I prefer just about any molosser with natural tails (and ears if applicable). Docked tails and cropped ears on a blocky headed and bodied dog looks strange to me, JMHO. I've only seen one Boerboel in person and I think it wad docked. It was impressive looking, but it smelled like Fritos and looked like it had skin allergies. Function wise, giving the dog its rudder is important for making fast turns. I'll go for natural tails.
Preference for a Docked or Natural Tail on Boerboels?
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Trying to decide with my next litter of Boerboels.....
My 1st litter I left the tails natural, except for the lone fawn pup whose tail was dislocated -his was docked. Following the docking, which I DO believe is a huge physical insult to a neonate, he straggled behind his siblings for a bit. All the other males in the litter are a minimum of 125# (working weight), while he is around 110#. Personally, I could care less about size.. I liked his temperament & attitude so much he's the male I kept for myself, but am concerned about the potential physical harm amputating does to young pups.
Because of the Boerboel being a "composite" breed, you get all kinds of different tails, when you leave them on. Mine seem to favor the Boerhound/Great Dane welt-raising tail that can bring a man to his knees when the dog gets happy! Often heard uttered around my house when my bitch Teal (aka The Tail) is hopping about is "Think Sad Thoughts!!!". -Much preferred is the "softer" Bullmastiff type tail.
Docked:
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One of each, tho the tailed bitch is from me:
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And WITH the tail:
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This last one is the Bullmastiff "pump handle" type tail, whish is IME much less painful when you do get whacked with it. He's not from my breeding.
Thanks for your $.02!
My 1st litter I left the tails natural, except for the lone fawn pup whose tail was dislocated -his was docked. Following the docking, which I DO believe is a huge physical insult to a neonate, he straggled behind his siblings for a bit. All the other males in the litter are a minimum of 125# (working weight), while he is around 110#. Personally, I could care less about size.. I liked his temperament & attitude so much he's the male I kept for myself, but am concerned about the potential physical harm amputating does to young pups.
Because of the Boerboel being a "composite" breed, you get all kinds of different tails, when you leave them on. Mine seem to favor the Boerhound/Great Dane welt-raising tail that can bring a man to his knees when the dog gets happy! Often heard uttered around my house when my bitch Teal (aka The Tail) is hopping about is "Think Sad Thoughts!!!". -Much preferred is the "softer" Bullmastiff type tail.
Docked:
One of each, tho the tailed bitch is from me:
And WITH the tail:
This last one is the Bullmastiff "pump handle" type tail, whish is IME much less painful when you do get whacked with it. He's not from my breeding.
Thanks for your $.02!
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Both of our pits have natural tails - one is soft and pretty harmless, the other has left more lashes and bruises on me than I care to admit. She's also known for whipping her tail so hard she'll cut it open and blood flies everywhere...like the cabinets, walls, etc. Yeah...gross.
That being said, I still like the natural tails better. There aren't many boerboels around here - tested a few up near Canada a couple years ago and all had natural tails (most were morbidly obese too[-X).
That being said, I still like the natural tails better. There aren't many boerboels around here - tested a few up near Canada a couple years ago and all had natural tails (most were morbidly obese too[-X).
I have to go with docked. Most breeds that have docked tails have those thin whip tails, and they're abusive when they're happy. I do not miss having a pit that cleared my coffee table with one swipe or beat my legs to death when she was happy.
Ears I couldn't care less about. I think some of the cropped breeds look retarded, great danes and boxers especially. It looks nice on a Dobe, and if it's done neatly on pits.
Ears I couldn't care less about. I think some of the cropped breeds look retarded, great danes and boxers especially. It looks nice on a Dobe, and if it's done neatly on pits.
I like tails, so I vote go natural, but I would say that about any breed. In the pictures, I prefer the dogs with the natural tails - that long nubbin looks weird to me.
Natural. No question about it.
For one, I don't like the longer dock that appears to be more common these days. Besides that for me, a tail adds to the outline and physical visual harmony of a dog. Although, I do believe the tail does serve a functional purpose even if a small one like a counter balance of sort. An example of this would be how they use it to assist in maintaining their balance on ice or an unstable surface.
For one, I don't like the longer dock that appears to be more common these days. Besides that for me, a tail adds to the outline and physical visual harmony of a dog. Although, I do believe the tail does serve a functional purpose even if a small one like a counter balance of sort. An example of this would be how they use it to assist in maintaining their balance on ice or an unstable surface.
Normally, I'd say natural but if they are painful, I say Dock! lol I've almost had my eye put out by my AB while trying to put on my shoes, among other oh so painful times of getting whipped by the tail. lol :evil:
What does the standard call for, docked or natural? I'm not familiar with the breed but, your working photos look awesome! Are you the same guy that got a Sch III on your Boerbol. I believe I saw a write up in the Sch USA magazine.
Dock 'em Tashi. As a Cane Corso and Rottweiler guy I can't stand those long hound dog tails.
I voted for natural. Like them better w/ natural tails, and if tails are really a problem with the breed then somebody should just breed in a naturally 'docked' dog (like that experiment w/ Boxers a while back). ;-)
As time goes on, I think people might need to either get used to natural tails being left on a dog, come up with a really good reason for removing them, or are going to be required to perform docking in a more 'surgical' manner (ex. more requirements on how docking is performed, requirement for local anaesthetics etc). As I'm sure you all know, it is illegal to dock most dogs in most of the UK - illegal to dock any dog in Scotland, and only dogs intended for actual work in certain breeds can be docked in England and Wales (ex. a pet or show litter of Jack Russells cannot be docked, but a "certified" working litter of Jack Russells can). I wouldn't be too surprised if similar laws are enacted in the US in time.
