How to stop the ears and tails of dogs. Docking the tail of that terrier

The silhouette of a Doberman, Rottweiler, Giant Schnauzer is deservedly considered a classic of canine beauty. We are all accustomed to the traditional appearance of these dogs: a strong muzzle, a developed body, muscular paws and, of course, cropped ears and tail. But in recent years, tailed and eared Dobermans and Rottweilers can be increasingly seen on the streets. These changes are not just a tribute to fashion.

For many Russian breeders, tailed and eared dogs are not a voluntary choice, but a vital necessity. It's all about the bans on docking, which over the past 10 years have been introduced in more than 10 countries that are members of the International Canine Federation (FCI). Now a docked dog will not be exhibited in Germany, or in Belgium, or in Switzerland, or at the famous Crufts exhibition in Birmingham.

Traditions and reforms

Docking of dog ears and tails began in the Roman Empire: then it was a practical necessity. The long tail of the shepherd's dog collected burdocks and mud from the field, and the hunting dog bled his tail in the thickets when he ran after game. Fighting and guard dogs had their tails and ears cut off for the same reason that street fight lovers now cut their hair - so that the enemy could not grab onto them. And we are so used to it that a dog with cropped ears and tail is automatically perceived by many as more aggressive and dangerous.

Now most people buy a dog not for protection and hunting, but as a companion. Docking of tails and ears has long ceased to be functional and has become a cosmetic operation. As a result, starting from the 80s of the last century, European countries began one after another to impose a ban on cupping. Now it is prohibited by law in a number of states - Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Australia, Israel, South Africa: In Belgium, docked dogs are prohibited from exhibiting and selling. In Germany, only dogs that are used for hunting can be docked - in order to get permission for the operation, you must prove that it is not for cosmetic purposes.

Clubs in 34 countries that are members of the FCI, one after another, prohibit the participation of docked animals in exhibitions and breeding. And since each country itself sets the standards for its national breeds, the requirements for show dogs change accordingly. So, in the international standards of German breeds so popular in Russia (Doberman, Rottweiler, Giant Schnauzer, Miniature Pinscher) now states: "the look of the tail is natural."

The main cynological organization in Russia - the Russian Cynological Federation - is not part of the FCI, and European laws are not written for our breeders. And the official position of domestic cynologists is fundamentally different from the European one. “I think that docking is functionally necessary, and aesthetically uncropped dogs lose a lot,” comments Alexander Inshakov, President of the RKF. “This European fashion is just sabotage. which we dock, we will continue to dock. As for the German breeds, let the breeders decide for themselves: in Russian exhibitions, docked and undocked dogs participate on an equal footing. "

However, whatever the position of the RKF, the fact remains that for a docked Rottweiler or a Doberman, the European show career is now closed. And between domestic cynologists and breeders there are fierce disputes: "Western reformers" consider docking a senseless cruelty, "traditionalists" - a harmless practice that makes the dog more beautiful and makes it easier for her later life. So what is cupping - a barbaric tradition or a useful procedure?

Pain shock

Ear cropping is usually done at 5-8 weeks of age. Although the operation takes place under anesthesia, it is a great stress for the puppy - the baby is separated from his mother and owner, taken to a veterinary clinic full of frightening sounds and smells. Moving away from anesthesia, he experiences pain. The operation is usually followed by several visits to the veterinarian to fix the ears - these procedures are also painful and bring a lot of unpleasant experiences to both the puppy and its owners.

Tail docking is a much less serious intervention. It is either cut off with special docking scissors, or bandaged with an elastic band - then the blood supply to the bandaged tip of the tail stops, and it dries up on its own.

Tail docking is usually performed at the age of 1-3 days - without anesthesia, since it is believed that in the first days after birth, the area of \u200b\u200bthe brain responsible for pain is not developed in puppies. At the same time, many veterinarians advocate the need for a complete ban on cupping, arguing that puppies experience pain shock during the operation.

“Of course, cupping is not useful for a puppy,” says Gleb Litvinov, owner of the Black Legion Rottweiler kennel. “A healthy and strong puppy tolerates it easily, but if the baby was born weakened, the operation can be a big stress for him. a good, professional veterinarian. What if something is done wrong and an infection gets into the wound?

