Tail Docking

[JaniceH]

Please can anyone tell me why Rotties had their tails docked originally.

I appreciate it is the breed standard, but unlike some working field dogs like spaniels, I can't work out why a rottie had theirs docked in the first place. They were herding dogs at one point, yet other breeds doing a similar job didn't have their tails docked.

This is just a point of interest.

Thank you.

Love to all rotts

[Boomer97]

I'm not sure anyone can say with complete certainty why docking was started in Rotties. One less thing to get in the way, stepped on or held on to during herding, carting and guard work.

[Ocean]

I have read that it was because when the Rottweiler (which translates to "Red Tile") was originally bred/used as a working dog in the town of Rottweil, Germany, they were known as the "butcher's dog" because they pulled the meat wagon for the town butchers. Their tail was originally docked because it got caught in the spokes of the cart otherwise.

Anyhow, this is what I read.

[JaniceH]

Thank you for the info...very interesting.

[Rott-Wiley]

I've read about two different theories about docking the tails. One was because of carting, to not have a tail in the way of the harness or cart and the other was to have one less thing to be able to grab in bite work. What's interesting is that there are some 50 different breeds that do have their tails docked per their standard for one reason or another.

[Rocky's_mom]

Rocky still has his tail and if he notices it at any time he will chase it. Until of course he runs into the couch or chair or if I tell him to sit he will. :D

[JaniceH]

I am just about to get Teazle, my new rottie pup. It was so cute to see her tiny excuse for a tail wagging. It made me think of my bitch who died last christmas. Her tail was so short that sometimes I had to concentrate to see if it was erect and wagging, which it usually was !!!

Thank you for the insight. Now when I am asked I can sound more informative.

Kisses to all your rotts.

[fbkeays]

The story I heard was the pet dogs were taxed as a luxury. If the dog was a working dog, then they docked the tails and weren't taxed. Another story was that the dogs would bed down with the cattle. If a cow stepped on the tail, it would be very painful and get infected, causing the dog to "lose work" time while it was either amputated or killed the dog. To avoid the future injury, the tail was taken off at birth.

[TrishB]

From what I've heard, fbkeays is correct. :)

[VON KIRCHER]

I have heard and read a combo of the theories. One of them being the tax on the dogs, while the other was possible infection. One story wrote that the tail could become injured, and since the dogs worked with cattle and sheep that a fecal build up would cause an infection in the tail. During that time, most infections led to death.

[TrishB]

My understanding was not so much as infection but the injury itself. Injuries stopped the dog from being able to work. A dog that couldn't work couldn't earn it's keep.

Sounds mean, but it was a reality of the time. They were beasts of burden that were depended upon to complete a task. If they couldn't work - there was no need for them.

So there's a whole bunch of reasons - but in today's society, it's only due to the written standard and personal preferences.

[spidey]

the tail could become injured, and since the dogs worked with cattle and sheep that a fecal build up would cause an infection in the tail.

This reason, of all of them, seems the least likely to me. Very few herding breeds have docked tails, including Cardigan Welsh Corgis, which not only have long tails and longsih hair, but are low-built dogs - you'd think if the tail getting stepped on or feces building up was an issue requiring docking, this breed would need it more than most, and you'd see it in more herding breeds, when in fact it's very uncommon to see docked tails in herding breeds.

[JaniceH]

This has been really interesting reading.

Thank you all.