I am sure you have seen many Yorkies with short tails which means their tails were docked. You have gotten a Yorkshire Terrier puppy recently but you don’t know what to do about his tail. Should you dock your Yorkie’s tail or not?
Actually, it depends. If you live in a country (such as the UK or Canada) where tail docking is not legal, of course, you won’t do that. If you live in the USA, you can do it if you like.
If you plan to make your dog participate in dog shows then tail docking is a must, otherwise, he will be disqualified. There is no real medical reason for tail docking though, it’s purely aesthetic.
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Is Yorkie’s Tail Docking Legal?
The world is pretty divided about this. Some countries are strongly against this practice while others recommend it or even require it for dogs taking part in dog shows.
American Kennel Club, the most respected pure dog breeds club suggests that Yorkie’s tail should be docked to medium length. In general, tail docking is legal in the USA with exception of Pennsylvania which local law says that no tail docking can be done on puppies older than 5 days without anesthesia.
The puppies can handle anesthesia only if they are 12 weeks old or more so if your puppy is between 5 days and 12 weeks old and you live in PA, tail docking is illegal.
Another exception is Maryland where tail docking must be done using anesthesia.
Other countries in which tail docking is legal: France, Hungary, India, Czech Republic, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Thailand, Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia, Egypt, Indonesia, Philipines, Taiwan… In New Zealand, the tail docking procedure is legal but only if it’s done on puppies less than 4 days old.
Countries that consider tail docking as illegal practice: Austria, Belgium, Brasil, England, Greece, Italy, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, Colombia, Turkey … In Germany, Ireland, Serbia, and Wales tail docking in certain working dog breeds is allowed.
Why Yorkie Tails Are Docked?
Today, tail docking in Yorkies is strictly aesthetic and it’s a marker of this breed. But if you want to know when and why this practice started, we have to go back in time.
In the 18th century England the authorities decided to charge a tax to every person who owns pet dogs. On the other hand for owning a working dog, people didn’t have to pay any tax.
Working dog owners came up with idea on how to make their dogs look different from the pet dogs. Tail docking was not only useful to make a difference between dogs but also to decrease the number of accidents and injuries working dogs suffered from due to their tails.
Nowadays the situation is different, the number of working dogs is far smaller than it used to be. There is no tax for pets. Medicine and science never supported the claims that docked tails prevented injuries so there is no medical reason for this practice.
A docked tail won’t help your Yorkie to improve motor skills in regard to movement.
The tail docking should be done only if your Yorkie will compete in dog shows, otherwise, there is no point.
In the USA, many dog breeders dock the Yorkie tail before you buy the dog. So there is no time for you to decide whether you want to do this or not. It’s pretty common but if you insist on having Yorkie with his natural length tail, do speak with the breeder.
In most cases, you can place a deposit for a puppy from the expected litter and ask the breeder to leave his tail as it is.
If you have an older Yorkie or a dog with a number of health issues, don’t bother him with tail docking. Older dogs and dogs with fragile health don’t recover fast. No need to expose your dog to unnecessary risk.
When Yorkie Tail Should Be Docked?
The most common time for tail docking is 72-96 hours after birth. Although it seems cruel, in reality, it’s not.
First of all, Yorkies are pretty small when they are born and their tails are rather slim.
The nervous system of a newborn Yorkie is not fully developed, better to say – immature so he won’t feel the pain that an older dog would feel for sure.
When Yorkie comes to this world, the only sense that works well is a sense of smell, others are rather weak. It takes 2-4 weeks for the development of the nervous system to be completed. The healing process is also faster in this early period.
If you have a Yorkie older than 5 days then you will have to wait for several weeks, at least while your puppy is about 12 weeks old. The reason is that older newborns can feel pain very well.
How Tail Docking is Done?
There are two ways to do tail docking. The first is called Simple Banding and this procedure is characteristic for tail docking in newborns. Another is a surgical method and it is reserved more for older puppies.
In the Simple banding method, the point is to constrict the blood supply to the upper part of the tail and then to cut it off using a sterile clamp and scissors.
If you are not certified for this procedure, don’t do it by yourself, let the professional perform the procedure.
Some owners also suggest tying a bandage or clean piece of thread around half of the tail to cut the blood supply. The upper part of the tail should fall off in 3 days.
When you decide to ask for professional help, it’s good to know that this procedure is not expensive, it might cost you between 10-20$.
Another method is classical surgery with anesthesia included. Newborns cannot cope with anesthesia that is why this method is not recommended for very young puppies but when they are 12 weeks they are perfectly capable to handle it.
Simple banding is not an option then, because the tail now has its own nerves, and cutting it, would cause great pain to your pet.
The surgical method is far more comfortable but more expensive as well. Depends on your vet, but the procedure may cost you around 100$.
If your dog is 12 weeks or older and you decide on surgery, note that you shouldn’t feed your dog 12 hours before it. In most cases, the surgery is done under general anesthesia and it takes 45-90 min to complete.
Of course, you have to be aware that any procedure may end up with complications. If it’s done improperly, it can cause a lot of pain, infection, bad look, etc.
Is Tail Docking Painful For Yorkies?
If it’s done as it should be and when it should be, no, it’s not painful. The puppy will feel a certain level of discomfort but since it doesn’t have nerves in the tail and the puppy’s nervous system is still immature, tail docking won’t cause major problems.
How Long Does Recovery Period Take?
If you dock the tail to your newborn when he is 3-5 days old, the recovery period almost doesn’t exist. If you tied the thread around his tail, it usually takes 3 days for the upper part to fall off.
In case of surgery, the wound also heals very fast, just be careful in the first few hours after the operation, and if you see any sign of bleeding do call your vet.
Conclusion
Tail docking is not a necessary procedure unless you are raising a dog for dog shows. In that case ( especially if you live in the USA) tail docking is a must, otherwise, your Yorkie will be disqualified.
Depending on the age of your dog, there are two ways to have this done. Simple banding is a perfect method for newborns( until they are 5 days old) and surgery with anesthesia is for older puppies or grown-up dogs. Avoid tail docking in older and sick dogs.
Some world-known associations such as The World Small Animal Veterinary Association oppose tail docking.
Since the tail is a means of communication for dogs, his removal may affect the perception of other animals. The removed tail may cause problems with joints and motor skills as well.
