Yes

by Brenda Nelson

Created on: November 05, 2010

A dog holds its tail up to indicate happiness or interest, it folds its ears back to show worry or submission. When these are docked the dog loses a way of communicating with other dogs, and indeed other mammals.

Docking of a dogs ears and tail have been controversial and regarded as cruel by some people. In some countries these acts are considered cosmetic surgery and are banned. This is for good reason, as without these features dogs visual cues are limited. As well we must consider that dogs use their ears to pick up cues from those around them.

A wagging tail may indicate happiness, or aggression, the speed of the wag and height of the tail, especially when seen in combination with other body language, including the position of the dogs ears, is a very good indication of the mood of the dog. These signals are given to other dogs, animals, and humans.

The tail serves another purpose few people recognize. The tail is designed to carry a dogs scent. Dogs have scent glands at the base of their tails, the hairs on the tail pick up the dogs scent, when tail wagging occurs the scent is spread in the air. Dogs have brilliant noses and can sniff the air to determine the position of other dogs they know. Of course this is of more value to packs of wolves when hunting but also is a form of communication in our house pets.

We must consider the other purposes of the ears too. A large upright ear is made to listen, when folded it is designed to keep water out of a dogs ear canal (not necessarily a communication purpose). When long and saggy, the ears are of extra value and often used by the dog to trap scents. This is how a dog listens to the communications of other animals, rather than how it might communicate itself, but is still worth noting.

-Reasons for Docking Tails-

One of the reasons most given for the docking of dog's tails is because the dogs wagging may knock things off tables, hit legs, and so forth. Other breeds have their tail docked purely because humans have determined they “look better” without a tail. There is no benefit to the dog to have its tail docked except perhaps if an injury had occurred.

-Reasons for Ear Docking-

Ear docking is sometimes done to open up a naturally folded ear to allow air into the ear canal, which can become infected if allowed to get wet and not dried properly. Typically, however, docking of the ears is done purely for aesthetic value, to make a dog look more regal.

Overall

Overall the disadvantages outweigh any reason for docking of either the ears or tail.  As we have seen, dogs without their ears, or tail, are deprived of an important means of communication, not just with other dogs, but humans, and most animals in general. 

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