The German Bundestag, when imposing a ban on cupping, defined this procedure as "extremely painful". And European public opinion tends to a complete rejection of cosmetic surgery on animals. Thus, the official statement of the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights reads: “We are categorically against operations whose sole purpose is to change the appearance of an animal to satisfy the whims of a person. operations will not pay off handsomely: these operations are not necessary for the health and life of the dog.

Stopping supporters consider talk of the cruelty of this operation cheap populism. Although the physical suffering of a dog is a medical fact, it is really difficult to determine the extent of this suffering to a person. “From the point of view of a doctor, there is no difference between cropping ears and tails and, for example, castration, and no one is in a hurry to refuse it yet,” says Arseniy Gelasimov, a veterinarian at the Sotnikov Clinic. “There are also more inhumane operations, such as “soft paws” ( third phalange removal in cats) or "silent barking" (vocal cord removal in dogs). In my opinion, the problem is not as serious as they make it out to be."

Pros and cons

Contrary to common misconceptions, docking or its absence does not affect the health of the dog in any way. Frequent ear diseases in uncropped dogs, doberman tails knocked into the blood, photos of which are circulating on the Internet, are nothing more than a myth. “An uncropped dog will perfectly learn to use its own tail, and will injure it no more often than ordinary tailed dogs,” Arseniy Gelasimov is sure. “And inflammatory diseases of the ears in an uncropped boxer will occur no more often than in a docked one. dogs like Cocker Spaniels, Bassets, known for their problem ears, they just don't get cut off."

For the service qualities of a dog, the tail and ears also do not play any role - unless, of course, it is used for hunting or dog fighting (which are prohibited in Russia and many countries of the world). And some dog breeders even argue that docking harms the animal’s working qualities: “It makes service dogs inferior,” says Doberman owner Evgeny Ordin. “After all, everything in nature is functional: a tail, for example, is needed to control the body in a jump.”

One of the strongest arguments against docking is that a dog needs a tail and ears to express emotions. "The tail and ears help the dog convey a variety of emotions: alertness, anger, fear," comments Arseniy Gelasimov. "Therefore, the presence of a tail is important for dog communication and adaptation in a group."

Of course, the arguments "for" and "against" can be given endlessly, one thing is clear - the dog itself does not need cupping. Whether it is worth exposing your pet to even a simple operation just for the sake of meeting human ideas about beauty, each owner decides for himself. Be that as it may, it is not so important for people who get a dog "for the soul" whether her tail is long or short - the main thing is that she is healthy and happy. But for those who dream of the exhibition career of their dog, everything is much more complicated.

Tail wheel

The transition to new standards has already posed a lot of problems for breeders. One of them is related to the selection of the shape of the tail. In tailed breeds, the selection for the shape of the tail went on simultaneously with the selection for other traits - this is how the husky got a funny "donut", and the setter - a long fluffy "panicle". And in Dobermans, Rottweilers and other docked breeds, the beauty and proportionality of the tail did not bother anyone, since the puppy had only a few days to “wear” the tail. And as a result, the shape of the tails of these rocks is not genetically fixed and can be practically any, including "wrong" ones: thin, deformed, with creases or "rings".

“I like the way the dog looks without a tail,” says Anna, owner of the Anlit Relines Doberman kennel. “Okay, if the tail is normal, but if it wraps around on the back? Not the dogs we're used to seeing, the ones we love."

Due to the "wrong" tail, many dogs that, when docked, would represent the ideal of canine beauty, may lose their chances for prizes at exhibitions and participation in breeding breeding - they will simply have to be culled. This can significantly reduce the number of dogs suitable for breeding, and thereby impoverish the breed's gene pool.

"Of course, uncropped dogs certainly pose a risk to the breeder," comments Gleb Litvinov (Cherny Legion Rottweiler kennel). "But I think the tail shape problem can be solved. Of course, if you thoughtlessly cross two dogs with too long or high-set tails, in puppies, the tail will most likely have an irregular shape, but by careful selection of pairs, you can ensure that this part of the puppies' body will be as beautiful and proportionate as the rest.

The breeding problems that create undocked tails and ears are, of course, solvable, but this is additional work for breeders. Especially when you consider that standards for ears and tails evolve and change. For example, after the ban on docking miniature pinschers, Germany introduced a standard that allows both hanging and erect ears. And now erect ears are going to be banned - and a lot of miniature pinschers will be rejected. Many of them will have to "hang" their ears, changing their shape with the help of regular massage and other procedures.

