Thread: Review of the Animal Welfare Act regarding Tail Docking

Originally Posted by el borracho

I wonder why English Setters and Pointers always kept there tails ?aesthetics

Look at where English Setters and Pointers were hunted in their native land, wide open areas with little in the way of heavy cover so it was unnecessary. Spaniels were used in the heavy cover and consequently have docked tails.

Continental European gundog breeds ie weims, GSPs, GWPs etc worked heavier cover and were therefore docked for health reasons.

I have owned an American Pointer and hunted it periodically in moderately heavy cover. It's tail was always a mess. I have also hunted over some weims imported from Switzerland where docking was banned. They were a nightmare. I will never own another undocked hunting dog. I think it's very important for the welfare of the dogs.