I'm not against docking for working dogs but when in truth it's no necessary then I need to be blunt about it and i'm horrified to hear people pulling their dogs tails

__________________

R.I.P Barney, I had 4 wonderful years with you, Thank you-29/04/06-25/11/09
The dog who saved my life
Proud owner of Maya, the Rescued Alaskan Malamute

http://www.dog-breeds-plus.com
Mine and My husband's Dog breed website

Im not 100% as i see it a pointless way to go around things, but I think you need to provide the paperwork that goes with gundog training ... certificates of enrolment/merit etc. I say this is pointless (if it is the case) as by the time they have matured to do training, docking their tails if not done right can cause massif infection resulting in more and more tail being docked and a lot of distress. Vets if they are familiar with the breeder and their activities will dock - but I doubt your going to find one in central london if you know what i mean.

Springers are docked as they can break very easily and yes get torn in brambles. I know of springers tails breaking or becoming sore and inflamed even through wagging because they do it so hard on knocking it against things, I dont see it as barbaric in the least, though it definitely has to be done by a professional if at all.

Wouldnt really advise pulling any dog from a hole by its tail either

sorrydont want to offend but where are you pulling these westie cairns out of!!! i dont think either are spanerble to go to ground the reason for docking is so you grab the base of tail rather than the end

The job springers do is very different to labradors. Labradors are retrievers, they retrieve game - they don't tend to go into the cover/brambles the way spaniels do, so aren't likely to damage their tails (although a know a few that do).

Labs arnt generally docked although i have seen some, because they do a different job from the flushing springer when out on the fields working they very rarely actually go in the undergrowth brambles ect, they do more of the retrieving. I have seen working springers with their tails ripped its awful.

Sorry repeated your answer didnt read yours before i replied

I would say the lab's you've seen weren't docked probly taken off because of damage. I don't think lab's are ever docked at birth sorry if i'm wrong

Having had both labs and springers I was aware of that ! was just trying to make the comparison of the patterdales tail next to the labs tail in this instance!
lol
DT

I think its as simple as if the pups are from working parents or working springer breed it is assumed that anyone wanting to buy a puppy to train to the gun then they will want a docked springer, you cannot give proof that the springer will be worked as not all of them make working dogs wether from working breed or not, its a case of the breeder proving the pups are working breed.We have 2 springers our first was docked befor i came ilegal for some breeds our second one which is our eldest now isnt docked but our pup 10months is docked, we knew nothing about the microchipping until we took her for her 2nd injection, it is law now that a docked pup has been microchiped

Whoops forgot to specify you are meant to grab the base.

Dogs 101, Dog Breed Video : Animal Planet Look up the west highland white terrier.

They are ratters I guess it's like rottwielers are herding dogs, epople don't think or see them as the job they are meant to do because they get so used to them doing another job.

Ah, see I was never told why it was docked just that westies and cairns are ethe only dogs that can be pulled out by their tails, I guess they mean without docking tails or something.

__________________

R.I.P Barney, I had 4 wonderful years with you, Thank you-29/04/06-25/11/09
The dog who saved my life
Proud owner of Maya, the Rescued Alaskan Malamute

http://www.dog-breeds-plus.com
Mine and My husband's Dog breed website