[shodulsilfeli]

Just curious what people think on the Tail docking. I grew up all our dogs had the tails docked before they reached 2 days old. I no longer do this practice and have not for many years because I love the look of a true APBT or Amstaffs tail. My grandfather cut them because ?? I have no clue I asked and he told me because I told you to Now massage the damn skin and get it lose and slide it up and cut the tail off. He passed 30 ++ years ago so guess I will never know exactly why I can speculate by what some of the other hog guys told me but most of them used mixes APBT/English Bulldog seen some APBT/Redbone hound mixes seen some who knows what they are anymore mixes Just pure Hogg Dawg.

[wentscat]

I think, so far I've only met ONE amstaff in person that had a docked tail lol... and it was because his tail got stuck somewhere and it was broken to badly to even mind fixing it so they just took it off

I think it's more of a physical preference when it's not done for hunting purposes.
I actually don't like seeing rots, jack russels, dobes, etc with tails... and over here, tail docking and ear cropping is now illegal...

I can find a way to have it legally done, it would just require me to buy the pup from the breeder with cropped ears or a docked tail, or have it done elsewhere, but I wouldn't reccomend that as it would require falsified paperwork stating you bought the dog that way... it's not that hard/bad if you really wanted it though... only if you plan on showing, as the dog would be immediatly disqualified if he's not born before that law passed so no big deal for me

[Kalobbis]

The only purebred APBTs I've seen with docked tails had it done form medical reasons.

[sesWaipunsaws]

From one of the many articles on the subject:

The Romans docked tails in their ignorant belief that the procedure prevented the rabies disease from occurring. Herding breeds tails were docked because of the nuisance of burrs and fox tails getting entangled. Others were docked because of hygienic reasons especially in those dogs with lots of hair around their tails.

Dog breeds that were historically used as working dogs appeared to have encountered various issues from their tails getting severely cut as they ran through bushes. Sooner or later infections would set in making tail docking a common preventative procedure. With little or none veterinary at those times, docking seemed like a wise preventive measure.
It must be considered as well that centuries ago in Germany, taxes were collected from the owners of non-working dogs, these taxes were defined as "tail taxes" since the distinguishing feature between a working dog and a non working dog was the presence or abscense of it's tail.
This is because most breeds in particular had their tails docked depending on how they were primarily utilized at work.

[Aagotiq]

docking an apbt's tail for anything other than medical reasons is ridiculous and shouldnt be done

[tabcdyop]

Tail docking is not something that was or should ever be done to APBTs or ABs (American Bulldogs). It was never a part of the standard nor does it serve any purpose whatsoever with either breed.

As for when it should be done, between 3 and 5 days of age (with 5 days old really pushing it IMO). Should it be done for medical reasons, it is considered a major surgery in which the dog goes under general anesthesia.

[MegaJIT]

I personally do not think it should be done to APBT's, AmStaffs, AmBullies, or AB's. There is no reason to do so, other than if there is a medical reason.

[sobre]

Tail docking is not something that was or should ever be done to APBTs or ABs (American Bulldogs). It was never a part of the standard nor does it serve any purpose whatsoever with either breed.

As for when it should be done, between 3 and 5 days of age (with 5 days old really pushing it IMO). Should it be done for medical reasons, it is considered a major surgery in which the dog goes under general anesthesia.

When people see me with my dog, a lot of them have asked about his ears and tail. I have always been confused by this because I didn't think this was a breed standard. Why would I doc an apbt's tail? I think this just proves how ignorant people are about the breed in general.

[IdomeoreTew]

Yeah, me too, but I have to explain that its a disq for apbt to have a docked tail.
A lot of people dock their bandogs, but I don't. They seem to use their tails to their advantage when they are running like in turning, so I don't want to take that away from them.
The only dogs I've ever docked are my jrts because they hunt, and I sell them for more than my bandogs, so I figure they should fit standard.
My cobreeder doesn't dock, but those dogs just hunt rats and get possums from under the chicken coops, so whatver.

[shodulsilfeli]

Tail docking is not something that was or should ever be done to APBTs or ABs (American Bulldogs). It was never a part of the standard nor does it serve any purpose whatsoever with either breed.

As for when it should be done, between 3 and 5 days of age (with 5 days old really pushing it IMO). Should it be done for medical reasons, it is considered a major surgery in which the dog goes under general anesthesia.

Sorry But you are wrong with that statement that was done to APBT alot of the guys I know that Hog hunt will dock the tails not all but alot I prefer not to dock but alot of guys still do it to this day on the hog dogs

[legal-advicer]

Sorry But you are wrong with that statement that was done to APBT alot of the guys I know that Hog hunt will dock the tails not all but alot I prefer not to dock but alot of guys still do it to this day on the hog dogs

Mia is far from wrong, Tail docking is/was not a common practice for the APBT. As Mia stated, it serves no real value, in fact, its does the opposite. The tail is used for balance, which a match dog needs, so to remove it would be rather counter-productive and reasons why it was never a common practice.

