[hbwright]

I just got off the phone with the Doberman Pinscher club secretary about training for Jordan. We had a lovely conversation and got me all excited and so ready to get training started. When we talked about the tail she recommended we get the tail docked ASAP because of the risk of injury and the tail "splitting". She says this is not a very pretty sight and extremely painful to the dog. Now I'm petrified and very confused. Honestly I love this little tail of his and the way it curls up when he is walking and how it flares around when he wags and I just know he is so happy to see me. Of course I always knew when the nub and whole butt followed that Cleo was happy to see me too, tail or no tail.

She did give me the name of a good cropper/docker (ears WILL stay natural) and I'm contemplating calling him. I feel badly about this and want to make the right decision for Jordan. I have definitely been considering the dew claws being removed. I've had too many injuries with them and they bleed like mad when they are snagged and they always snag on something until they start to grow into the foot.

Has anybody ever heard of this "splitting" of the tail?

 

[Luvbirds]

The dog that made me fall in love with Dobermans was a huge Red Male Dobie/Weim mix that hubby and I had 23 years ago. His tail was like a huge rubber whip. He was about 30 inches tall and the tail was the perfect height to knock things off of tables, whip into people...especially a certain spot on men, and hit walls. He constantly had a bloody tip of his tail, and would literally paint the walls with blood, when he walked down them wagging his whip. We never did anything about the tail and we ended up losing him at only 4.5 years old.

Carol ox

 

[dobes4us]

When I worked for a Vet years ago, we had two Danes that the Dr. "cropped" the tails on when they were about 2 because they always had bloody tips from hitting walls etc. Before the crop, the owner would bandage, they would heal and the cycle would start over again. I don't have experience with Dobes tails, I am sure someone from the UK will respond.

 

[hbwright]

In the other thread on tail docking I think Elly mentioned that she didn't notice problems with the tails not being docked. I was hoping to hear this again. I think I may call for a consult and get more information and go from there. I keep looking at his tail now and just feel so bad. I want him to be able to keep it, it is adorable and he loves to play with it. But on the other hand I'd feel terrible if there were problems and I did nothing to prevent it.

 

[elly]

Why don't you leave the tail like it is, you said you like it, and believe me it is so nice, my little boy has a tail, they all have in Holland these days.


So no more confusion

 

[hbwright]

Okay, I just spoke with the recommended vet and he has the same opinion elly. There is an increased risk, just like any other dog out there but he has not noticed anything doberman or dane related (asked because my neighbors have an undocked dane). His suggestion is that if we wanted to keep the tail to stick with the wait and see approach and hopefully it will never be an issue. True, if there were a problem I'd rather have prevented it when at a young age but at the same time we're dealing with a pup who was probably sold from an accidental backyard breeding, sold to a lady with a young son in an apartment, send to animal control where he spent two weeks, got neutered one day and on to his new home the very next day. I really don't want to be the source of more stress and pain for this little boy at this point.

I do feel better after calling this vets office who sounds like they deal with the breed routinely.

 

[elly]

I think we cross posted, but I ment not docking, all the dobermanns who born in Holland and Belgium scandinavie and more european countries are not docked, so for us its been easy we don't have to make that choice. But I must say that I really really like those tail, especially when they also have their ears. But when I have a choise I would leave it as well no cropping and docking.

I never hear people about the tail, that it would give any problems I am shure there will be exceptions, but not where I am aware of.

so more and more European Countries won't crop and dock anymore,I haveheard that Italy and spain not alowed it anymore.

so thats my thoughts why make it diffecult! If you like it, keep his tail no matter what other people say!

 

[DreamDoby]

I would keep it any way that you want it. If you want it natural and like the look keep it, more power to you.

 

[Lexus]

I say keep it too

 

[hbwright]

Thank's y'all. I'm going back to my origional stance in that he will be keeping the tail. His little puppy eyes are telling me he doesn't want to go through any more then he already has and the waggy tail tells me it likes to be there.

 

[LindaH]

I also had a dobe/weim cross with long tail and ears. NEVER once did he hurt his tail in the 13 1/2 yrs I had him. He was an inside and outside dog. Yes, forget keeping anything on the coffee table.

 

[Fitzmar Dobermans]

to me it is pretty simple: if you want to leave his tail natural, then leave it. If you want a docked tail then have it done. I don't think anyone is going to give you grief for your decision.

The only long tailed dog I've had as an adult was a Greyhound. It was a long whippy tail very similar to a Dobermans. It could leave a welt on a bare leg and clear the low tables. He did crack it on something good enough to bleed all over a couple of times, but not bad enough to worry about.......... other than washing blood off of walls and such.

 

[brumwolf]

When I worked for a Vet years ago, we had two Danes that the Dr. "cropped" the tails on when they were about 2 because they always had bloody tips from hitting walls etc. Before the crop, the owner would bandage, they would heal and the cycle would start over again. I don't have experience with Dobes tails, I am sure someone from the UK will respond.

Our tail docking ban starts in about 1 week from now,still a very rare site to see a Dobe with a tail here at the moment.

 

[doberkim]

If you want to leave it natural, leave it.

The fact remains at this point, to dock his tail will be a full surgical amputation - whether you do it NOW or in 2 years or 4 years. So leave it now and see how it works, if that is what you want

 

[lanabana]

I own a pit with a tail that could knock anything to the ground....cups, glasses, remote controls, you name it she could knock it down. Yes, she has had a bloody tip once or twice from wiggly waggling against the wall- is it anything that can't be handled - no. If you want to keep the tail, keep the tail....imo, tails have so much personality. Just my opinion.

 

[tjmom]

Both of my dobies have docked tails. I think that you should do want you feel is right for your dog and not someone else tells you. If you want the tail natural than I say why not, it's your dog.

 

[Jenny]

I like the tail Glad he's keeping it.

 

[frznbuns]

Hey, it is your dog so you do what is best for your baby.. either way he sure is a cutie!