I have 5 cocker spaniels, 2 docked 3 undocked, I've had 4 litters over the years and I DON'T DOCK! It's purely cosmetic mutilation, if the fur on a dogs tail is kept short (if working dogs) then there is less chance of it catching!

The majority of BIG breeders will argue with me, but why does a pups tail need chopping off when they are show dogs? How are they going to get hurt showing??

I even had one breeder say that if you find a breeder that doesn't dock, don't touch them! Why, I ask myself

I agree CC, a couple of years back i was searching for a undocked cocker, and everyone i spoke to about undocked ones said that the breeders, bred for the tails and not the health!
What a load of rubbish, in my opinion the good breeders are the ones who leave pups undocked

Having a docked breed myself, I worry more about the health testing than a tail.

If I had the choice of a heart and hip tested docked boxer or an undocked boxer with no health testing done. The tested docked boxer would win.

I would also have no hesitation of taking an undocked dog as long as testing was done. I like boxers with tails too.

i have never seen a boxer with a tail anyone got a pic?

Will have a look Katy

Here is a link to boxers with tails
http://www.euro-boxer.com/pages/prof..._them_off.html

thanx carole. they look lovely with tails.

they do dont they especially the second boxer down the red one.

I'm for docking in working dogs, Spaniels in particular, in 2 years I've seen 5 spaniels with split tails that took an age to heal and were at risk of infection all the time the tail was open.
I believe its advisable for spaniels because they are more likely to work in cover such as gorse where the the sort of damage you see in the photograph is done.



Unfortunately you don't know if a pup is going to be worked so I'm in favour of docking them all. Show dogs are different, they don't need to be docked, so I feel , shouldn't be.

Edited to say the blood on the flanks is because even with a damaged tail a spaniel won't stop wagging its tail.

poor dog.