Alan M. T. Stevens,
"My qualification is BVM&S Nov 1978
I frequently see puppies with docked tails which I am certain have not been docked legally (by a registered veterinary surgeon). The only way this can be stopped is to totally ban this procedure and make it a procedure akin to de-clawing cats or cropping ears.
I am certain (and I used to dock puppies tails and remove rear dew-claws) that the crying indicates pain, however short-lived that may appear to be. Most of my patients will never be "working dogs" as my place of practice is Birmingham. It is purely to for fashion, cosmetic or economic reasons that this practice is still carried out.
Yorkshire terriers and Rottweilers are not working breeds and still appear docked at first examination.
Most clients are surprised when I ask them who docked their puppoes tails. Most don't know and most think that they have no choice in having an undocked puppy in the breed they want.
Several CPD lectures I have attended have pointed out that Urinary Sphincter Mechanism Incontinence appears to be more common in the docked breeds. I am not sure whether these views are statistically significant.
Short-docked breeds are more difficult to 'read' as far as their mood is concerned - behavioural factor."

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