the vets told me docking was a form of mutilation and said it should be totally banned I said is castration and spaying not a form of mutilation as this changes the dogs in many ways Weight , temperament coates, ect

 

[CopperBeech]

This is the problem, more and more vets are becoming fairly clueless about working animals