my old springer was undocked it was'nt a whippy fragile tail but thick, he was originally a working springer (but he wouldnt work!!)

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my boy hasnt a docked tail...

The problem is when it is damaged and the dog is fully grown, sucessfully getting it docked is hit and miss. If they break and are then docked as adults the dog is in much more pain than when it were a pup where it heals less quickly. In adults the healing process is extended, usually leading to more and more tail being lost and repeated surgery being needed.
Its all well and good say if its not worked then it shouldnt be allowed but owners have different regimes as far as exercise. Some may do agility, others may keep to parks, others may like country/hill hikes. If your in the open countryside there are all manner of things that can injur them as opposed to more regular park visits. Even with agility the speed at which they travel they could easily bang it against something though the environments are usually controlled

So you think it is 'better' to take your pregnant bitch on a long journey over to a strange place thus causing her stress at the the time of her life that should be kept as stress-free for her as possible? Highly unfair on the bitch and extremely pointless imho. She might be happy but i'm sure she'd be equally as happy with her tail. Dogs who are permenantly kenneled can have very badly damaged tails (especially thinner-tailed breeds like Weims, Staffords and Danes) which may result in the tail needing to be docked, but if your pups are bred for pets, I do not see any point in docking their tails. It's very rare that a dog will damage it's tail in an ordinary, home environment.

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As you might guess from my name, my springer does agility, she also hikes with me, takes part in bike rides, runs through braken and she has never ever ever damaged her tail she has a thick, sturdy tail, i would never consider docking her tail, she doesnt need it, most dogs dont, i dont agree that springers have a fragile tail, they wouldnt be born with them otherwise, she is happy and healthy and the only trouble she had with her tail is when she was a pup and it was fragile, no problems since, i know its personal preference i just dont agree with everyone suggesting springers need it most, my dog also did gundog training for a short period but she was gun shy, the chap who was training us had 6 springers, not one was docked and not one had ever had problems with their tails, all where working dogs

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Not all breeders take pups back if they no longer have a home, which is why their are so many dogs that need homes. If the breeder can't look after them ALL then they shouldn't breed dogs thats how i look at it anyway.

I myself never took her across to have the pups! but it was all done legal and thats all that matters! i have proof of that.

I've heard of stories where people have tried to dock their pups them self with scissors and hot water! they were in a lot of pain and a couple died through it. If docking was still allowed these pups would still be here today!

should a dog get docked legally? or risk people doing it to them illegal and causing suffering or even death!, or leave them with tails and risk it getting damaged cos they wack anything and everything and having to get it docked anyway!!! The End.

that's a really good point!

i assume its breeders u referring this to, then those people shouldnt have been breeding those dogs in first place ....absolutely irresponsible.

Where these truly working dogs or were they working trial dogs?
What type of cover did they work?
How many days a week did these dogs work?

I agree, we have a working springer spaniel who is totally obsessed with what she does, but when we bought her she had a tail. unfortunatly due to her keeness in her job her tail was so badly damaged that we had to have her tail amputed approx 5 inches, this was a traumatic time for her as it has taken nearly 10 weeks for it to be right. Our vet recommended this be done and he told us that if she was docked as a pup like our other working springer it would have been less traumatic. Yes i do not believe in docking a dogs tail just so that they look good but if they are working and come from a working breed then yes i agree with it