|
Location: Dogsey and Worcestershire
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 49,483
|
05-12-2005, 12:24 AM
Originally Posted by Ripsnorterthe2nd
What would be worse though Mini? A kangaroos doo dah or a dogs tail, I know which I'd go for and I'd know where it'd been too.
And no I'm not talking about the kangaroo thanks!
(*Mini whispers to herself we get some odd types on DW these days *
)
|
|
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,213
|
05-12-2005, 12:30 AM
Originally Posted by Minihaha
...i'll pass on both if you don't mind (*Mini whispers to herself we get some odd types on DW these days *
)
And I'm not odd, just unpleasantly surprising!
Hence the carving knives!
|
|
|
Location: Shadowland, Australia
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,358
|
05-12-2005, 12:47 AM
The thought occurs that while discussing what is 'natural' in tails should it not also be considered that some dogs have been deliberately bred to have thin, whippy tails, or tails with luxuriant feathering, both of which render them susceptible to injury. Therefore the breeders of such dogs must surely be as open to disapproval as those that dock for prophylactic reasons?
|
|
|
|
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,213
|
05-12-2005, 12:57 AM
Originally Posted by Shadowboxer
Puppy dogs' tails usually got fed to the ferrets The thought occurs that while discussing what is 'natural' in tails should it not also be considered that some dogs have been deliberately bred to have thin, whippy tails, or tails with luxuriant feathering, both of which render them susceptible to injury. Therefore the breeders of such dogs must surely be as open to disapproval as those that dock for prophylactic reasons?
|
|
|
|
Location: Shadowland, Australia
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,358
|
05-12-2005, 01:22 AM
Originally Posted by Ripsnorterthe2nd
Which breeds are we thinking of? Just so I can try and answer the question properly!
I suppose examples may be Dalmatians, Greyhounds, Spaniels. Are their tails natural, or have they been selectively bred for elegance, aerodynamics, beauty, etc.?
|
|
|
|
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,213
|
05-12-2005, 01:27 AM
Originally Posted by Shadowboxer
Practically any breeds that fit the description I suppose examples may be Dalmatians, Greyhounds, Spaniels. Are their tails natural, or have they been selectively bred for elegance, aerodynamics, beauty, etc.?
|
|
|
|
Location: Shadowland, Australia
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,358
|
05-12-2005, 03:17 AM
Back on the track of vets opposing tail docking, this is from the NZ Vizsla Newsletter, March 2002. I wonder of perhaps the same situation applies in the UK?
I must correct this statement. The Vets are not united in this call, only the Veterinary Body is. In this issue the Vets simply do not know best. The only education that most vets ever get is to be told never to dock?
It gets even worse than that. It seems that the Veterinary profession is the only profession that actively discourages their members from even discussing the subject. Not only are vets not taught docking, they cannot even learn it from their peers and are frowned upon if they bring up the subject. No wonder there is so much misinformation even among well trained and otherwise respected veterinarians.
I ask you to consider why the veterinary association, when it has publicly agreed that there is overwhelming evidence that there is no discernable pain; when it has stated in their own minutes that there is a noticeable rise in tail injuries in traditionally docked breeds in countries after tail banning has been in place for a short time; when it has publicly done these things why still ask for a tail docking ban?
The answer is either one of two things: either they look favourably on the projected income from prolonged repairing of damaged tails (I doubt it, most vets I know are genuinly caring people); or their body is taking the stand of the "politically correct", making themselves look good by appealing to the unknowing public who have been fed on the false advertising by the likes of the RSPCA.
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 379
|
05-12-2005, 01:11 PM
|
|
|
|
Location: w
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,769
|
05-12-2005, 05:44 PM
Bruno is not a breed that would be docked in the first place - but this is why if he was I wouldnt ever get it done again !!
Expressions of the tail:
Tail up with top tip curled into body = happy doggy
as above whilst walking = alert and energetic
tail sticking straight out almost inline with spine - spotted something , at attention
tail out with tip pointing down - waiting
as above but goign up and down - we like to call it the pump handle - on a mission to get to/at something/very excited !!
tail tucked down - nervous/unhappy
tail between legs - scared/unsure
tail going side to side - happy
tail whipping side to side - very happy
tail whipping off either side of body - deliriously happy.
tail wagging - when i speak to him in a pretty girly voice - he likes that !!
tail whacked off radiators whilst running around the house - very very hyper and excitable
tail whagging, stopping, wagging, stopping - i want to play.....now......
tail sticking straight up in the air - his pepe le pue impression !!!! LOL
tail all of a sudden wags very slowly whilst sleeping or in the car - close your noses peeps cos I just let one go !!!!!
basically - my point - without Bruno's tail it wouldnt be as much fun - he loves it, he was born with it, its there for a reason. Without it, his body language would be completely different.
My Oh used to have a gorgeous rottie called Tara who was a big lump - she had a docked tail and I did love her wee waggy stump - but thats all it did - if she was happy it wagged - if she wasnt nothing moved so how could I identify her interest etc ?
For me - there is a reason for a dogs tail - end of story - we dont need our ears do we ?? the inside is actually what allows us to hear - so why have the funny shaped thing on the outside - but wouldnt we look funny without it ??
i believe its a cosmetic thing that has been changed by humans at some point.
wolves have tails, dogs evolved from them, if they didnt need them then they would evolve again and be born without them...
JMO obviously - but boy do I love my wee mans tail !! as does he....
dani
|
|