Why do some dogs have short tails? My dad told me that some
tails are shortened by the vet because that’s what they’re supposed
to look like. Is this true? Why can’t all tails be long?
Q: Why do some dogs have short tails? My dad told me that some tails are shortened by the vet because that’s what they’re supposed to look like. Is this true? Why can’t all tails be long?
A:
This is a terrific question that I’ve heard several times in the past week! So let’s talk about puppy dog tails, long ones and short ones.
Some dogs are born with naturally short tails; English bulldogs, pugs and some corgis are a few examples. Others are born with tails that are either medium length or very long. And some of these dogs have their tails shortened. Why is this? A lot has to do with the history of each particular breed. And some of this history isn’t pleasant or flattering. Here are two examples.
Some terriers were originally bred to be working dogs. And the length of their tail was important to their job. They were (and still are) born with long tails that were docked to make them more effective in their work.
Terriers were first developed in the British Islands centuries ago as tenacious hunters of mice, rats and other vermin. They were expected to tunnel into the ground, catch, and kill these rodents for their owners. Many terriers are small, and they can get into small tunnels or cracks as they hunt their prey. They’re bred to have short, strong legs so they can dig quickly. And their tail? Well, on some, it’s docked to a length just large enough for a human hand. That way, an owner can retrieve his dog from a hole or tunnel, grabbing him by this “handle.” If he weren’t pulled from his tunnel, a pooch might literally bury himself. A shorter tail is stronger and less likely to be injured when pulled. So tail docking for many terriers was done to make them more functionally efficient as working dogs.
Tail docking in some other breeds has historical roots that are less flattering. For example, dogs bred for fighting had their tails shortened to make them more formidable and less likely to be injured. Racing dogs had their tails shortened in an attempt to give them more speed. Historically, many of these animals were abused, treated only as a commodity to make money. Abuse was common and overlooked. Unfortunately, time hasn’t changed this. Dogs are still bred for fighting by some people. And while racing greyhounds and whippets don’t have their tails docked, many are abandoned if they can’t perform well on the track.
Tail docking is a simple and quick procedure, but it’s painful, even if for only a few seconds. It’s usually performed when pups are just a few days old. And similar to the circumcision procedure performed on baby boys, it’s done without anesthesia. Most pups immediately start nursing and or fall asleep after their surgery. Veterinarians that perform this procedure should (and most do) administer medication as needed for pain management.
Times have changed and terriers rarely are used as working dogs any more (they make wonderful pets). Other breeds similarly have evolved to where traditional tail docking isn’t necessary. Still, the tradition continues and is done by many breeders, at least in this country. The breed standard for many of these breeds still calls for a shortened tail.
More and more people feel that tail docking is unnecessary and should be eliminated. Even the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has come out in opposition to it, and encouraged that breed standards be changed so that a shortened tail is no longer necessary for show dogs. And in some European countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Cyprus and many more), docking has been completely banned. These old traditions are no longer acceptable there.
But it remains controversial in the United States. Most of us believe that it’s only a matter of time before cosmetic surgeries, tail docking and ear cropping are banished in this country.
Q:
Our dog, Patch, has a small growth on his lip that has been there for three weeks. It hasn’t grown and isn’t sore. I can touch it and he doesn’t seem to mind. It looks just like a wart, but I didn’t think that dogs ever got warts. Do they?
A:
While it’s not all that common, dogs do get warts or papillomas. Typically, they occur on the face but can also show up on the ears and even the feet. Warts in dogs are caused by a virus, similar to the one that affects people. They’re a benign growth that usually goes away without treatment, although this may take a few months. And you may not wish to wait that long. Many warts are easily removed with a little local anesthetic if the patient is relatively quiet and cooperative.
But a word of caution here. Even though Patch’s growth looks very much like a wart, I’d recommend you have it examined and perhaps biopsied by his veterinarian. Some less-common tumors can deceptively mimic a wart, but they can be far more serious and require more extensive treatment. A little peace-of-mind, knowing that his blemish was benign, may be worth the extra expense.
Q:
I heard that there are lots of purebred dogs available at shelters for adoption. I went to our local shelter and didn’t see any purebreds there. Is this true?
A:
The current economic crisis has caused a large increase in the numbers of pets dropped off at shelters. And yes, there are purebred dogs available for adoption, but some of these might not be found in shelters. A lot of purebred groups have rescue organizations that foster dogs of their breed that need new homes. These dogs might be any age; some are mature adults while others may be quite young. Breed rescue groups help these dogs find a new home. And the work they do is very important. Here’s why.
Rescue groups recognize the special needs of their breed. They place dogs that need a new family in foster homes until a permanent adoption can be arranged. Breed rescue works hard to screen prospective new families for their pets. They make sure that a dog is well-matched with a prospective new owner/companion so that they can happily spend an entire lifetime together. Without the work of purebred dog rescue groups, some dogs could be “adopted” by self-serving individuals who only would turn around and sell them to someone else. Homeless dogs deserve better than this, and rescue groups help them find a new permanent home, often without any fees.
If you’re interested in a particular breed, whether it’s a poodle, terrier or bulldog, search the Internet for contact information of a local breed rescue organization. Otherwise, you can ask a veterinarian for contact information.
