ESS damaging tail

[gazbev]

Hi, bit of advise needed regarding damaged spaniel tails.
I have a 1/3 docked ESS who damages the end if his tail while hunting, it doesn't seem to bother him but his lively tail spreads blood either side of him and it looks pretty grim.
is this something to ignore or pay to have another few inches off by amputation from the vets and if so how much will it cost ?
cheers

[scot-ish]

what age is the dog? quite young?

[romanriver]

wrap the end in gaffer tape when hunting

[Springfield Pointers]

I would get it shortened. That was the reason why they were docked in the first place, and then the anthropomorphic liberal nonsense started.

[madrags]

It seems that we are seeing increasing numbers of dogs that were docked as pups but suffer tail injuries later. Surely this vogue for leaving longer tails (presumably because it looks more stylish for trials) is undermining the argument for docking as very young pups?

[Rough_mut]

It seems that we are seeing increasing numbers of dogs that were docked as pups but suffer tail injuries later. Surely this vogue for leaving longer tails (presumably because it looks more stylish for trials) is undermining the argument for docking as very young pups?

I must admit, my dog has a full tail and has never cut it, he's only worked one season but has been in and out of cover all his life.

I suspect some dogs wag their tail more when working? Mine wags his tail like a lunatic in the home and when meeting people, the same when he is stood next to me waiting for a retrieve, when he's hunting it seems to subside, as does his excitement with people etc.

I would of a short tail can move quicker e.g. its shorter and easier to wag?

Also does grooming the tail come into this at all?

RM

[ips]

My one has had about a third docked and to be honest I think a bit shorter would have been better both aesthetically and practically. We ensure we keep the end well groomed to avoid getting it tangled in cover.

[Rookie]

Also does grooming the tail come into this at all?

RM

I have a bitch here who is usually fine but in December she severely cast her coat and had very little left. You could see that she had vrey little hair left to protect the end of her tail and chest from damage while working in cover. Throughout January she did cause slight damage to her tail when in cover. She naturally has a relatively short tail compared to a lot of spaniels and since the end of the season it has healed up and the hair has grown back in to protect it so I wouls suppose that grooming could affect it.

[Judy]

Probably depends on coat type as well, my oldest has a very short dock, almost show dog length but managed to damage it slightly last season, I suspect because she has a very fine, silky coat unlike the longer docked dogs who are coarser coated. Plus, of course, the type of cover they are worked in and the enthusiasm at which they dive it to it.

[vicky payne]

The tail needs to be docked shorter than the hock, otherwise it will be at risk of damage. This can be just a smidge off, or nearly half off...depends on the puppy.
Dog Ends might help, or electrical or sports strapping tape.