I think it's very sad that some breeders would consider stopping breeding or changing breeds just because they can no longer dock. To me there is so much more to my dogs than their tails. And yes, i do have a customarily docked breed.

In Sweden certainly in the first year there was a major drop in registrations of traditionally docked breeds, in fact Giant Schanuzers had no registrations at all for 12 months, however, the numbers have crept back up as people have kept breeding the dogs they love regardless of the fact they now have a tail.

However, unlike other breeds when our mother country stopped docking around 15 years ago several exhibitors in the UK also stopped docking, and since then more and more have stopped. Prior to the ban coming in only a handful of breeders continued the practice.

This was done because the majority of breeders wanted to see how the tails would come out, and bear in mind we have a breed in which you can have everything from a full spitz curl, a longer stump, a proper bob, or in fact nothing there at all (invert).

When the KC asked the breed club to come up with an alternative tail clause for the standard - about 3 years ago - it was debated long and hard and in the end decided that we would word it to say basically so long as the set is correct anything goes with the tail carriage - whilst it took a while for the KC to accept this they did eventually.

Yes there will be a period of a few years where the tails sort themselves out, but what is say 5 years in terms of dog showing and breeding? In terms of the history of your breed?

As to dogs with tails not winning over dogs with, or dogs with tails not being as good, this too hasn't stood up. The first vallhund fully tailed Ch was made up about 4 years ago, and the second at this year - this dog has also gone on to be placed in the pastoral group at Working & Pastoral Breeds of Scotland, in 2003 a fully tailed vall puppy won the pastoral puppy group at a champ show - it can be done and people can see past the fact that there is a tail.

Kate

Actually the KC approve (or not!) the breed standards and/or any alterations sent to them by the breed clubs. They do not just accept anything that comes from the breed clubs. They can choose not to include something or not to accept any changes if they so wish.Debs

So we both did not make clear what we meant Just as you have accused Denis of getting his terminology wrong, we all fall down on not saying it right, all the time.

Why are you so angry..you can get a point across without trying to shout people down.

please take a breath, otherwise this will be another thread to be closed closed