Docking Tails

[Dan V]

My vet gave me a really simple tip on docking tails. I tried it about 3 weeks ago on some new born pups and it works great, and NO BLOOD.

When the pup is 2 days old, take a pair of forceps and clamp down where you want the tail to end. Clamp down all the way until the forceps lock together. Then all you have to do is twist off the end of the tail. The tail will come off in 1/2 to 3/4 turn. No Blood and afterwards you can barley tell anything happened. Now that the pups are almost 4 weeks old and they are walking around and wagging their tails; the finished product looks great.

Now that I've tried it, I like this method better than using scisors or nippers to cut the tail off. No blood and there is nothing to heal as far as an open wound goes.

[Mike Leonard]

Excellent advice Dan, I hope more folk use it. Take about 1/4 off that tail and if you hunt hard driving dogs you will catch more lions.

It's true a dog thrashes it's tail hard while trailing and if they start to throw blood and many of you have seen this after a hard day of hunting they will weaken. A couple of days of that and you have a wore out hound. Just take that whip off the end and they won't bleed. Do you think all those old timers just did this for looks?

[Big Mike]

Sounds like a much better method than my pocket knife that ive been using!!! Ill have to try it on my next litter. Thanks for the tip

[bency]

Dan V.

Could you post some pictures of the results...

thanks,
mike.

[DerekE]

I dock mine cuz it makes 'em get to the tree faster.

[Redwood Coonhounds]

Yep I've seen this done. Works great.

Same with dewclaws. I won't do mine any other way.

Clamp forcep all the way as close to the leg as you can (in the "joint"), then just take your fingernail and scrape and the end of the toe pops off, but leaves a little skin. No bleeding cant even tell they ever had anything done, and I don't think they even react half as much as cutting. Seen a few not react at all. I would do them at just a few hours old though. Not sure about a 5 day old pup.

[Stubby]

Been using that method for a while now and it works great. Hardly any blood and the tail always comes away at a joint.

[Dan V]

Here are some pics of the pups. It might not be the best pic of the tails, but they just look like normal tails. Except the are only about 80% of the normal tail.

[bency]

Hey that looks sharp! Im gonna try your method out this year.

[hemihound0713]

That sounds way better to do than cutting them. When i use to have to dock my grandpa's rotties tails there was always blood.
Just a question tho, if you were to cut a registered hound pups tail would you still be able to show it? I mean dont get me wrong a hunting hound is worth its weight in gold but what if you want it to look pretty on the bench too?

[Dan V]

Hemihound,
I am the wrong guy to ask about showing a dog. I'll bet there are some folks on here who could answer your question; or UKC or AKC depending on who your dogs are registered with might be able to answer that.

[plottpappaw]

Unless its a hunting accident they gotta have a full tail to the best of my knowledge. Most breed standards say the tail should be saber like. I show my dogs in the off season! All a show is is a conformation proving ground! Helps in breeding dogs that don't get sore near as bad or as fast!

[hemihound0713]

Well i think it might be a good idea to try it. Cant see it hurting if you not going to show.

[plottpappaw]

I agree! I am going to try the docking thiing on my next litter. I never knew the reasoning behind it but now i believe it is a good idea! Thanks for the tip in round about way!

[Mr.pacojack]

Great post Guys, Thanks for sharing. One question do you have to leave it on for a certain amout of time before you remove the tail or dew claws?