Is Tail Docking Necessary for Gundogs? The Controversy Explained

The docking of tails in certain gundog breeds has been practiced for centuries to prevent injuries and pain. These working gundogs navigate dense, often thorny vegetation, where their rapid tail movements can result in torn and bleeding tails that are painful and challenging to treat. It's crucial to note that in breeds where tail docking has been practiced for over a century, there has been no breeding for shorter or thicker tails. These dogs, like boxers, have unusually long and floppy tails, making them particularly susceptible to injury. Docking is a humane procedure that, when done correctly, prevents significant injury and distress. Unlike neutering, tail docking is much less stressful and does not have hormonal or other side effects. Wingshooters, working dog breeders, field trial clubs, and veterinarians who own gundogs agree that if tail docking is banned, the dogs would suffer.

For centuries, gundog breeds have been developed for specific working skills and physical structure, but not for tail length, shape, or carriage. This has led to many gundog breeds having undocked tails that are disproportionately long and thick relative to their bodies, often positioned low, which increases the risk of injury. Breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer and Vizsla, which have large tails with minimal hair protection, are particularly vulnerable. Tails with thick hair and an undercoat, such as those of wolves, foxes, or retrievers, are much less prone to injuries. The risk for shorthaired Pointer breeds is exacerbated by their working style, as they run at high speeds through the field with rapid tail movements. These dogs frequently travel more than 60 miles in one day across thorny and rugged terrain, which raises the risk of injury. In contrast, retriever breeds like the Golden Retriever and Labrador primarily focus on retrieving. They typically do not search for birds but only move when needed to retrieve, covering much less ground than pointing breeds. Their tails are proportionate to their bodies and have a thick protective coat of hair. As a result, there has never been a need to dock the tails of these breeds.

The following examples highlight the risk of tail injury if docking is banned. After docking was prohibited in Sweden in 1989, tail injuries significantly increased among breeds that were previously docked. Of the 50 undocked Pointer litters registered that year with the Swedish Kennel Club, 38% of dogs experienced tail injuries before reaching 18 months of age. By 1991, this figure had risen to 51% in the same group (Gunilla Strejffert, Report to the Swedish Breed Council for German Shorthaired Pointers, 1992, Borlange, Sweden). More concerning is the fact that only 16% of injury cases had improved, 40% showed no improvement, and over half of the dogs with tail injuries had worsened over the two years. An ad hoc survey among English Pointer owners in South Africa, another shorthaired breed, suggests that at least one in five English Pointers suffers from some form of tail injury during their lifetime. The English Pointer’s tail is traditionally not docked, primarily due to it being relatively short in proportion to its body, which lowers the risk of tail injury. Despite this, the English Pointer often experiences tail injuries, particularly when working in thorny bushveld regions. In contrast, over the past 17 years in South Africa, there have been no reported tail injuries in the shorthaired German Pointer breeds, which are typically docked. This can only be attributed to the fact that the tails of all working German Pointer breeds have been docked until now.

In the USA, most gundog tails are docked with a very sharp tool to ensure the procedure is quick and minimizes pain. This is done when puppies are between three to five days old, as their nervous system is not fully developed at this age. For German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs), the tails are docked to retain half of their original length, which is sufficient to cover the genital area and aids in communication and balance. The American breed standard for Vizslas, calls for their tails should be docked to two-thirds of their original length.

The tail of a Bracco Italiano should be docked to a length of 6–10 inches from the base.

Docking is performed when puppies are very young. At this stage, their eyes are still closed, and extensive experience shows that if done properly, the procedure causes minimal or no pain or discomfort. Typically, puppies will emit a single yelp during docking and then quickly return to their mother to feed or sleep. There is no indication that the docking procedure hinders their development or weight gain in any way.

If a dog's tail is damaged during adulthood, it often does not heal well or may not heal at all. This is primarily because the injury is frequently knocked against objects, the tail has poor blood circulation, and the dog tends to lick and chew the area. The healing process can be painful and prolonged, causing significant distress to the dog. Such injuries often lead to necrosis of the tail tip. Partial amputation can sometimes treat this, but secondary issues during healing may necessitate multiple amputations before healing is achieved. Dogs can damage their long tails in the home environment. Although less than the 51% rate of tail damage seen in pointer breeds in Sweden after the tail docking ban, a 17% incidence is still significant. Damage can range from broken tips to complete fractures further up the tail, just beyond the usual docking point. Since treatment does not address the underlying cause, these injuries often recur and frequently result in the need for amputation.

Tail docking in gundog breeds is done not for aesthetic purposes but to prevent significant injuries. Fieldwork is an activity initiated by humans, for which we must take responsibility. We must avoid distress and pain in our dogs. Treating tail injuries in adult dogs is an expensive, lengthy, and repetitive process compared to docking—and ultimately, much more painful and stressful for the very animal whose welfare we aim to protect. Ultimately, the rationale for tail docking is fundamental to good medicine and animal care.

From a professional perspective, not docking Tails and removing and dew-claws of certain gundog breeds meant for fieldwork in the specified manner is deemed unethical. Additionally, from a legal standpoint, this omission is viewed as animal cruelty.