Why do boxers have short tails

It is thought to help protect the boxer from rabies, improve balance and speed, and prevent further injury when fighting other animals. It is also very common for boxers to get their tail docked if they work in fields. This is because a long tail can pick up a lot of insects and burrs. Yes, over the last 50 years tail docking has become a very controversial topic.

Many veterinarians claim that there is no real health benefit, and the only reason people dock tails is for cosmetic reasons. In the United States, tail docking in dogs is legal but there are restrictions. The procedure must be done by a certified veterinarian, and tail docking is only allowed in certain dog breeds including boxers. There are also restrictions on ear cropping. Overview The debate regarding docking a Boxer's tail is side by side with ear cropping.

Look to our Ears - To Crop or Not to see which countries allow this and which deem it illegal. Usually, if an owner decides to crop the ears, they will also have the Boxer's tail docked. Docking is the process of having a certain percentage of a Boxer puppy or dog's natural tail removed. This is done to produce a short tail that stands erect. What Exactly is Docking? Docking is done one of two ways.

The first method is to cut off the blood flow in the tail with the use of a special rubber band, placed so tightly that the blood cannot reach the end of the tail; thus causing it to eventually fall off. The second method is via a procedure in which the tail is cut. It is believed that the puppy feels this amputation, since most puppies let out a very loud yelp, however they seem to recover quite quickly.

Long ago, it was thought to prevent rabies and increase the dog's running speed; however this has been proven false. With this said, docking has also been done for centuries to prevent damage to the tail. There are no specific records that show why this train of thought was applied to some breeds and not to others. At this point, with docking being done for so many generations, those in favor of this argue that if docking were to suddenly stop, the Boxer breed would not carry 'good tails' tails would too heavy to sit correctly, the dog's balance would be off, etc.

The deliberation between those who favor it and those who are against it goes on to say that within a short amount of time the only breeding pool available would be dogs with 'bad' tails that could not produce viable offspring. This early practice became established as part of the breed standard and has been carried on to this day. Now that most people have dogs for companionship, what justification can modern docking possibly have?

It really all boils down to looks. Many Boxer owners state that their dogs look more fierce, intimidating and strong with the bobbed tails and cropped ears. The AKC argues that by continuing the practice of docking, breeders and owners are respecting the original purpose of the breed.

This is true for the Boxer, which was bred as a working dog, originally trained for hunting and guarding. The practice is considered animal cruelty and can be heavily fined. In the United States and most other countries, the practice of tail docking is completely unrestricted.

This means that the breeder can do the procedure in the home, or it can be done by a veterinary professional. Despite being completely legal, the practice of docking is considered by the AVMA to be unnecessary and they highly oppose it as a standard practice in the maintenance of certain breeds. The AKC, the most recognized authority on distinct dog breeds in the United States, actively promotes the practice to maintain integrity in breed standards.

At this point, at least in the US, a Boxer breeder is free to maintain the traditional practice of docking their puppies tails. The other distinguishing feature of the Boxer as a breed is its straight and pointy ears.

Because this is such a typical trait of the breed I always thought that this was just another natural genetic feature.

Much like docking, cropping has also fallen out of favor with veterinary associations and is now considered unnecessary and unethical. Unaltered, or all-natural, Boxers with their long tails and floppy ears are not necessarily healthier than their surgically altered counterparts.

The health benefits of leaving your dog au natural basically come down to risk avoidance. By not doing the procedures on your animal you are avoiding any potential infections or health complications that can result from either of the procedures.