Overboard

Another problem is related to the exhibition potential of the "tailed" dog. Many breeders are sure that at the moment in Russia it is much easier to win with a docked one. First, her ears and tail don't have to be perfect. Secondly, a docked dog looks more familiar so far.

“Yes, there is still discrimination at Russian shows,” says miniature pinscher breeder Elena Myshkovskaya. “There are judges who don’t like tailed dogs. that you can't win a show with an undocked dog." “Docked dogs impress our judges much more,” agrees Anna, a breeder of Dobermans. “Yes, and abroad, where docked dogs are allowed to be exhibited, they take the main prizes.”

The breeders hope that this discrimination is simply an unwillingness to accept change, and in time it will become a thing of the past. But a docked dog has already booked its way to many European exhibitions, and, apparently, there will be more and more such exhibitions. Docked dogs of German and other European breeds will be "overboard" beauty contests and breeding. The conclusions suggest themselves: if you want your pet to "make a career", participate in world exhibitions, you are probably better off getting a tailed and eared puppy. In other cases, the choice is yours. After all, in the end, the happiness of a dog does not depend on the ears and tail, but on the love and care of the owner.

The procedure for cupping some breeds is carried out most often for cosmetic purposes - to preserve the exterior that has become fixed for this breed. And if tail docking in hunting or service dogs is justified as a necessity, then in relation to representatives of small breeds, such as the pygmy poodle, griffon, toy terrier, and some others, this justification is at least ridiculous.

There are many historical documents confirming the antiquity of the practice of tail docking. In his notes on agriculture, De re rustica, the ancient Roman writer Lucius Junius M. Columella describes the practice of removing part of the tail from shepherd dogs. The peasants believed that such a measure would save the animal from disease.

The tails of hunting dogs were cut off so that they would not injure them when they met a predator on the undergrowth, while chasing prey. For burrowing dogs, the tail is removed so that it does not interfere with movement in a narrow hole, etc. Reasons are clear. But is the practice of cupping limited only to these considerations?

It turns out that in addition to the safety of hunting dogs, the motive for docking was a financial issue. In Old England in the 18th century a tax was imposed on all dogs, with the exception of service dogs. The short tail was a sign that the owner of the animal was exempt from tax. To save money, tails were cut for dogs of other "professions". Poachers docked the tails of their dogs in order to avoid liability in case of capture, because in those days it was believed that a long tail was a sign of a hunting dog.

The shepherds stopped the fluffy tails of the shepherd dogs so that they would not be injured during the fight with the wolves, but another reason was the reluctance to clean the tail of the fierce defenders of the flock from debris and thorns. A dog without a tail was considered a shepherd dog, and its owner was also exempt from tax. This is evidenced by D. D. Wood in his Illustrated Natural History. And when in the XVIII century. this law was abolished, the practice remained, as a stereotype of the exterior of some breeds has developed.

Cosmetic tail docking in dogs is currently prohibited in some European countries. The permit only applies to dogs that serve in:

law enforcement agencies;
armed forces;
emergency services;
deratization services (destruction of rodents, in particular rats).

The Animal Welfare Act (2006) stipulates that docking of the tail must be carried out by specialists and the operation must be carried out within 5 days of the puppy's birth.

At what age should a dog's tail be docked?

3-10 days. Veterinarians recommend stopping the tail of puppies in the first 3-10 days from birth. During this period, ossification of the vertebrae of the tail has not yet occurred and pain sensitivity is lower than in older dogs. Such puppies are operated on without anesthesia and without stitches. The breeder or owner is obliged to ensure that the mother of the puppies does not lick the wound, so it will heal longer. In this case, the operated animals are isolated and brought only at the time of feeding.
from 10 days. In dogs 10 days of age and older, surgery is performed under local or general anesthesia. The animal is placed on the operating table in the prone position. The hind and front paws are tied, opening access to the surgical field. A fixing band is pulled across the body. The jaws are tied with a bandage or put on a muzzle.
3-4 weeks. If the animal is more than 3-4 weeks old, then a tourniquet is applied to the base of the tail.