As time goes on, I think people might need to either get used to natural tails being left on a dog, come up with a really good reason for removing them, or are going to be required to perform docking in a more 'surgical' manner (ex. more requirements on how docking is performed, requirement for local anaesthetics etc). As I'm sure you all know, it is illegal to dock most dogs in most of the UK - illegal to dock any dog in Scotland, and only dogs intended for actual work in certain breeds can be docked in England and Wales (ex. a pet or show litter of Jack Russells cannot be docked, but a "certified" working litter of Jack Russells can). I wouldn't be too surprised if similar laws are enacted in the US in time.
When did you dock, and why do you think that is the reason he is smaller ?
I also vote you dock the other end and get it over with. How much does a pup cost ?
I also vote you dock the other end and get it over with. How much does a pup cost ?
I much prefer the look of a docked tail on the Boerboel
Wackem!
As far as needing the tail for balance, I think any terrier person, Aussie person, German Short hair person, yadda, yadda, yadda will disagree with that.
I personally know a Lab that lost her tail in a accident (crushed in a car door) and she never missed a lick when swimming.
I have no problem with docking or cropping as long as they are done correctly.
A lot of the same wackos that push the "need" to ban docking and cropping are some of the same folks that tell you all dogs need their nuts cut off. Go figure!
It's all a choice!
As far as needing the tail for balance, I think any terrier person, Aussie person, German Short hair person, yadda, yadda, yadda will disagree with that.
I personally know a Lab that lost her tail in a accident (crushed in a car door) and she never missed a lick when swimming.
I have no problem with docking or cropping as long as they are done correctly.
A lot of the same wackos that push the "need" to ban docking and cropping are some of the same folks that tell you all dogs need their nuts cut off. Go figure!
It's all a choice!
Prefer the docked tails, the issue of balance is not really a big one. I think animals like cheetahs need them more, dogs dont fall because the tail is docked.
@Tashi- really nice pictures, the pics of the dogs from Nigeria with Dapo Ojora are great. I used to talk with the guy on phone. The tailed bitch [sphyrna is her name] is a great dog also. Do you know where he got the fawn male[sting] from?
@Tashi- really nice pictures, the pics of the dogs from Nigeria with Dapo Ojora are great. I used to talk with the guy on phone. The tailed bitch [sphyrna is her name] is a great dog also. Do you know where he got the fawn male[sting] from?
Ha, ha, ... I sure hope not! \\dogs dont fall because the tail is docked.
/Yep.. unfortunately, skin allergies are yet another common problem most breeders don't test for, in what is sold as a "generally healthy protection breed". :roll:It was impressive looking, but it smelled like Fritos and looked like it had skin allergies.
Thanks for commenting!
If you tested anything that was worth a damn, you'll have to PM me about it! I'm always on the look-out for anything that has a proper temperament.There aren't many boerboels around here - tested a few up near Canada a couple years ago and all had natural tails (most were morbidly obese too[-X).
Yeah.. with most Boerboels (or most any mastiffs), their owners will have them anywhere from 10-40# overweight ~then~ will say they are 10# heavier than that! lol -Most I've seen are pretty size-obsessed. I prefer the smaller/houndier version of the breed, the more I work them. Although even the big boys are surprisingly fast & agile for their size, when they have proper drive IMO.
Hey Mike! Well, first of all, I'm not a "guy". ;-) Although I will admit to having a slightly non-gendered name. lol I'm a bit of an "anti-show" person, so "Standard for the breed" wouldn't really sway me one way or the other. The blue brindle male at the top is a non-standard color, as well as being the first Boerboel to earn a BH & Sch title, as well as being a certified Therapy Dog, placing in weight pulls, catching hogs, etc. So he was the sire of my last Boerboel litter even though according to the SABT Standard he isn't really a Boerboel because of his color. Personally, I'm not a fan of the dilute, but he was such an awesome-tempered dog, I was glad to breed to him. "Bluedog" was featured in the Sch USA mag, along with Brandon Wilson's BB Zeb, who is the SchIII dog you are probably thinking of.. although there's been a 2nd write-up about Zeb, so you may be thinking of that article too.What does the standard call for, docked or natural? I'm not familiar with the breed but, your working photos look awesome! Are you the same guy that got a Sch III on your Boerbol. I believe I saw a write up in the Sch USA magazine.
But to answer your question, the tail can be either way according to most, if not all of the standards (there are multiple registries) for the Boerboel. Thanks for your input!
Hey Jeff, Neb was 2 days old, so it was within the normal time for docking. I don't know that it has anything to with it.. or not. After the amputation, he was just generally "behind" his littermates. He didn't put weight on as fast, he developed a little slower, etc. Admittedly, he may have just been that way genetically, even if the whole tail-docking thing hadn't happened. Who knows? I have talked to other BB breeders who told me that when they docked half their litters & left half undocked (trying to cover for what their buyers want), the natural-tailed siblings really out-paced the docked ones in growth & development. IMO since most the times folks dock, they do the whole litter, they probably wouldn't notice any difference.When did you dock, and why do you think that is the reason he is smaller ?
I also vote you dock the other end and get it over with. How much does a pup cost ?
$15,000 -I have 2 spots left open for reservations -you want in? :lol:
I wouldn't give you 15 bucks for one of those dogs. Yuck. That is weird about the docking though, I always did it first day if not right away, but I never tried half and half. Of course barbells might just be more sensitive to docking than Rotts. It is weird, and of course you call amputation. LOL
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