Labs work in the same cover now as they do though----I know that the original purpose was different but the purpose now is to retrieve from cover in the same way.

rune

Yes, thats true but labs arent primarily hunters and also, their tails are anatomically different to a HPR's and work differently.

A vizsla's or GSP's tail for example is very long and thin, almost like a whip with very thin skin and fur covering. As we all know, a labs tail should be very thick and shorter in length with a denser coat. Long, whiplike tails if left undocked can easily get damaged when a dog is crashing about in the bracken trying to flush the pheasant out. Easiest option is to dock the tail. I think the French had it right when they produced the Brittany with a natural bobtail.

Correct me if i'm wrong but a labs tail does not move like a HPR's. You have a springer yourself Rune, you know how quickly they wag and a HPR's moves at the same speed when on a scent. I've only ever seen labs picking up but i'd be very surprised if their tail did the same as Flynn's when he's caught a whiff of feather.

as far as im concerned it all comes down to public perception.

It should be the same across the board. They are limiting themselves in not allowing docked tailed dogs to show.

Its NOT the KC it's a LAW!

rune

I don't understand why you would want to introduce such a thing? What problem would it solve? These dogs already work, that's why they're docked. Or is it more so that you can see the proof for yourself?

Sorry, who are you?!

Any credibility you had in this thread has just disappeared following that comment The fact that you don't even know the difference between the English and German Pointers just goes to show how little you know about gundogs and HPRs and shows to me how little you know about docking these dogs and the reasons behind it.

No problem. It's a shame you can't see the link, the bit under "campaigns" shows some of the dogs that are docked for working reasons and denied entry at certain shows because of it.

There's a already a split between Lab and Spaniels, did you mean to put HPRs etc?

I've been following the campaign as I'm a member of one of the groups myself, I've just never posted for some reason!

you can legally dock working dogs, i thought that was the whole point of the thread why they can be shown at some but not others. i think it should be the same across the board and dont think people should be penalised when following the law.

So did I! At least you've bothered to check!

I agree, people have docked their dogs legally for working purposes. So why should they be excluded from being shown - they haven't broken any laws.

Again, the best outcome as far as dogs are concerned is for docked dogs not to be allowed to show at any show. Problem solved in far more ways than just the vanity of the owners winning prizes

In what way is the problem solved? Dogs will still be docked for working purposes. Or are you happy for them to be docked as long as you don't have to look at them?

Oh dear----they haven't and they are allowed to work their dogs docked but the LAW says they can't be shown where people pay for entry. So they have to choose which aspect is more important to them.

rune