How is the cupping procedure

1 way

If the operation is performed under general anesthesia, then alcohol-chloroform is administered by inhalation - ether anesthesia and neuropletic + vagolytic. A vagolytic is typically used on short-nosed dogs to reduce salivation and normalize the cardiac response to anesthetic inhalation. Also, animals with a short muzzle are intubated to avoid dropping the tongue and to ensure the free circulation of oxygen and anesthesia.

The length of the tip to be removed, as a rule, depends on the breed and conformation. Hair is removed from the tail, the skin is pulled as far as possible to the base of the tail, and amputation is performed using bone scissors or a scalpel, making an incision between the vertebrae. The skin is stretched over the stump and sutured with a skin suture. The wound is treated with an antibiotic, and the skin around it is treated with an antiseptic. A sterile dressing is applied.

2 way

The second method of docking is pulling the tail with an elastic band for a period of 2 to 7 days. At the same time, the access of blood to the tip of the tail is blocked and, after a certain time, it falls off. This technique is considered more humane than surgical removal, but in the absence of objective data on the sensations of the dog, it is difficult to agree with this statement.

Although it is believed that a puppy's underdeveloped nervous system protects him from pain, studies show that the animal is in pain. After amputation, the puppy whines strongly for another 15-20 minutes and only then calms down. The older the dog, the more difficult it is to tolerate the procedure. The owner should consider whether it is worth exposing the animal to such an injury.

The healing process takes a long time. During this time, the stump must be treated with antiseptics. When stopping in a veterinary clinic, postoperative complications rarely occur. Opponents of cupping argue against the procedure.

How does tail docking affect an animal?

The effect of the cupping operation on pain sensitivity in puppies in the future has no scientific confirmation, but:

sensitivity. Experiments carried out on rats have shown that nerve injury when crossing it at an early age negatively affects the sensitivity of the stump.
motor skills. Some scientists argue that the removal of the tail vertebrae can impair the animal's motor skills.
diuresis. Anatomically, the tail is a counterbalance and, having lost it, the dog not only acquires a dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system, but also a pathology of the function of urination.
lumbar and pelvic region. Abnormal, from a physiological point of view, the distribution of the load on the lumbar and pelvic region leads to muscle atrophy and deformity of the fingers of the hind limbs, the formation of intervertebral hernias.
communication with relatives. Certain problems are caused by the absence of a tail when the animal communicates with other dogs. It is noted that fellow tribesmen react to bob-tailed dogs differently than to animals with a normal tail. Experiments were carried out using a robot dog. It was found that dogs approached a robot with a short tail less often and were treated more aggressively. It is believed that the absence of a tail as a means of communication makes communication between animals difficult.
aggression. In addition, statistics claim that individuals with a docked tail are more aggressive, not prone to communication, and suffer from behavioral disorders.

Although there are no scientific studies of this problem, it can be established that amputation of the tail does not go unnoticed for the animal.

Photos of various breeds before and after docking

before
doberman after
rottweiler before
rottweiler after
before and after
before

The standard requiring docking of the toy terrier's tail is met with much denial by veterinarians. Many dog breeders and just lovers of four-legged friends also have a negative attitude towards this issue. After all, if we consider the standard of the English toy terrier, then the presence of an extremity is mandatory. But, in the smooth-haired miniature toy and the Russian long-haired toy terrier, the tip should be docked. Although, some exhibitions (especially abroad) are already accepting and giving high marks to dogs with an appendage. So, as you can see, there is no consensus on this matter.

In itself, cupping eliminates one single problem - tip creases. But at the same time, a toy terrier without a tail becomes, as it were, a “goal” in the rings, since a luxurious appendage-flag (like Russian toy terriers) hides the flaws visible in standard “samples” of a decorative breed. Docking allows you to carefully examine the croup of the dog, to identify, if any, the elongation of the body, short legs. The emphasis of the judges is shifting to the shortcomings or lack thereof of your pet's article. And if the body of your pet carries ideal proportions, then the cut off tip will only emphasize the beauty of a miniature dog.

Does that terrier need to have its tail docked?

The answer to the question "Why do toy terriers have their tails docked?" is in the breed standard. The requirement for a toy dog is that the tail must be short docked, but undocked is also allowed. Docked - this means that the animal is left with two or three tail vertebrae. Undocked - Must be (preferably) sickle-shaped and carried above the dorsal line. In case you're wondering, show judging determines the standard of an uncropped toy terrier based on how the tip comes out with a sloping croup. So, it should be where the hour hand is on the dial - in the interval from "half one" to "half two". Having to hold an undocked appendage during a staging trot can interfere with the dog's movements.

