To dock or not to dock???

[tachia]

Ive been having a few interesting conversations with other EB owners/breeders on whether to dock or not to dock puppies tails .. I'm just putting it out their to see what everybody's opinion is on this .. Our vet does not do this and it is very hard to find a vet who does do it unless it is for non cosmetic reasons. There are breeders who will do it for us if we choose to. I'm aware that this has to be done within 4 days of birth for it to be done without anaesthetic & I'm still undecided!!!

 

[bullmama]

I don't know, honestly I like to keep them unless there looks to be a problem with them. (Very very long, super corkscrew, ect.) Depends on what they look like I guess, if they are particularly long you may want to consider it, but I personally like a little bit of a tail on my bullies. I think some vets/breeders dock them all, and some leave them all.

 

[BullDogMom]

Tails are important Wanted to post
http://thebca.org/illustrated1.pdf for you, so that you will be able to read/see the Breed Standard...page which illustrates tail (proper tail
... set/placement on body, etc.) I do not know of any breeders who would ever intentionally cut off baby tails. Tail is an extension of the spine~
also in the 100 point scale of a Bulldog... a tail =s 4 points. Tails are significant and an important part of the structure of a Bulldog.

 

[Champ Waring]

I think we do a lot of cruel and thoughtless things based on what WE as humans like to see rather than what is better for the breed. Would you dock your child's ears if they were a bit big for his head? Probably not. Furthermore, if docking is seen as a positive trait, those who get their dogs from backyard breeders often take it upon themselves to dock the tail through methods such as tying rubberbands to the tails. I'll never forget when I saw some teen with his little pup...a highly infected tail dangling on the back after he'd tied rubberbands around it for days. There's just no reason to dock tails! Love your bullie as is! Just as you would love your kid!
-Champ's Mom

 

[whitecrow2050]

well in my experience i never saw a english bulldog purebreed with long tails they all born with short tails --The tail may be either straight or "screwed" (but never curved or curly), and in any case must be short, hung low, with decided downward carriage, thick root and fine tip. If straight, the tail should be cylindrical and of uniform taper. If "screwed," the bends or kinks should be well defined, and they may be abrupt and even knotty, but no portion of the member should be elevated above the base or root. here some examples

 

[Sandman1200]

In all actuality White crow, the AKC sees the tail as "corkscrewed" or "curved" like a question mark, of course in a downward fashion as is my bulldogs tail...but you are right as never seeing a purebreed bulldog (English) that had a long tail....

 

[Mugzilla]

are you talking about docking an english bulldog's tail? if so, i say absolutely not. eb's are not like other bully breeds. their tails are naturally short and are NOT suppose to be docked. i'd encourage you to check out the Bulldog Club of America website as well as the AKC website regarding it. longer tails are desired on english bulldogs. there are far less health issues with 'longer' tails with eb's (and by longer, i mean more than a tiny itty bitty nub--they're never 'long' like a lab's tail).

they're naturally born with short tails. they truly are not meant to be docked. people that know the breed should know to tell you not to dock. i can't imagine a reason to doc an eb's tail when it's naturally short.

even in AKC conformation shows--you wouldn't be able to show an eb with a docked tail bc they are not suppose to be docked. they're not like other bully breeds. they uniquely themselves

just my humble o...

 

[Bulldogg]

I do agree, tails should not be docked unless there is an obvious problem with the tail, such as the issue Mugzilla had with her bully. The vet should inspect all of the tails and see if there is anything abnormal about them at birth.

But I do want to point out to everyone that Tachia is from New Zealand..... The practices there could be very different than here in the USA, as well as the standard. This may be why she is wondering what to do. I would very much be interested in finding out more about the English Bulldogs in New Zealand, and I do hope she gives us more pictures soon!

 

[Bulldogg]

those who get their dogs from backyard breeders often take it upon themselves to dock the tail through methods such as tying rubberbands to the tails. I'll never forget when I saw some teen with his little pup...a highly infected tail dangling on the back after he'd tied rubberbands around it for days.
-Champ's Mom

OMG that is just awful!!!! I still don't understand the thinking in people sometimes. What an awful and painful thing to do!!!!!

 

[Libra926]

We had to have Vegas's tail removed. He had the inverted tail with a very deep tail pocket. Those of us who are familiar with this know that they are hard to maintain. The tail can easily get infected if not treated/cleaned properly. Vegas's pocket was also very tight. The vet who looked at him said the pocket went past his 2nd knuckle and it was infected. We had no idea that he even had a tail pocket. I thought he was rubbing his bottom on the carpet because of impacted anal glands...........that was the reason for taking him to the vet. We discussed the options and decided to surgically have the tail pocket closed. I did some research and talked to other EB owners who had the surgery done. They said that it made their pups happier not having the constant infection/itching going on. In order to close the tail pocket, the dr said he would have to remove the remainder of his nub. They ended up removing all but 1/4 of an inch of the tail vertabrae. He has never itched his bottom on the ground again. I feel bad that I was unaware and uninformed about the possibility of a tail pocket. I was unprepared and not knowlegable on how to take care of it.
I've included a before and after shot of the surgery.

 

[WVAustralainBulldogs]

Our dogs are from Australia and in Australia I believe it is illegal to dock tails or snip dew claws so we maintain their standard with our Aussie Bulldogs and will not be docking tails or clipping dew claws on our pups.

 

[michelle]

English Bulldogs are not to have tails docked!!! per AKC. If a tail is it can NOT be shown. In most cases a bulldog vet will tell you no also! any vet saying dock tail is in it for money. UNLESS health problem with tail. so no...... ALSO----- do NOT remove dew claws!!!!

 

[trevor]

depending where you are docking is not required it has been deemed unnesessary and cruel (like circumcision)
unless there is good reason the tail should be left

 

[mom2bullies]

Cadi also has a tail pocket. Cadi sits on my foot and looks at me and I know it is time to dry her tail and put Gold Bond in the pocket. I once asked the dr. about her pocket and he took a look and said it was very dry and the Gold Bond seams to be doing the job. So Cadi will keep her tail...

 

[Libra926]

Cadi also has a tail pocket. Cadi sits on my foot and looks at me and I know it is time to dry her tail and put Gold Bond in the pocket. I once asked the dr. about her pocket and he took a look and said it was very dry and the Gold Bond seams to be doing the job. So Cadi will keep her tail...

I didn't know she had a tail pocket..............