As for hog hunting, Mia knows her shit in that department too. Once again it serves no real purpose for hunting so its not needed. The only tails that really need to be removed are on earth hunters. Earth hunters need to turn around while burrowed so docking is required. They leave the stub as so the owner has a handle to grab onto while removing the dog from the hole that they had entered.

If you know people who tail dock for hog hunting I would question thier practice. Not a single hog hunter nor do any real breeder of APBT's that I know dock tails, it is pointless for this breed, whichs is why anyone who is anyone in this breed does not incorporate tail docking into thier respected practice.

[HornyMolly]

imo, there is NO reason to dock an APBT (or any bulldog breeds) tail. as much as i hate getting smacked in the face, etc. i prefer tails.

[VipInoLo]

I see no reason to cosmeticly dock a bullies tail.The ONLY reason should be medical(unsalvagable injury to the tail).The tail is used for balance while running/turning/jumping and 'matching' and would be a disadvantage to the dog if removed.So docking a bully breed shouldn't be correct.
As for Bandogge's being docked,I am uncertain if it is done on them or not.Also of the mollessors/working-gaurding breeds,some do get docked.Boerboals (aka south african mastiff) Rottweilers,Dobermanns,terrier breeds like JRT, as this helps in the original function.

[IdomeoreTew]

Prophecy, most people who raise bandogs do dock their tails. I am the exception raTher than the rule.

Hogar, hog hunter or not, Apbt with docked tail is a disquaLification.
I never before saw apbt with docked tail except one that got it chewed off in an accidental fight.

[shodulsilfeli]

most of the hog hunters that I know could care less about a disqualification

[VipInoLo]

Prophecy, most people who raise bandogs do dock their tails. I am the exception raTher than the rule.

Hogar, hog hunter or not, Apbt with docked tail is a disquaLification.
I never before saw apbt with docked tail except one that got it chewed off in an accidental fight.

Thanks DDD,I did not know weather they docked them or not.I don't know too much about the Bandogges.I know they do dock some mastiff breeds and I wasn't sure if they did Bandogge's tails or not.I know boerboal mastiffs they do dock them,more often than not.The english mastiff they do not dock.Thanks,I now learned something new.

[IdomeoreTew]

I am not sure why peolple dock bandogs, I think its just for aesthetics, because they are guardians- and not really in a position to risk injury to tail any more than other body parts. Not like a terrier who might get it chewed off in a hole...
Hogar, how many apbt do you know docked? Can we have some pix?

[shodulsilfeli]

I am not sure why peolple dock bandogs, I think its just for aesthetics, because they are guardians- and not really in a position to risk injury to tail any more than other body parts. Not like a terrier who might get it chewed off in a hole...
Hogar, how many apbt do you know docked? Can we have some pix?

Well I grew up in the south Hog hunting with My father and grandfather along with alot of their friends My grandfather and Father have now both passed and so have alot of the guys and those that have not I have lost contact with Like I said in my previous post I do not dock tails. I also no longer hunt and have not in a long while due to a disability and I know live in AZ will be kinda hard to get pictures. The reason I asked this question was that I was thinking back on my life and my Dad and I remembered docking the tails it was very common in the guys I grew up around that hog hunted but I do not see it as much now but I also am not around the hunting scene any more.

[IdomeoreTew]

Are you sure they were apbt, and not curs?
I've heard of people docking black mouths for catching sometimes?
Wouldn't surprise me some time ago, of course its possible, but I am fairly certain that no dogman who is selling dogs would do it. I suppose someone intending on keeping their own litter could do as they please though.

[tabcdyop]

Hogar, I have been hog hunting for over 20 years and never in that time have I ever seen a hunter dock the tails of his dogs whether they were APBTs, AB (American Bulldogs), Catahoula Bulldogs, Catahoula Curs, whatever.

I've been heavily involved in the APBT world for over 12 years and I've never seen or heard of anyone docking the tails of their dogs. I've been involved with ABs for about 10 years and the ONLY instance I've seen where someone docked their dogs' tails was some idiot who bred "long-haired" ABs and stated that "all purebred ABs have their tails docked". Kinda makes me go hmmmmm.............

As ColbyDogs mentioned, there is no purpose for the docking of tails in those dogs. In fact, the tail is an extension of the spine and is very useful in balance.

Many terrier breeds have their tails docked because they are earth dogs, meaning their task is to go to ground when hunting. The docked tail, only docked a short amount, provides a more stable handle for the handler to grab onto when pulling the dog out of ground.

I'm not sure why all those people you know advocate the docking of tails in APBTs and ABs, but I don't know if I wouldn't find a new crew of people to learn from. And I would love to hear of their reasoning for doing so.