But! Let's still divide our miniature toys into smooth-haired and long-haired ones again, and talk about the Russian Toy Terrier. The long-haired dog won the hearts of foreign dog breeders so much that it was for this variety that it was even forbidden to dock the tails of those terriers with beautiful hair. Yes, and our breeders, knowing the love of respected refereeing for tailed beauties and beauties, believe that it is not necessary to cut off the tails of those terriers with long hair. As you can see, opinions differ.

When toy terriers have their tails docked.

You have made the decision to dock a puppy's tail and are wondering when is the best time to dock that terrier's tail. If you listen to the opinion of veterinarians about the day on which the tails of that terriers are docked, it turns out that cutting off the tip literally after the birth of small dogs will be ideal. The first week after birth seems to be designed for this. The fact is that a newborn puppy does not experience pain during the circumcision procedure, since the nerve endings are just beginning to form. Yes, the puppy will squeal when docked, but this is rather a reflex reaction to the position upside down (circumcision is carried out by lifting the puppy and turning it upside down).

You can carry out the cupping procedure in the first week of a dog's life on your own. But if the puppy is older than a week, then entrust the cut off the tip to a professional - a dog doctor. Only a specialist will correctly carry out the procedure, process and professionally sew up the docked tail of that terrier.

You can cut off a small appendage yourself by using one of the two existing methods - circumcision and using an elastic band. Whichever docking method you choose, be sure to take the puppies mommy out of the room before this procedure.

The most important thing is to clearly measure the number of vertebrae that should be left. It's not easy to do this, but it's possible.

To shorten the tip using circumcision, prepare the following items:

sharp scissors.
medical alcohol.
potassium permanganate.
threads.
light fabric.

Disinfect scissors, either by boiling or by rubbing with medical alcohol. Also clean your hands with alcohol. Take to your assistants someone from the household (but not children) or acquaintances. The assistant will hold the puppies in his hands.

Putting the puppy on the table, feel the required length of the tip, straightening the skin on the tail from the base to the very tip. With two fingers (thumb and forefinger) firmly hold the tip, and with a sharp movement, cut the tail with scissors. Then turn the baby upside down and treat the wound with alcohol and manganese crystals. Calm the puppy down and watch him for a few minutes. The bleeding has stopped - send the puppy to the aviary or arena. If the blood continues to flow, then tightly pull the tip with a thread, which must be removed after two hours.

When cupping with an elastic band, gather the skin of the extremity to the very base. And then wrap the rubber band around the desired spine and tie it in a tight knot. With such a device, the baby passes for three days, after which the dead part will fall off by itself. If you have incorrectly clamped the elastic band, then at any time you can move it to another place. It should be noted that this method is the most humane.

Do not let the dog lick the tip strongly, then in ten days everything will heal.

The miniature schnauzer is the smallest of all schnauzers. The name of the breed can be translated as mustachioed dwarf. Despite the fact that the height of the dog at the withers does not exceed 38 cm, it gives the impression of a strong, athletic animal of a square format.

A serious look is given by thick overhanging eyebrows and a stiff mustache, turning into a beard. Good temperament and comfortable size have made this breed very popular for indoor keeping.

With regular trimming, representatives of the breed look very neat, their coat does not get enough sleep and has almost no smell.

If this is not done, then in an animal with naturally growing coarse hair and uncropped ears and tail, it will not look like an elegant and recognizable Miniature Schnauzer.

Ear cropping

Until 2000, it was customary for representatives of the breed to crop their ears. Properly cropped ears continued the clear lines of the muzzle and head. They gave the dogs a rather serious, alert look.

The best time to trim the ears comes after the vaccination, continues until the change of teeth.

Usually this is done no earlier than 10-11 weeks, but no later than 14-15 weeks. In the event that the operation was not performed before the change of teeth, it can be postponed to a later date after their replacement. Nevertheless, it is desirable to be in time with ear cupping before the pet reaches the age of 11-12 months.

In extreme cases, you can stop the ears of very small Zwergschnauzer puppies, but in this case it is difficult for the doctor to decide on the final shape of the auricles.

Ears in this breed are cropped if:

the puppy's parents had a tendency to straighten the ear cartilages;
if the ears are small, light;
if an exhibition career is intended in those countries where participation in dog shows with cropped ears is allowed.

