Elina

Like take voting rights away from colored people and bring slavery back to business But seriously. If you look at many old photos of dogs, we have changed so much. We haven't really protected many breeds, we have done lots of harm. I don't think leaving tails to dogs cause anymore harm, quite opposite.

Hi, thanks for clearing out these facts. I haven't said even once that tail docking is cruel. Haven't I? All i have said is that there is a reason why dogs are meant to have tails.

Hi Elina , tails are not actually crucial for balance, otherwise all those docked doggies would be constantly falling over, and they just don't. To OP, I am getting used to tails, but still love the look of the docked dogs I see out there. Not many left now though. Damn, it's really hard to express myself with foreign language. But not are four legs crucial either. I have seen many dogs walking and running very well with three legs. Anyhow, what i try to say, is that there is a reason why (most) dogs born with tails. And reasons why most in this thread are saying they don't like tails are not because they are afraid the tail will get hurt, it's because it doesn't look good.

1. No. 2. I have had giant schnauzer. 3. No, but how on earth is this relevant?! 4. No, but i have owned dogs who have broke their legs while stepping to something sharp. That has been painful for a dog and needed many weeks care. Maybe we should cut one leg as well while docking tails. This would diminish the risk that one leg will get hurt. Leg is not VITAL (sorry about my previous mistake, it's this language barrier) part for dog either. Just very crucial for balance just like tail. It is quite impossible to discuss about topic with someone, who is so fanatic of something. I haven't said that I think docking tails is cruel. I have just said that attitudes in my country has changed after 15 years. If Australian countryside is so dangerous for dogs tails, why kelpies and dingos have tails? And I have understood that most people live in cities nowadays? We have lots of hunting dogs in Finland. I have heard of a few GSP's has had tail damages while running in a thick forrest during hunting. I could approve docking for that breed. Do you hunt with dogs?

My answers to your questions are very irrelevant about the matter that I just wanted to tell that maybe long tails doesn't feel so bad anymore after 15 years. Maybe that bring a little comfort to someone.

I just told what replys I got from a country where has longer history of banning docking. Sorry, no needs to attack to me. We just have already now new generation of dog owners who are shaken that docking has been approved before. It sounds so absurd nowdays for many people. Sorry, I didn't realise this was such a sensitive topic that I wasn't allowed to anwer this at all...

I just told what replys I got from a country where has longer history of banning docking. Sorry, no needs to attack to me. We just have already now new generation of dog owners who are shaken that docking has been approved before. It sounds so absurd nowdays for many people. Sorry, I didn't realise this was such a sensitive topic that I wasn't allowed to anwer this at all...

Well, that's totally different topic, but in my country desexing is not so popular and is usually made because of medical reasons. I have hardly ever heard that dogs under one year old would have desexed.

This was so interesting topic that I had to make an inquiry about docking in Finnish dog forum. How has attitudes changed after 15 years (docking was banned in 1996). I remember there was lots of all kinds of discussion after banning. I have got over 60 replys and only one said that she would like to go back for docking. Many told that they still think that especially dopes looks better without tail but they still think docking is wrong. Almost all mentioned that it feels now ridiculous that tails has been ever docked from pet dogs. What an arrogance to cut away one vital part of the body. Maybe there are more similar thoughts in Australia after 10 years.

Is docking banned in Australia recently? I don't own docked breed at the moment but i bought giant schnauzer puppy in 1997 just after tail docking was banned in 1996 in Finland. It took just a while to get use to the look, but i preferred my dog as a whole package.

^Many thanks for your generous offer but we are already very close to Sydney

Hi Aannie, We are leaving from Australia at the end of this month, so we can't help you I don't know if other house sitter "do" kids, but it doesn't cost anything to try. If someone will need house sitter in Sydney in April, we would be more than happy to help.

^It seems that we could come to visit Very kind words from Dodo Her dogs are lovely and we really loved the beautiful garden. It was very nice week in the countryside We are still looking for a house sitting place from Sydney. At the moment we are in Melbourne.

Shame, I wouldn't have had any problems walking dogs twice a day and have very recent references.

And when were you travelling overseas? Me and my boyfriend are looking for a house sitting place from Sydney for April, but you propably are not going anywhere with such short notice. We have done house sittings for three dog owners who all have used house sitters also previously. They all said they haven't ever had any problems.