Arguments For Tail Docking

There are two major sides to the tail docking argument, those who are for it, and those who are against it. Let us first take a look at the position of those who approve of tail docking and its supposed benefits. The history of tail docking started in ancient Roman times, and tails were docked for multiple reasons. Docking the tip of the tail and parts of the tongue were supposed to prevent the contraction of rabies. Tail 's were thought to help a dog in a chase, and so those who were not permitted to hunt were required to have the tail docking procedure on their dogs in order to eliminate effective hunting. Later on, tails were cropped in hunting dogs for the sole purpose of protection, in case the prey fought back, the tail was not an easy target. Tail docking for cosmetics began in the late 1800 's, and it became a requirement for show quality breeds during the mid 1950 's by most kennel clubs. Some arguments for tail docking in guard dogs and hunting dogs are that the tail could be a point of weakness in which an attacker or a prey animal could focus and damage the dog. Though it is said to help in some ways, most working dogs with docked tails have them purely for cosmetic reasons, to conform to the breed standards. According to most studies, dog 's do not absolutely need tails. They are at no physical or psychological disadvantage due to having a docked tail. (AVMA) On the other side of the argument, the team …show more content…
Most breeders and dog lovers will agree that it is more ethical to perform a tail docking surgery with a professional veterinary surgeon under the effect of anesthetic, than it is to dock tails at home with a sharp pair of scissors to save money. (McClellan) As stated before, breeding purely for the sake of profit and not for the well being of the people and the animals is