I used to feel just this way - and still can't agree with hunting purely for pleasure, but when it is for the table I can accept that. At least the birds get to live a natural life until they are humanely and quickly dispatched.

It is unlikely that I will ever take part in any hunting/shooting activity, but it doesn't stop me enjoying watching a gundog work - doing what it was bred to do, and loving every minute.

I have never once said you are terrible or evil.
Not once.
Surely you are prodocking for your own personal reasons, because you enjoy seeing the dogs work? We are both approaching this from our view points Rips. The dog actually has no say in it your way or mine. :smt002


I don't look down on you, but I am entitled to my opinion.
I don't doubt that the dogs enjoy doing what they were trained to do Rips,doesn't mean I agree with it.

never thought for one moment that you didn't love your dogs, never even suggested it, the thought has not crossed my mind.
I used the word 'mutilation' as that is the word that is used by vets etc to describe docking. Not my choice of word, as I put in the post I used that word in.

Yep, I'm anti hunting, I think that's obvious. great the dogs love their job Rips, that, in my opinion, is because they are trained to do it (and sometimes not in that nice a manner it has to be said) they could also channel their energy and enthusiasm elsewhere. What say do the birds and game have, I wonder if they enjoy it?? Sorry, just my opinion and not having a go.

Yep, you are probably right, if they are shot well.
Nope, no animals actually make it onto my dinner plate, as I'm sure you've probably already guessed.

Rips, I never said you were any of the things you've suggested I've said.
Yes, I am totally anti hunting and always have been.
My opinion, I'm allowed to have it, just as you are allowed to have yours.

I assume you mean you have a vet do it as its been illegal for non-vets to do it for many years.


For the record, no animals sit on any dinner plate of mine, I`m vegetarian :smt001

Deleted this message, because after some thought I couldn't really justify why I asked it! Sorry!

...sorry changed my mind, I answered but I don't see the relevance??? Sorry.

Deleted as the question was retracted lol

Thanks for replying Patch, but I have deleted the question now

On that topic though, do you think it is fair to your dogs to feed them a totally veggie diet?

Edited to say that maybe we should start a new thread for vegetarian diets for dogs, as I don't want to detract from the original thread.

Yep new thread for that I agree - its always an interesting one wherever its come up here and there

Sorry Ailsa but only the first sentence of my post was aimed at you, sorry if that wasn't clear. Out of interest, have you read my posts and tried to understand my predicament?

Yes I enjoying seeing my dogs work, but they have to enjoy doing it first and foremost for me to be able to enjoy them doing it if you get my meaning? Like I said these dogs have been bred for this for hundreds of years, for me docking them is allowing them to do what they love whilst protecting them from injury.

Gundogs aren't trained to love what they do - they love hunting and that instinct is brought out through the training.

Fair enough you and Patch are vegetarians, but surely you have to agree that a free wild animal being shot for food is better than an animal living it's whole life full of cruelty just to end up on a dinner plate?

Ailsa/Patch have you ever been on a shoot and seen Springers working, or the damage that is done to them when they have full tails?

Patch of course I don't dock my own dogs, to assume I'd do so upsets me somewhat. If you knew me you'd know I've yet to breed my own litter so the act in itself would be impossible.

I personally, like Moobli, will never actually shoot an animal, but any game I received as a result would go straight to the dog as she's raw fed.

I also used to be against docking, until I became involved with working Gundogs. Docking, if done by banding rather than cutting the tails off (truly barbaric) is relatively painless. Have any anti dockers ever seen a full litter docked by banding? Don't know why i'm bothering to ask as the question will no doubt be ignored.

And before I get attacked I just want to make plain - this is my opinion, I'm allowed to have it, just as you are allowed to have yours.

Here here Rips, very eloquently put. Well done girl.

Dawn R.