Rottweiler Tail Find Out If You Should Get It Docked

The Rottweiler is a medium-large-sized dog that originated in Germany.These dogs have been used as working dogs throughout their existence and have helped humans in various fields. Rottweilers are known for their muscular build, making them great herding dogs.Over the years, Rottweilers have become popular all across the globe because of their smart looks and easy-to-train attitude. These dogs are intelligent and pick up training fast and if trained well enough, can become loyal dogs that can serve the purpose of guards or live a nonchalant life depending on the situation they are living in.If you see the term ’tail docking’ the first thing that comes to mind will be a Rottweiler as these dogs are particularly known for their short tails. Rottweilers with short tails have existed for years and are still a common sight as short tails have been deemed as a necessity for these canines to participate in various competitions and events.Tail docking is something of an infamous practice as dog lovers around the world think of it as a painful procedure that harmless canines have to experience. However, some people deem it a good thing to do as tail docking is something that has continued for decades and is a practice that is still followed to this day.If you like this article about Rottweiler tail, be sure to check out articles about bear fishing and goat hair too!What is docking?Tail docking is a medical procedure where a breeder or a veterinarian removes a part of the tail of an animal.Tail docking is an inexpensive procedure and costs around $10 to $20 per animal. Before tail docking, the dog first goes through a check-up that can cost around $100. Tail docking is usually done at an early age that can be as soon as the animal is around two to five days old as the body is developing in this phase. Tail docking is usually frowned upon by dog lovers and has caused controversies similar to that of the procedures of debarking, ear cropping, and dewclaw removal.In the tail docking process, a part of the tail is snipped off using surgical scissors, or the tail can be made to drop off by cutting the blood supply by using a tight rubber band on the tail. The process is preferred to be done on young dogs as the price charged is usually higher for an older dog. In some cases, stitches are not required, but, in the case of large dogs, stitches might be needed to make sure the skin closes properly and there is no chance of a tail injury occurring.There are at least 70 dog breeds in the world that go through the tail docking procedure a few days after birth.If you have come across a Rottweiler puppy or an adult, you will have probably seen their small tails as Rottweilers are one of the most common guards or lookout dog breeds that have their tails docked.In certain animals, natural bobtails are caused due to genetic mutations and bobtail Rottweilers are born with normal tails that have been docked.In all of the dog breeds, the dogs’ tails are not as short as compared to the Rottweiler’s tail. The act of tail docking dates way back to Ancient Rome where people believed that tail docking the various dog breeds that they used as working dogs or herding dogs would prevent them from contracting rabies. Before a cure for rabies was found, it tormented humans for centuries.Coming back to the present day, the American Rottweiler has made an impression on people and they are described as large black, muscular dogs that are known for their short Rottweiler tails.Tail docking was made popular by the American Kennel Club (AKC) because it was made a part of the breed standard that dogs had to have to perform in competitions and dog shows, because of which some dog breeds have been made to undergo the tail docking procedure and comply with the set standard. The Rottweiler breed now includes a docked tail as part of breed standards.The docking of Rottweilers’ tails has a history behind it that goes back to their instinctual habits as working dogs and to protect them from any sort of tail injuries that might occur as they served their daily purpose. In some cases, tail docking was considered to reduce the back strength and to increase the speed of the dog as well as protect it from rabies.Tail docking is still something that is done today and might serve more of a cosmetic change than anything else. There are a lot of ethical questions surrounding this procedure as some Rottweiler breeders will tell you that is unnecessary as it subjects them to pain, especially if it is done for domestic goals.Some people think that visiting a veterinarian just for tail docking is expensive and may resort to non-breeders doing it, which might hamper the puppy’s life. To avoid such instances, it is important to clarify with the Rottweiler breeder that you are buying your puppy from whether the tail docking has been done by a professional or not.Aside from all this, the American Kennel Club supports tail docking by pointing out that this practice is good for conserving the breed’s appearance and good health. However, 40 countries have banned tail docking altogether, excluding only working dogs. Germany, where it all began, is one of those countries that has made it illegal to dock tails. To comply with Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler (ADRK), Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), and the World Canine Organization (WCO) rules, all German Rottweilers should have a natural tail.Tail docking has been seen as something of a cruel thing to do by pet owners all across the world who believe that a docked tail has no advantages over a natural tail.The American Kennel Club and breeders often justify the process by saying that puppies do not feel the pain of the tail docking process as their nervous system has not been fully developed yet. However, it is known that the nervous system of dogs is fully developed for basic purposes after they are born, making it possible that puppies do feel the pain.Another issue with tail docking, especially in dogs, can lead to communication problems as dogs are known for wagging their tails when they experience emotions. This communication