Exploring A Few Ideas Prior To New Arrivals.

[Cuban]

We lost two of our three dogs a few months ago to the virual outbreak that affected so many across the country, the surviving dog was we feel saved due to better care that my OH and I can offer here at our Pattaya home rather than the relative's ideas about health care (there own and animal's) upcountry.

We might be able to take on two Rottweiler cross puppies that a friend of my OH has accidently bred, if that is the right word. The bitch is herself a Heinz '57, but has fine teeth and a large lean body (25-30kg?), the dog is pure Rottweiler 55kg - good nature loyal - happy to play rough & tumble together with me and the pups.

I am not concerned about the lack of KC certification, they will be family dogs. Up country we have a large fenced grounds around the house and just outside Pattaya a large enough house with about a 1/3 of a Rai garden.

We are about 2-3 weeks from being able to seperate them from the mother, which we would be keen to do ASAP to allow them (we would take two dogs) to meet and socialise with other dogs and people as they get very few vistors currently.

I've had bothers before and like the bond that they have rather than a single family large dog.

I seek some guidance from those here on the subject of docking tails. I have looked for earlier TV threads and found this one, with some good points of view.

The father is docked, the pups currently intact - which is the way I would rather they remain.

I feel that the tail is part of their means of communicating and more importantly part of their stablisation system when running - having not owned a rottweiler before - I wonder if part of the in bred CHD problem is from many tail free generations?

In these enlightened times is there any real reason to dock a healthy functioning tail on a dog that will not suffer a 'burr' seed for much longer than a hour before having it pulled off and not being a working dog hunting in the undergrowth and jungle. Or local Tax !(Ref. Reasons for docking in above links.)

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Post Script.

While writting the final sentance I have recieved a phone call - we now have two new mouths to feed.

[Nienke]

Tail docking is done when the pups are 2 or 3 days old. If the puppies are already older than docking the tail is cruel. Better to leave it the natural way.

Pups that have their tails docked are whining and restless for an entire day! That a pup only suffers for an hour or something is absolute BS.

I have never heard of a relation between docked tails and HD. I did, however, read reports of vaccine influence on HD among many other things that can casue HD.

Nienke

[elfe]

docking and cropping is cruel misfigurement and animal cruelty

you don't want your dog to wag its tail to you?

[Nienke]

Actually I agree with Elfe. Also I am not in favor in tail docking nor ear cropping. Just leave it as nature has intended.

Nienke

[Cuban]

I will repeat my words from the OP.

The father is docked, the pups currently intact - which is the way I would rather they remain.

Thank you for your thoughts.

...and yes I do want the dogs to be able to express themselves naturally.