German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America

kent_sutton · Newbie Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 5 Location: Boulder, CO

I picked my wire up at the pound and know nothing about his history...but I just had a random question. His tail isn't docked to the right length. Its more like a springers tail would be, just a nub. Any thoughts on why however docked it did it like this?

cmmilach · Posted: 11/25/03, 7:27 pm Post subject: Question about tail

Hi,

My male wire has a very short tail almost like what your dog has. My female wire has a longer tail, her breeder did it correctly.

I am not sure why my male's breeder did his tale so short. He had it done by a vet, maybe they just got confused about the length!

Cathy Embarassed

ANGUS · Junior Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 32 Location: BC Canada

HI there,,,my guys still has all of his tail as I bought him from a greman breeder,,,,about 70 percent of european countries as well as England and Austriala have past a no crop or dock law. I kinda like it,,you do have to get used to it....Angus has had no problems in the bush or in the house.we are in the bush just about every day,which is very dence here, lots of heavy under brush. I have shown him here in Canada and none of the judges have made any negitive comments.and he did place 5 in the sporting group..I know that in some of the banned countries you can not show your dog with a cropped tail if they were born 2000 or earlier.
I have had lots of good comments on him still having his tail,,alot of ppl are in support of the no crop or dock.
just my point on this,,,,enjoy your dog.

Tony · Master Joined: 22 Oct 2002 Posts: 197 Location: Iowa

The breed standard calls for a tail 2/5 of its original length. Apparantly many vets were not very good at math, because they think 2/5 is closer to 1/4 than it is to 1/2.

I've always measured and cut GWP & GSP tails at 1/2 their original length, and they have always looked fine.

alex_gwpuk · Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 2002 Posts: 2 Location: England

Beths · Posted: 11/26/03, 9:53 am Post subject: not docked?

I've been curious about how the GWPs look without a docked tail. Anyone have any pictures or can direct me to some? Thnx Beth

ANGUS · Junior Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 32 Location: BC Canada

Have a look at Korskote Kennles you will see some pictures there.
In England you can only get your dogs tial crop if they have injured it and it needs doctoring. as with the othe countries over there.

alex_gwpuk · Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 2002 Posts: 2 Location: England

ANGUS · Junior Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 32 Location: BC Canada

Sorry for the misinformation,,after talking with a UK breeder that was the impression I got.but I do understand the no docking of older dog unless needed for medical reasons......I have to say though that I do like my guy with his tail.....you just can't help but tell when he is really happy.
Very Happy

Soni · Junior Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Nebraska

We always wondered why our rescued male GWP's tail was just a nub - assumed it was a fluke and docked incorrectly - sound's like Baron isn't alone. Even the Cocker Spaniel we had as kids had a longer tail.

Deb Finstad · Posted: 12/03/03, 9:37 am Post subject:

Below is a link to the results of a study performed in Sweden about 10 years ago investigating the necessity of docking tails in German Shorthairs. Granted it's on a site that is pro-docking so there may be other studies that contradict the findings however, I think most of us that do hunt behind our dogs would agree with the investigators conclusions.

http://www.cdb.org/sweden.htm

Jon P · Senior Joined: 30 Nov 2002 Posts: 93

Done properly, there is little discomfort to the pup and the benefits are well proven. Anyone who really hunts has seen their share of Pointers/Setters/ Beagles with broken, infected or beat up tails.

The nub on your GWP was done by someone who didn't care what it looked like. Lot of Brits out there that look like Manx cats too.

Overall, I have to chuckle about this issue of tail docking - we continue to circumcise male children and mutilate female children in large parts of the world but docking tails is somehow cruel and inhumane. I love my dogs but some of these bleeding hearts need to get a life.
_________________
Jon P

axjms · Posted: 12/03/03, 1:34 pm Post subject: very interesting article

Thank you Deb for posting the link to the tail docking study. It was very informative. I am glad we don't have any anti-docking laws here in the US!

Deb Finstad · Posted: 12/04/03, 9:06 am Post subject:

ANGUS · Junior Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 32 Location: BC Canada

So what about the other long tailed breeds,,should they not be docked as well?? I am not against tail docking,,my Father and I always docked our puppies at 24hrs,,he had been taught by our local vet on the proper way to do this...I just thought I would see how you guys felt about the other long tail hunting breeds??? My uncle has had nothing but trouble with his labs tails,,,should they not be docked as well? just a thought..
Enjoy your dogs!