Guess what I saw...

[Lucy 0]

Saw a Black Fell in Norfolk today... with a tail.

 

OK, so I'm not in this forum very often, so you'll have to excuse me if I sound like I'm being a knob. But, I saw a 13 week old adorable black fell puppy in Norfolk today. Couldn't resist it, so I asked the owner (a complete stranger) about the dog...

 

Apart from the fact that he was cute, nice looking and completely adorable, (and the puppy was too), I'm a sucker for a puppy, and I was curious... The owner told me the dog came from working parents (also in Norfolk)...

 

I'm curious because although I have patterdales/black fells, I'm not "in the know", kind of keep myself to myself, so just wanted to sneak into this forum to ask if people are stopping docking out there? Obviously the breeders of this pup had decided not to dock (themselves) and presumably couldn't find anyone who would...

Just curious 'cos it's the first one I've seen... I know I help organise a show, but I go very rarely to shows (which makes our show completely "not facey", just supports working dogs etc etc). I'm a bit of an old loner with not much idea of how things are going (re tail docking) out there in the real world... My world is my back yard with my muts!

Cheers All

 

PS - I know the old tail docking things is probably done to death, so apologies - you don't have to read this though... although by now, you will have! Just don't reply if you've got bored reading!

[OldNog 432]

i wouldnt own or breed a dog that was going to be worked that wasnt docked, regardless to the argument that a tail dont matter on an earth dog. Could still go bombing through brambles and get snagged up. Not worth the risk or hassle in my opinion

Edited June 7, 2009 by OldNog

[swanseajack 227]

i wouldnt own or breed a dog that was going to be worked that wasnt docked, regardless to the argument that a tail dont matter on an earth dog. Could still go bombing through brambles and get snagged up. Not worth the risk or hassle in my opinion

so If I offered you a 110% digging dog and it had a long tail, you wouldn't take it ?? bollox !!

 

snagged up ??

[gary09 0]

i would not care if it had 2 tails as long as it done the job

[erik 71]

i dug lots of difrend kind of dogs on difrend kind of quarry in all kind of ground and you know what ...it dont make any difrence at all the only thing is that it just looks better

[ferreter.al 22]

i wouldnt own a terrier that hadnt been docked,or a spanial for that matter,and i think most people who work dogs would agree,hope this helps,just my opinion,or mabe they would,who knows,all the best

Edited June 9, 2009 by ferreter.al

[threbb 0]

What matters is its just another thing that is dictated to us.Another freedom we have lost.On the positive side it looks like another failing law that cant be enforced.Just like the hunting act its doomed to fail.Soon the Anti government we have suffered for too long will also die a humiliating death.

[fireman 10,947]

I've just had a litter of plummers docked and it's all do with personal taste,undocked terriers look odd imo.

[david2363 42]

i wouldnt own or breed a dog that was going to be worked that wasnt docked, regardless to the argument that a tail dont matter on an earth dog. Could still go bombing through brambles and get snagged up. Not worth the risk or hassle in my opinion

I have a Bedlington who bombs through the brambles - guess what? - he has a long tail. Never ever been snagged by it.

[Guest michaeltreadwell]

Hi my dads got patterdale pup 5 months old which is undocked, when we bought her i was new to the terrier game, only have experience with lurchers and didn't know it was illegal to dock at 8 weeks so the pup still has its tail. IMO she does look odd but it doesn't affect her working ability i've been told so am not bothered!

Edited July 26, 2009 by michaeltreadwell