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Answers (11)
There's the modern and the historical answer to this...
The common answer is that dogs used as guard dogs had their tails docked and ears cropped because, in a fight, the "other" had less to grab on to.
I was reading in a history about dogs that there was an English "Tail tax" long ago. The belief that working dogs had docked tails and luxury dogs owned by richer people weren't.
I'm kind of anti-AKC about requiring certain breeds to have docked tails and cropped ears as a regulation. It's not natural, so they shouldn't insist on it to look better.
I agree, there is no logical reason for it, having a tail helps a dog balance itself.
I wish my patterdale had a full tail (hers is 3/4) because she looks sorta stupid. she was originally bred for badger hunting so the hunters used to grab the tails to pull them out of badger holes. But obviously she is not a badger dog so docking her tail was kinda pointless (I didn't do it)
I know this is not a good answer, but I've been told that dogs with long tails that are kept in narrow kennel runs wag their tails until they bleed from striking the kennel fences.
i believe that maybe it was why they dock sheep tails, so they dont get the tail covered in their excretements.
i agree with phconk
plus if you have many dogs groomed they shave the upper part inside of the tail and anywhere feces might tough and get stuck sounds stupid but it easily becomes infected with magets by the time you notice its usually pretty bad they eat away the entire area
Such interesting theories, but the real reason is so dogs don't knock your beer over when they wag their tails. OK, maybe that's not the reason, but my boxer never knocks things off the table with her tail--she just knocks the whole table over.
Boykin Spaniels were originally bred by SC hunters to bust up turkey flocks and the hunter would call the turkeys back together. The story goes the hunters began docking Boykins tails so the wagging tail wouldnt rustle leaves. Boykins are notorious for being happy and energetic. It is probably hard to hide an excited dog in hardwood leaves with a wary ole hen looking for the caller. I dont know if it is true but it does make sense.
Mostly its to go for a look. there really isnt any utillity in docking a dogs tail unless of course you were haveing it in a dog fight... or to meet with AKC requirements.
It's mostly looks. Docking a dog's tail is stupid.
norcalhunter7 has spoken so no more comments are required.
Post an Answer
There's the modern and the historical answer to this...
The common answer is that dogs used as guard dogs had their tails docked and ears cropped because, in a fight, the "other" had less to grab on to.
I was reading in a history about dogs that there was an English "Tail tax" long ago. The belief that working dogs had docked tails and luxury dogs owned by richer people weren't.
I'm kind of anti-AKC about requiring certain breeds to have docked tails and cropped ears as a regulation. It's not natural, so they shouldn't insist on it to look better.
Such interesting theories, but the real reason is so dogs don't knock your beer over when they wag their tails. OK, maybe that's not the reason, but my boxer never knocks things off the table with her tail--she just knocks the whole table over.
I agree, there is no logical reason for it, having a tail helps a dog balance itself.
Mostly its to go for a look. there really isnt any utillity in docking a dogs tail unless of course you were haveing it in a dog fight... or to meet with AKC requirements.
I wish my patterdale had a full tail (hers is 3/4) because she looks sorta stupid. she was originally bred for badger hunting so the hunters used to grab the tails to pull them out of badger holes. But obviously she is not a badger dog so docking her tail was kinda pointless (I didn't do it)
I know this is not a good answer, but I've been told that dogs with long tails that are kept in narrow kennel runs wag their tails until they bleed from striking the kennel fences.
i believe that maybe it was why they dock sheep tails, so they dont get the tail covered in their excretements.
i agree with phconk
plus if you have many dogs groomed they shave the upper part inside of the tail and anywhere feces might tough and get stuck sounds stupid but it easily becomes infected with magets by the time you notice its usually pretty bad they eat away the entire area
Boykin Spaniels were originally bred by SC hunters to bust up turkey flocks and the hunter would call the turkeys back together. The story goes the hunters began docking Boykins tails so the wagging tail wouldnt rustle leaves. Boykins are notorious for being happy and energetic. It is probably hard to hide an excited dog in hardwood leaves with a wary ole hen looking for the caller. I dont know if it is true but it does make sense.
It's mostly looks. Docking a dog's tail is stupid.
norcalhunter7 has spoken so no more comments are required.
Post an Answer