If the owner has decided to stop the ears, then they do it in a veterinary clinic or invite a specialist to the house. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, so the pet should not be fed 10 hours before it.

For the operation, the specialist uses a template. The edges of the wound surface are sutured with a special ear suture and treated with an antiseptic. The duration of all manipulations lasts an average of 30 to 60 minutes.

In the future, care for cropped ears is no different from care for naturally shaped ears.

Tail docking

The tail of Zwergschnauzer puppies is docked 3-5 days after birth. The younger the puppy, the easier it is to tolerate the procedure.

If the tails need to be stopped for the entire litter, then it is more convenient to invite the doctor home.

After amputation of the tail, a stump of three vertebrae should remain. The wound surface almost does not bleed, after three to four days it is completely tightened.

Sometimes it happens that the breeder did not stop the ponytails after birth, then the procedure can be performed at an older age under anesthesia with mandatory wound suturing. Defects and fractures of the tail may be indications for its docking in adult animals.

The cost of the procedure depends on the age of the puppy. Docking ponytails in the first week of life will cost 500 - 600 rubles.

Miniature Schnauzer with undocked tail and ears

When buying a Zwergschnauzer puppy for Europe, he is left with ears and a tail. With them, the pet looks no worse. Hanging triangular ears give the dog a more good-natured funny look.

The tail of the representatives of the breed is held up, sometimes it bends like a sickle towards the back. It does not interfere with the free movements of the Miniature Schnauzer, the hair is subjected to it. Very often, dogs of this breed participate in various sports competitions, for example, agility or frisbee. In this case, the tail even helps them maneuver.

If ear docking is planned, then it is desirable to dock the tail as well. Such a dog looks more harmonious.

When the ears are not docked, the docked tail does not spoil the dog.
If the dog is purchased as a pet, then the owner decides on docking.

Ear and tail cropping has been practiced by professional dog breeders for a long time. We have become so accustomed to the image of dogs with such features that we do not represent them in their natural form. Therefore, when planning a mating, the breeder, without hesitation, asks the veterinarian about when the tails and ears will be stopped for the puppies. Let's first see if this procedure is really necessary.

We accept them as they are.

Today, more and more often on the street you can meet thoroughbred dogs in their natural form. The ears of Dobermans and Great Danes no longer stand on their heads, cut off according to patterns in the shape of a flame. Being lop-eared, they do not have such a formidable appearance, but, getting used to it, one can say that they are even cuter this way. Long tails in some breeds also seem like an extra “detail”, but this is easier to perceive.

For many inexperienced owners, this issue is very relevant. When do puppies have their tails docked and should they be done? Today, docking is officially banned for most breeds in the European Union. In Russia, you can still cut off the ears and tails, or leave everything as it is. In any case, they will be accepted for breeding and allowed to compete at a breeding show. But if you decide to follow traditional standards, then you need to find out when the puppies' tails are docked.

When it happens

If the mating was registered in the club, then after the puppies are born, you must invite a specialist who will inspect. He examines the offspring and, if he recognizes it as pedigree, he leaves puppy cards. Now you can call the vet. Usually the curator of the breed informs the owner when the tails are docked for the puppies. There is not much time to think. Depending on the breed, this is done on the 2-7th day of life, while the vertebrae are still quite soft.

Is it possible to do it yourself

Highly undesirable unless you are an experienced breeder. The procedure is carried out without anesthesia, at this age it is contraindicated. Moreover, no special equipment is required for this. But doing the operation yourself is not worth it, unless you are a breeder with a lot of experience. But the ears are stopped at the age of two to three months under general anesthesia.

Work of a veterinarian at home

It is not necessary to dock puppies' tails at the clinic. You can call the doctor home and provide him with a comfortable table for work. The whole operation takes a matter of minutes, after which the puppies will be returned to their mother. The doctor will have to lay out sharp scissors, cotton wool, an antiseptic, sterile wipes. Nothing else is required. There are no stitches on the tail, which greatly speeds up the procedure.

