Re: docking my rotti's tail, yes or no, she is 6mo's old

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 14:08:52 -0500, Handsome Jack Morrison wrote:
On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 19:13:46 +0100, Bonsai wrote:
On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:55:45 -0500, Handsome Jack Morrison wrote:

Again, it would take a huge, concentrated effort to start selecting
for structurally sound tails, which very well could result in
unintended and perhaps unpleasant consequences for the Rotty breed.

The Rottweiler origin is in Germany. Docking is illegal in Germany, except
for some working (!) hunting dogs. There is no exception by breed.

Look, just because the Germans have given in to political correctness
and activist pressure groups doesn't mean that the American Rotty Club
has to follow suit.

Making docking tails illegal - with exceptions - was the right thing to do.
A dog, just living in a family (no matter what breed), does not have a
"high risk" to injure it's tail. A dog without tail has at least lost a big
part of it's communication skills.
The United States Rottweiler Club goes btw. with the FCI Standard.

FCI-Standard (F.C.I.-Standard Nr. 147 / 19.06.2000 / D):
"Tail: In natural condition, level in extension of the upper line; at ease
may be hanging."

German standard (FCI-Standard):
"Tail: In natural condition, level in extension of the upper line; at ease
may be hanging."

USRC-Standard (FCI-Standard with one extension):
"Tail: In natural condition, level in extension of the upper line; at ease
may be hanging. USRC Adopted Exception: Docked at the first or second joint
within 7 days of birth or left in its natural state."

The "USRC Adopted Exception: Docked at the first or second joint within 7
days of birth or left in its natural state." is marked to be _the only_
difference to the FCI Standard.

There are major *foundational* differences between German Rottweilers
and American Rottweilers, and the Germans are pretty strict about
enforcing their breeding practices, etc.

For good reasons. There are also other countries, being very strict with
that. The most important issues with that is _health_ and for working dogs
also the _working ability_.

That wouldn't and couldn't
happen here because, well, because we ain't Germans (thank God!).

I don't see any sense in breeding e.g. the Collie 2 inch higher (AKC) than
in Europe (FCI). Or to breed German Shepherd Dogs even more frog-like than
in Germany. Or to breed a dog, then cut off it's tail for just optical
reasons or because people don't know what the tail would look like by now.

I know there are differences in different countries (supply and demand),
but they should be within one standard. Many breeds also have "working
lines" and "non working lines", where the dogs can have many differences,
especially in temperament. I assume you know that dogs from a working line
can be dramatically different from showdogs and/or familydogs, but they all
conform to one standard (more or less).

Here is what the tail could look like:
http://www.adrk.de/5_rutenhaltung.htm

But not necessarily what it *would* look like.

Hmmm, how many other poses do you know?
It's hanging, horizontal, curved up to the head and coiled up to the back
(Husky-like). I only miss Spitz-like.

Until the American Rotty Club decides *which* look is going to be
incorporated into the standard, if any, and then SELECTED for, why
would anyone want to produce Rotties that don't conform to the
standard?

United States Rottweiler Club:
"In natural condition, level in extension of the upper line; at ease may be
hanging."

The American Rottweiler Club goes with the AKC Standard. I have just
realized that the AKC-Standard I found was from 1990. So, the online
version may be outdated.

Selecting for health, temperament, working ability, etc., is hard
enough to do, without now changing the focus (and thereby eliminating
a great number of otherwise *exemplary* Rotties from the gene pool) by
trying to create a new tail, too?

Guess why there aren't more Details about the tail in the standard and the
tail _is not_ a disqualifying fault. Besides, I don't see a "healthier"
breed by docking it's tail.

I think the ARC, etc. has the right to set its own standards, based on
its own principles, and I'm perfectly happy to defer to them.

How do you define the word "Standard"? Everybody has the option to go for
a new breed with a new name.

Automatically doing what the Germans, of all people, do is not, IMO, a
very wise thing to do.

Who said you should?
If you breed a german dog, go with the german standard.
If you breed an australian dog, go with the australian standard.
If you breed a british dog, go with the british standard.
If you breed an american dog, go with the american standard.

American breeders could simply stick to the original standard.

IMO, American breeders should decide among themselves, with no help
from the Germans (or from me), what they want the *American* Rotty to
become.

Some breeders in the US go with the FCI-Standard, others don't. I don't see
how there could be "The American Rottweiler".


Btw., I don't like you political side blows and I don't think they belong
in this NG.

Bye
Marion
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: docking my rottis tail, yes or no, she is 6mos old
    ... just because the Germans have given in to political correctness ... you listed all concerned breeds. ... "high risk" to injure it's tail. ... Some dogs do. ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.behavior)
  • Re: What breed is this?
    ... group about dog breeds ... and your post led to thoughts about Australian breeds. ... like a natural tail), which isn't uncommon in dogs from Australia. ... "breeders" don't realize that, and dock the entire tail, leaving only a nub. ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.breeds)
  • Re: UFO pic
    ... Germans with or w/o THEIR help but which fight OURS? ... where I live - a local took it two weeks or so ago and the local paper ... one tail at rear... ... Agreed - bog standard Hawk if you ask me. ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: UFO pic
    ... Germans with or w/o THEIR help but which fight OURS? ... where I live - a local took it two weeks or so ago and the local paper ... one tail at rear... ... Black Project profiles at that distance that I know of ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: docking my rottis tail, yes or no, she is 6mos old
    ... Obviously you need to have dogs _with_ ... structure of the breed would always result in a thin tail which would, in the lower 2/3rds or so, be pretty much bones covered with thin skin and thin coat. ... I think some other breeds that aren't docked should be. ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.behavior)