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I am a breeder and trainer and i am wondering what ppl think about the natural doct rottweilers.Are there any health problems to look out for beyond what the norm is for rotties; or any canine for that matter? They are registerable and acknowledged by most organizations. Are they a calmer breed? because they were not submitted to the painful docting of the tail are they sturdier or un-conformationable. Do they look different or act different.Why hasn't the natural doct become more desirable? Will they eventually stop the docting process in the USA as in the European countries? Please if you have the answer to any of these questions PLEASE RESPOND!!!Iespecially want to hear from the expert and the owner's.

>>. Are they a calmer breed? because they were not submitted to the painful docting of the tail are they sturdier or un-conformationable. Do they look different or act different.>>

I don't think their tails have any effect on the dogs behavior or temperment. Both of my rotties have long tails. They don't know they are any different from all the other rotties they've encountered over the years. However, if you are not used to long-tailed dogs you do have to be aware of the fact that waging tails can clear a coffee/end table in one fell swoop. The main reason for originaly docking tails was so they wouldn't be broken during carting or herding. In the ring, here in America, the tails must be docked. For agility or any other compitition I don't think there are specific rules regarding the tails.
Hope someone with "professional" experience can give you more info.
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Claudia and the Booze Hounds
Brandy & Hooch,CGC
Without dreams there is no need to work,
without work there is no need to dream

I am sorry for the way i made that sound. i was refferring to the NATURAL DOCT BLOODLINES(Born without Tail).

There are very,very FEW Rotties born with a "Naturally Docked" tail. (The word is Docked). However if one WERE naturally born with a Docked tail It should NOT be bred. Genetics for dogs who come naturally docked if bred to another natural docked dog can cause spinal problems, etc.
Also, in AKC COnformation of the Rottie the Docking MUST be very specific as to the length and SET of the tail. (How many vertibrae it is how it sits) no NATURAL dog will have this. Docking is done by expert breeders and vets WITH experience in THAT particular docked breed as to how many vertibrae must be docked and the set of the tail..
I highly doubt you will ever see "Whole tail dogs" here in america in AKC showing circuits, while it CAN happen, the parent clubs have specific standards for DOCKING only, and since this is the land of freedom, the general concensus is that docking is more asethically pleasing than the non-docked look (which looks like a big ol' Labrador tail) As far as a dog HAVING a 'Natural Tail' physically and tempermentally it won't make a hill of beans of difference. Rotts do not have the Whip tail such as Great Danes so there is no 'higher incidence of tail injury' and like a child being ear pierced young or having a circumcision, tail docking is done so YOUNG (between day 2-4) that there is NO residual pain or discomfort (if done by a very KNOWLEDGEABLE,experienced rottweiler breeder or vet)
Since I do carting and would like to get into AKC herding I would prefer ANY of my rotts to HAVE a docked tail..If I WANTED a dog to LOOK like a labrador, I would buy a labrador.
However that being said, I know MANY, many PET QUALITY dogs who are absolutely WONDERFUL and the length of their tail makes NO difference in their personality, love, work ethic or temperment (only genetics and training can effect temperment).
JMHO
Warmly,
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Jackie & Max
Visit us at
Southern Shadows Rottweilers
http://hometown.aol.com/shadowsara/index.html
Responsible Rottweiler Ownership!

Here is quoted from the AKC (American Kennel Club) the specifics for the tail STANDARD in American Conformaton dogs...
" Tail--Tail docked short, close to body, leaving one or two tail vertebrae. The set of the tail is more important than length. Properly set, it gives an impression of elongation of topline; carried slightly above horizontal when the dog is excited or moving. "
(Copyright AKC.org)

Also I am assuming (maybe incorrectly?) that you are not living in the USA?? Here is the Official Parent Club of the Rottweiler USA's stance on tail DOCKING and it's importance in the US way of showing and Americans Preference for it (and WHY 'undocked' or 'natual docked' tails causes such pains in the arses for conformation!)
Click or type in the hyperlink > http://www.amrottclub.org/dock.htm
USA Tail Docking Stance on Rottweilers AMROTT

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Jackie & Max
Visit us at
Southern Shadows Rottweilers
http://hometown.aol.com/shadowsara/index.html
Responsible Rottweiler Ownership!

>>I am a breeder and trainer and i am wondering what ppl think about the natural doct rottweilers.Are there any health problems to look out for beyond what the norm is for rotties; or any canine for that matter? They are registerable and acknowledged by most organizations. Are they a calmer breed? because they were not submitted to the painful docting of the tail are they sturdier or un-conformationable. Do they look different or act different.Why hasn't the natural doct become more desirable? Will they eventually stop the docting process in the USA as in the European countries? Please if you have the answer to any of these questions PLEASE RESPOND!!!Iespecially want to hear from the expert and the owner's.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have heard of a problem in another breed that is sometimes born tailess, a problem called Caudal Tail Syndrome, I believe. Be sure to research whether breeding dogs to have no tails can cause this to happen. The person I spoke to who had a dog with it said the pain was agonizing for the dog.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

>>> "I have heard of a problem in another breed that is sometimes born tailess, a problem called Caudal Tail Syndrome, I believe. Be sure to research whether breeding dogs to have no tails can cause this to happen. The person I spoke to who had a dog with it said the pain was agonizing for the dog."

Thanks Kathy!
THAT was the medical problem I was thinking of! As I had mentioned, I have been around Rotties for at LEAST over 20 years. I have seen ETHICAL breeders, and some NOT so ethical breeders, and I think out of maybe 5,000 Rottweilers I have only heard of ONE who came out "with a natural bobbed tail" and his owner neutered him, because of that gene that Kathy D. spoke of.
(and of course he was no good for showing, since his tail was a fault? ) anyway. I also have a Rat Terrier, and many more of them are born with bobbed tails,(some long some bobbed) often they must be re-docked to the correct length, but it MUST be done before day 5, or it is major surgery. Before day 5, it is nothing. Dewclaws are usually ALSO removed at that time as well.
Again, Europe made it's decision against Docking (tails) and Cropping (of ears) NOT because of anything BAD with breeding or temperment, but because they thought it was "cruel" this can be a very HEATED debate amongst many. Each has their own sides.
My son is circumsized, and I am pierced in many places <G> (and would happly be tattooed as well) so you know MY personal stance on Docking and Cropping <G> Personally, I LIKE it, and if I want a breed (Dobie, Rottie, Dane, etc) I want them Docked and/or cropped. (Whatever is appropriate for the breed) If I wanted a big dog with NO alterations I would get a Mastiff <G> And no I do not feel (IMHO) that it is "cruel" to dock. (Although again, many do, and it is a heated topic, right up there among religion and politics, the other "No-no" topics)
Warmly,
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Jackie & Max
Visit us at
Southern Shadows Rottweilers
http://hometown.aol.com/shadowsara/index.html
Responsible Rottweiler Ownership!