I agree with docking for dogs such as springers, as it must be terrible for them when they are broken or badly damaged, i just hate to think how it feels for them when they have them docked, ime not saying its cruel as i think its cruel to allow them to be damage. Ive had 2 out of 3 with docked tails, have never worked them.

If its done early eonough - ideally within the first 3 days of birth there is no distress or discomfort and little chance of infection. The issues of docking only arrise when its been badly done or done for no reason. Springers tails are inherrently fragile in comparison to their body size and muscle growth so I would say breed specific, docking is a good thing that on occasion prevents future injury working or not.

is it true that the pups have to be kept away from mom, for i dont know how many days, after docking because she would lick their wounds?

we work our border and patterdale bitches,their tails are quite short and thick anyway so they are fine to go in and out of bramblesneither are docked.we shoot mainly on the marshes and open farmland anyway

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(formally clare7577)

No, I watched a video of pups being docked and they were with there mum when it was being done, they have it done when only a couple of days old so would be too young to be kept away from mum In the video the pups showed no sign of pain or distress.

i agree,i used to work for a cocker breeder and witnessed tail docking,mum was with them,pups were all feeding throughout

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My name is Niccie and i work in rescue
National Animal Welfare Trust

Fudge,my American Cocker Spaniel

Thanks for that post its made me feel much better,ive always thought it was cruel but cruel to let them get damaged ime now thinking more on the lines of cruel to be kind, if some do feel any pain.

are u really sure? because i remember reading that on some tail docking site a while ago about pups havin to be kept away from mom for a while.
Yes, the pups return to mom after docking for feeding and so on (and thats probably whats shown on videos ) but have to be supervised and mom has to be prevented from licking their wounds as this could affect the healing process ....so it makes sense that the pups would have to be kept seperated from mom if not supervised

Well I'm not sure what other people do but I know my dog who is docked wasn't taken away from his mum afterwards.

Ive no experience of breeding im afraid, I thought they would be simply banded by a vet or something similar along those lines. I only know that early enough doesnt cause the distress of later (adult) docking