In response to these negative comments, Mr Hogg explained: “Some have fused tail shortening with full tail amputation, leaving dogs with only one stump. The opposite is true. It is a quick and preventive procedure that protects the animal throughout its professional life, leaving it with an expressive and wobbly tail. If the puppy is more than 5 days old, the procedure should be performed only under anesthesia, preferably not before the age of 8 weeks. Many unmoored adult animals undergo tail amputation out of necessity when their tail is traumatized, but this is considered tail amputation, not tail amputation. Prophylactic mooring: is the removal of the tail from litters of puppies less than 5 days old to prevent damage later in life as a direct result of the type of work that this species / breed of dogs must recognize and perform. Tail docking in modern times is done either for prophylactic, therapeutic, cosmetic and/or injury prevention purposes. In dogs working in the field, such as some hunting dogs, herding dogs, or terriers, tails can collect burrs and setaria, cause pain and infection, and be subject to abrasion or other tail wagging injuries when moving through dense undergrowth or thickets. The tail bones may be broken by impact on the ground, causing injuries to the tail spine, or the burrows may get stuck underground, meaning they must be removed from the tail, in which case the docked tail protects the dog from spinal injuries or trauma. The American Veterinary Medical Association (the largest veterinary professional organization in the United States) disputes these justifications, saying, “These justifications for docking working dog tails have no substantial scientific support. In the largest study to date on tail injuries in dogs, the incidence was 0.23% and it was calculated that about 500 dogs must be docked to prevent tail injuries. “[3] Tail amputation prevents an animal from injuring itself in such a way While the tails of some working dogs are secured to prevent injury or infection, the tails of larger dogs commonly used for guard or protection work (not to be confused with patrol work where a dog handler can provide secondary assistance) may be moored to prevent their tails from being grasped during of a fight.

This is most common with Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Bandog, Cane Corso, Boerboel, etc. b) A completed declaration (section 1 of the tail dock certificate), signed and dated by the owner of the dog or his representative (a certificate is included in the schedule to the regulations and can be downloaded below); Tail amputation involves removing part of a dog`s tail. This has always been a controversial issue and in recent years tail amputation – with the exception of certain breeds – has been banned in England, Wales and Scotland. The procedure can no longer be performed for cosmetic purposes, but is legal for some working dogs. If you see a dog with its ears cut off and/or tail cut off, please contact us on 01453 766321 or environmental.health@stroud.gov.uk or RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. It is a criminal offence to show a dog whose tail has been moored at events where the exhibitor pays a fee or the public pays admission. Dogs that have been moored must be microchipped before the age of 8 weeks, at the same veterinary office that performed the tail amputation. If the veterinary practice has ceased operations, the dog may be transferred to another practice and the reason for the change in practice must be noted on the certificate. The owner or his representative must sign and date section 3 of the tail amputation certificate before microchipping the dog. Box 4 of the certificate shall be completed by the veterinarian. Anyone who buys a puppy that will be born on or after 1.

was born in Northern Ireland in January 2013 and has a moored tail, must receive from the seller the completed mooring certificate, signed by the breeder and veterinarian who docked the puppy`s tail. This is to confirm that the puppy was legally moored as a potential future working dog. Dog tail amputation has been banned in Wales since 27 March 2007. There are exceptions to the ban for certain types of working dogs.