Furthermore, tail docking may prevent dogs from being able to communicate appropriately with other dogs or people and may inhibit their agility or mobility. In some cases, there can be side effects from tail cropping that can result in more problems for a Rottweiler. It is likely that ongoing research into the effects of docking versus not docking will help us to determine whether this practice is cruel or helpful, and which dogs do better with docked tails versus those that suffer from the practice.
You may notice that many other types of dogs that have docked tails, such as the Dogo Argentino or Pitbull, also have cropped ears. Why is this? Cropped ears have never been in the breed standard for Rottweilers. It may be that the drop ears were more functional in helping Rottweilers to smell and follow livestock.
Communication with livestock and with people has always been very important in the jobs that Rottweilers have held, so keeping ears to allow for greater expression was important.
This is especially true since Rottweiler tails are so often cropped, reducing their ability to express themselves in that way. Rottweilers were not historically used to fight with other dogs or against large animals in rings as much as many other bully type dogs were. Dogs like Pitbulls and American Bulldogs had cropped ears in order to avoid having their ears shredded by other dogs in a fight.
Both the ears and tail were considered a weak spot that were best removed to avoid having them injured in the ring. Since Rottweilers have not typically been used to fight in this way, there would have been no motivation to crop the ears. People who have used their Rottweilers for fighting very likely would crop the ears. Rottweilers typically have their hind dew claws removed at the same time that the tail is docked. Like removing the tip of the tail, removing dewclaws can be painful.
Most veterinarians agree that hind dewclaws should be removed. Hind dewclaws are usually insecurely attached and very likely to get caught up on things and cause problems. Many breeders believe that front dewclaws have the same problem and should therefore be removed. Typically dewclaws on the front are removed by most Rottweiler breeders. However, there is a strong argument to not remove the dewclaws on the front, especially if you intend for your Rottweiler to be a working dog.
Dewclaws can help your Rottweiler to grip terrain, assailants, or cattle. If you intend to show your Rottweiler with the AKC, dewclaw removal is necessary, but it may not be essential if you are showing with other breed organizations.
The Rottweiler is one of the oldest breeds of dogs, and people have been docking their tails for a very long time. By the time the Rottweiler breed standard was originally drawn up in Germany around , tail docking was well established in the breed. When the AKC breed standard was formalized in the s, docking remained in the AKC breed standard and is still there today.
However, in other parts of the world, the Rottweiler had a different experience with tail docking. Around the s, bans on docking began to be put into place in Europe and throughout the world. Currently, the majority of Rottweilers born and showed in the USA at AKC shows have docked tails, while the majority of Rottweilers born and showed overseas may have undocked tails.
You can find purebred dogs in shelters and Rottieweilers are sadly not that uncommon. If you want your Rottweiler to be a show dog and you want to win at the AKC, it may be best to go ahead and choose a dog with a docked tail. Rottweilers with undocked tails are unlikely to win at AKC events, no matter how well they meet the breed standard in every other way. Rottweilers with docked tails typically cost more than those with full tails, but the difference may not be more than a few hundred dollars at most.
If you intend to use your Rottweiler for active work in which their tail could be injured, it may end up costing you more to not have the tail docked at the beginning. However, if your dog will be a family pet, it may be worth saving the money on a tail that has not been docked. A Rottweiler with a tail can wreak havoc on your home much quicker than one without a tail. If you are very particular about your home, a Rottweiler with a tail may not be best.
If you intend for your Rottweiler to be an active protection or bite work dog, it may be best to dock the tail. Assailants can grab the tail of an undocked attack dog, rendering them helpless long enough to hurt them. It is no secret that our dogs use their tails as a way to communicate with us and with other dogs or animals.
A dog wagging its tail is one of the most common images used in media to depict the friendliness and loyalty of dogs. Now close your eyes again. This time, imagine a specific dog breed, a Rottweiler. Make a mental note of its appearance. Can you describe how their tails look like? Is it long or short? There are perks and downsides of both types of tails. However, what we can do here is lay down some relevant information for you to be able to make an informed decision.
Fighting breeds also used tail docking to reduce weak points in a dog. Most of these beliefs have been dispelled though. A lot of people still practice tail docking today.
Some for the reasons mentioned above, most for cosmetic purposes. Hey, some people really like the look and we respect that. Now a lot of debate has been going on for years regarding tail docking and the ethics that surround it.
One side feels like some breeders and owners cause their dogs unnecessary pain by subjecting them to the operation especially if docking is done solely for cosmetic purposes. Meanwhile, the other side stands by following the breed standards. A lot of articles are going around in the Internet defending one side or the other. What we are against is the improper way of doing it.
Which brings us to the question…. This is a hard question to answer. However, others will point to evidence suggesting that their nervous systems, though not fully developed, are developed enough to at least feel pain close to an adult canine.
Even so, Rottweiler puppies often shriek immediately after the tail is cut off. So, do Rottweiler puppies actually feel pain in this highly controversial procedure? There are two main methods of tail docking. It may also remove several nerves connected to the tail. The second method , though less popular, is argued to be more humane.
After some time, the tail will fall right off — seriously. Many breeders go to vets, too. So, should you buy a Rottweiler with a docked tail? Reputable AKC-endorsed breeders will always follow the breed standard that the club has put out. And I like him that way. But I do find the intact tail more expressive. Not everyone will be willing, but there is a chance. Reputable breeders are still reputable for a reason. They breed for the best temperaments and good health, instead of looks.
The tail docking of Rottweilers is no longer legal in a few countries, such as Australia and most of Europe.
Though, it still remains highly popular in North America. But importing NBT Rotties from another country may not always be feasible.
For more information on the legal status of tail docking your Rottweiler, I suggest you check out this resource. We got our Corgi before we even knew we had a choice.
Had we known, we may have opted to find one with her natural tail. Tails should be able to be docked in Australia. Do Rottweilers Have Tails? Do Rottweilers Shed? Are Rottweilers Good With Kids? Click here to cancel reply.
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