We do not dock tails or dewclaws on any of our puppies.
The procedure to dock tails is terribly brutal. It is done when the puppies are 3-5 days of age and are too young to have any medication to numb them. The tails (which include the spine) and dewclaws are severed with a clamp and a pair of scissors, while the puppy is held down. The puppy screams and struggles (as much as a newborn can) during this procedure. The momma dog, though locked up away from the puppies, still can hear them crying and is in a frenzy. After the entire litter is docked and put back with the mom, they moan for 2-3 days.
We are convinced that the trauma endured by the puppies can sometimes actually alter their personalities. We have alsoheard of cases where the tail stumps retain infection and cause problems later in the dog's life. In light of these things, our policy is to leave all body parts on puppies completely natural. Docking is a tradition that is fading in popularity all over the world. In Europe it is now illegal and is considered mutilation. Our puppies are just adorable with their cute little waggers on! And as grown dogs, they look beautiful. The tails help dogs with expression of their emotions and also with balance. Dew claws never cause a problem on the front or rear legs. If you must have a dog with a docked tail, your vet will do it in a humane fashion by numbing the tail and/or dewclaws and having the puppy sleep through the procedure like any other surgery. The vet can do it as young as 12 weeks, when the puppy is old enough to handle anesthesia safely.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments on this policy.