Boxer needs a docked tail!!!

anna42hmr

docking for any cosmetic reason is wrong plain and simpe, would you want an arm or a leg cut off because it looked better - it was born with a tail, so should live with a tail! unless there is a medical reason for it to be removed, then why inflict uneccessary cruelty,

if you intend to "show the dog" and that is why you want it to be docked, i suggest you refer to the breed standard by the kennel club - http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/45
this breed no longer needs to be docked to apply to the "breed standard" so there is no reason for it to be docked, and neither should it be, and both docked and undocked dogs are accepted for shows now, and dogs docked after a certain date are also prohibited from competing in some public events

in my opinion, docking dogs solely for cosmetic purposes is a cruel, senseless act, and the sooner the barbaric practice dissapears the better

also only genuine working dogs now really tend to get docked, as the las has changed, and vets have to justify each and every docking

you may also want to look at the net for info on this, for instance The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons "The RCVS considers docking of dogs' tails to be an unjustified mutilation and unethical unless done for therapeutic or acceptable prophylactic reasons."

if any one claims to be a "dog lover" but thinks that docking for cosmetic reasons is right, i suggest you take a look at this site http://www.anti-dockingalliance.co.uk/
especially the photos if you can stomach them

stringandbrownpaper

Boxers have enough trouble with other dogs thinking they're rude and staring all the time without having one of their major communication methods removed. Handicap your dog for cosmetic reasons? Yes I should think it is wrong that it 'makes a difference'.

nikki702

polomint wrote: »

This post has caused great debate in our house.

As my partner just said, simply put,and sums it all up....

A dog smiles with its tail.

Totally Agree

Docking is cruel ! :mad:

DKLS

To offer some defense to the OP, some dogs do look better with a docked tail and dare I say it and in some breeds like Dobermanns, Boxers & Great Danes they look even better with the trimmed ears so they stand up as well as a docked tail. But I couldnt put a dog through that so would never choose one of those breeds.

greenmoneysaver_2

DKLS - it is just fashion!

We will get used to seeing normal dogs with tails and then think that they look awful without !

Again, it is about education - I fully support the OP in getting a dog but am encouraging her not to be a sheep and follow the pack, but help the tide of change!

As for your point on ears... WE bred them to have floppy ears (long history of neonatology and wanting them to look like puppies) and then we decide we want them to stand up and so cut them???

In my opinion I would cut spaniel ears to stand up, as they all have such bad ear problems, this would help the air flow and keep them healthy! A "mutilation", but one that WOULD help health issues!

LuciferTDark

Dobermanns look perfectly ok with a full tail & uncut ears, docking is a cruel punishment to inflict on an innocent animal.

DKLS

greenmoneysaver wrote: »

DKLS - it is just fashion!
I know agree totally, and cant tolerate the cruelty of it, but in a style over substance way, a UK dobermann looks stupid to me, with its floppy hound like ears. But to see a USA dobe, it looks fantastic, sleek, alert and much more elegant.

Kimberley

DKLS wrote: »

To offer some defense to the OP, some dogs do look better with a docked tail and dare I say it and in some breeds like Dobermanns, Boxers & Great Danes they look even better with the trimmed ears so they stand up as well as a docked tail. But I couldnt put a dog through that so would never choose one of those breeds.

Thats because we are so used to seeing them without the tail

Every dog is BORN with a tail if it's meant to be without it then it wouldn't be BORN with one for petes sake. I think those who dock tails should have a finger cut off to see how they like it :rolleyes:

foreign_correspondent

docking can cause all sort of lower back and ahem.. bottom problems...and its a daft out-dated practice - and also illegal.
So why would you want to do it?

DKLS

Kimberley wrote: »

Thats because we are so used to seeing them without the tail

No, not for me its nothing to do with familiarity, its all to do with style, and I do believe that certain breeds do look better when ears and tails are docked, just compare a UK to USA dobermann, they are like a different breed. The only truly valid reason for tail docking for me,as Browntoa mentioned is breeds used in hunting, as I have seen what a heath full of gorse bushed can do to a springers tail.