Docking an older dog
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:18 am
Hello
I've got a 15 month old English Springer. She's from working stock however, initially when I purcased her I had no intentiom of working her so she was left undocked, but over the time I have noticed that she would make a good gundog and she enjoys the hunting and retrieving, she's also picking up whistle commands fast.
However because of her undocked tail it will be difficult for me and her to compete in field trials, so what I want to know is, is it possible to have the tail docked/amputated at such an older age?
I've heard that Springers should actually only have 1/4 of the tail removed leaving 3/4 behind, and so would having the 'rat tail' bit at the end amputated be possible?
Thanks
I've got a 15 month old English Springer. She's from working stock however, initially when I purcased her I had no intentiom of working her so she was left undocked, but over the time I have noticed that she would make a good gundog and she enjoys the hunting and retrieving, she's also picking up whistle commands fast.
However because of her undocked tail it will be difficult for me and her to compete in field trials, so what I want to know is, is it possible to have the tail docked/amputated at such an older age?
I've heard that Springers should actually only have 1/4 of the tail removed leaving 3/4 behind, and so would having the 'rat tail' bit at the end amputated be possible?
Thanks