Why is it better to dock a tail at 3 to 5 days
old, as opposed to 12 weeks old? Just so you don't think I make this
stuff up, I will answer this question using direct quotes from "Genetics
and the Social Behavior of the Dog" Scott&Fuller. The definitive
study on dog's physical and emotional development.
""Nerve fibers of
young animals frequently lack the myelin sheath characteristic of adult
tissue. This sheath is an outer layer of fat like material associated
with speedy transmission of stimuli. The fact that a nerve fiber is
unmyelinated does mean that it can function but only that it functions
more slowly. Myelinated fibers in adults transmit stimuli 50-100 times
faster than the unmyelinated fibers of the sympathetic nerves. Harman's
investigation of the brain of newborn puppies shows that the only areas
which are well myelinated are those connected with the trigeminal nerve
- which goes to the mouth and includes the sensory nerves of taste as
well as the motor fibers to the jaw muscles - and the non-acoustic
portion of the auditory nerve, which is the part connected with the
organs of balance.
In the cerebral cortex, the convolutions are simple
and the underlying fibers almost totally unmyelinated. The development
of myelination therefore seems to be correlated with the development of
function.
"An observer of the neonatal existence is strongly impressed
by the effective way in which the young puppy is normally shielded from
the effects of the external environment, both by maternal care and its
own limited sensory, motor and intellectual capacities. The puppy can be
greatly disturbed physiologically by adverse conditions, but there are
few ways in which it can be affected psychologically."
By 3 weeks of age
puppies can eliminate without stimulation, meaning there has been
considerable advancement in their physical development in their lower
extremities. Tail wagging begins in the 3-week period as well. As stated
above physiological development is correlated with development of
function. Until puppies enter the socialization period, they have no
reason for tail wagging. And thus the physical development of the tail
muscles, nerves, etc is not complete until that time. Thus it is better
to dock at 3 to 4 days because the puppy has undeveloped nerve endings
in that portion of their body.
This physiological fact makes docking at
the proper age a painless experience. There is no medical or scientific
truth to the sentiment that docking at the proper age is "cruel" or
"inhumane." However the same can not be said about such procedures at
later ages.
Certainly taking infantile puppies into a strange
environment, separating them from their mother or their mother simply
being excited or distressed, strangers handling them - all these
influences can create stress in the litter. All of these influences will
cause puppies to cry out without ever actually doing any procedures.
Unless a veterinarian is willing to dock a litter on a house call, it's
my opinion that tying the tails off is a much better, less stressful way
to dock a litter. In addition unless a vet is very experienced in the
tail set and length of your particular breed, tying off in my experience
results in very correct tails.