So, usually the puppies are taken away from the mother, and she is sent for a walk. The owner takes out the first baby and hands it over to the doctor. He quickly cuts off the tail and presses the wound with a cotton swab with a disinfectant solution. Two minutes later, the baby goes to the basket, and the vet takes the next one. Puppies with docked tails fall asleep very quickly, as if they were not in pain. So when the mother returns, she will find her family perfectly at peace.

tail length

There are no clear standards here. Some breeds are left with 2-3 tail vertebrae, while others, such as Airedales, have only one third of the tail removed. There are breeds that do not have a single standard, that is, the breeder himself decides what to do with the tail. For example, wolfhounds. But all standards agree on the age at which puppies have their tails docked. While the vertebrae are still soft, this operation will be the least painful. Therefore, do not pull. If you decide to trim the tail, then do it before the pet reaches ten days of age.

We crop ears

In this case, much depends on the breed. For the Caucasian Shepherd, this is the third day of life. The operation is not too difficult. Puppies simply cut off the top of the auricle, while it is very thin. Ears are obtained, like a bear. Therefore, it is quite possible to stop the puppy's ears and tail at the same time.

If we are talking about Dobermans or Great Danes, then everything is more complicated. The owner needs to wait until the babies are three months old. During this time, the head and ear will reach the desired size. Before the procedure, the babies are not fed for eight hours, after which they are taken to the veterinary clinic. There, the surgeons are already taking up their work:

The first step is anesthesia. The puppy is laid on a special table, the paws are pulled out and firmly fixed. In addition, the jaw and torso of the puppy are fixed.
The auricle is treated with an antiseptic, and the place where the cupping will be performed is cleaned of wool.
According to a special pattern, doctors cut out the desired shape. The operation lasts about an hour, so the owner needs to be patient.
After the operation, the treatment is repeated and the patient is released home. The stitches usually need to be removed after two weeks.

Recovery after surgery

Even if we are talking about tail docking, it is still a surgical intervention. Therefore, the doctor must assess the risks and familiarize the breeder with them. If the puppy is weak, then it is recommended to postpone this procedure and, at an older age, perform it already under anesthesia or abandon it altogether.

After docking the tail or ears, puppies need the most careful care. The place where they sleep should be dry and clean so that there is no risk of infection. The wound must be examined twice a day. The slightest signs of suppuration are the reason for an immediate visit to the doctor. In itself, such an intervention is a trauma for the animal. Therefore, there may be a decrease in appetite, drowsiness may occur during the first two days after the procedure. But if the puppy completely refuses to eat, then you need to sound the alarm.

Dog breeds that require docking

Ear docking is a requirement of the standard for breeds such as Boxer, Doberman, Great Dane, American Terrier, Rottweiler, Schnauzer. This group does not include Caucasian Shepherd Dogs and Central Asians, since they carry out this procedure very early (a week old).

Tails are docked according to the standard in the following breeds: American and English Cocker Spaniel, Bobtail, Doberman, Boxer, Airedale Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, Giant Schnauzer, etc.

Misconceptions and Facts

And today, most owners are sure that they are doing this in the interests of their dog. In fact, she is well the way nature created her. We have already said on what day the puppies' tails are docked. Of course, they will quickly forget the pain, because they are too small. But they will not get any benefit from a short tail. Let's look at the main misconceptions that justify cupping:

The procedure reduces the susceptibility of the ears to disease and inflammation. It has already been proven that the shape of the auricle does not affect this in any way. If you clean your ears in time and, if necessary, consult a doctor, you will not need to do cupping.
Many people find this procedure to be painless. This conclusion is drawn from how quickly the puppies calm down. In fact, they hurt like everyone else. And the postoperative period is painful for all living beings. Moreover, anesthesia itself is very harmful for dogs.
It is believed that the dog will be better off without a tail and ears. A very strange conclusion, because these are the organs that are responsible for communication. The movements of the ears and tail show the mood of the pet, helps to interact with other animals and humans. Therefore, leaving the dog without them and believing that you are doing it better is at least strange.

Instead of a conclusion

As practice shows, animals with cropped ears and tails appear less and less at the latest international exhibitions. Many cynological centers have begun to fight against such methods of inducing "beauty". The fact is that with the help of body language, animals express needs and emotions. Moreover, with the help of special signals, they can resolve conflict situations.

Second moment. The tail is a continuation of the spine. Its removal leads to the fact that the load on the musculoskeletal system increases. That is, its absence does not allow to reasonably distribute the load on the bones and muscles of the animal according to the mechanism originally laid down by nature.