problem can be a rather large issue with the Rottweiler breed because of tail docking.There are arguments from both sides and there are examples of when tail docking can be useful and when it can be harmful, but as of now, there is no solid explanation that can work in favor of either docked tails or natural tails.Why are rottweiler tails docked?The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about a dog that has its tail docked is the Rottweiler as their short tails have been synonymous with their name.The Rottweiler dog’s tail is often docked because of its role as a herding, hunting, and working dog.These canines were used as cart dogs in history because of their powerful bodies and paws that are great in the soil.In these cases, if the tails were not docked that would get in the way of the cart or get caught in the wheels which could have harmed the dog.Rottweilers with docked tails are a common sight in households where these animals are kept as pets. Dog tails can be a hindrance in their movement and the tail might bump into certain parts of the house or knock things over. Since Rottweilers are big dogs, their uncropped tail can be strong enough to hurt or trip people, particularly the elderly and the young ones.A Rottweiler with an intact tail has become rather rare as these friendly canines will get excited over things, and the more excited they become, the faster their tail wags which can cause issues.Rottweiler owners will know that undocked tails can make a lot of mess as the dogs might roll around in the dirt and drag their tails through dirt which can get all over your walls or your furniture. Since the dog’s tail is not in its control, they cannot do much about it, so to avoid such problems, most Rottweilers have their tails docked by the owners.Aesthetics is yet another reason why many people get their Rottweiler’s tail docked as a dog with a docked tail looks more threatening compared to a dog with a natural tail. Tail docking, along with cropped ears, has become something of a basic process that fighting dogs like Rottweilers and pit bulls go through.Much like other dogs that are muscular and well-built, the Rottweiler, too, is often used as a guard dog. Rottweilers have served various purposes throughout history and have also played the role of an attack and guard dogs. It is believed that the tail can get in the way of your Rottweiler’s role as a guard dog as their tails can be grabbed which can lead to the assailant escaping through the dog’s clutches. To prevent this, Rottweilers with tails docked are preferred over ones that have a normal tail as there is not much to grab. If they are used as hunting dogs, the docked tail can be an issue as it can get stuck in bushes or swamps.The Rottweiler, being one of the oldest dog breeds, has also served the role of herding livestock as a herding dog. Rottweilers take this role seriously, as they will not only bark, they will also intimidate livestock and bite or slam their bodies and exert as much physical force as possible to get stubborn animals like cattle and pigs to follow them to their pens.In many cases, a long tail is helpful in herding as it strikes a balance between fast movements, however, when the dog is exerting force by body slamming, the tail might become an issue and it can be stepped on by other animals when the tail is close to the ground.If a Rottweiler puppy was raised as a working dog, chances are that it has a docked tail to prevent any injuries from occurring to it.Should a Rottweiler’s tail be docked?This question has often been at the forefront of issues faced by certain dog breeds and the ethics are not still clear whether a Rottweiler with their tails docked has more usefulness than the ones that have normal tails.However, several situations reward you for docking your Rottweiler’s tails.The American Kennel Club has made tail docking a necessity to take part in their event as a docked tail is compulsory. Without a cropped tail, it is difficult to win awards in any competition held by the American Kennel Club.So, even if Rottweiler is the perfect breed standard, it will have a diminutive chance of winning anything in AKC-related competitions and events.According to the AKC show ring, the breed standards set for these canines require a Rottweiler’s tail to be docked, leaving behind one or two tail vertebrae.As aforementioned, a Rottweiler’s tail was docked to prevent tail injuries because of the status as a working dog breed that eventually turned into more a family-friendly pet breed.Thankfully, at least in the show business, rules and regulations are being set that have made it clear that docking the tail is no longer a necessity. Recently, the Rottweiler club based in North America has announced that the Rottweiler Klub of North America (RKNA) has decided to follow the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) breed standard and Rottweilers must have a tail to enter RKNA events.Last but not the least, canines express their emotions through their tails and a wagging tail is a sign of their emotions.Rottweiler Tail Docking LengthRottweilers’ tails are preferred to be docked so that they are very short, between the first and second vertebrae.In many cases, your Rottweilers might get injured by getting their tail caught in objects around them. If you wish to avoid such issues, a Rottweiler with a short tail will hopefully be thankful!It is recommended to take the help of professionals and you can do so by contacting reputable breeders around you to get information about trustworthy veterinarians.The process is rather simple and easy to do, and the ideal length of a tail is one to two vertebrae long.However, do remember that if you dock your dog’s tail you will never be able to experience the cute sight of a Rottweiler tail curl!In conclusion, the choice of docking is up to you and you alone should decide whether it is something that you want your Rottweiler to go through or something that you wish to avoid.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Rottweiler tail, then why not take a look at hyena tail or Rottweiler facts?

The Rottweiler is a medium-large-sized dog that originated in Germany.