Why are Jack Russells’ Tails Docked?

Ever seen a dog with an unusually short tail? Some dog breeds have naturally short tails of course, but if the dog you saw was not one of these breeds, chances are this dog’s tail was docked.

The term docking refers to the act of some or all of a dog’s tail is surgically removed, typically for cosmetic or historical reasons. Tail docking is typically carried out just a few days after a dog is born, if at all.

But increasingly, people are starting to see the act of tail docking as a cruel and completely unnecessary surgery. Indeed, the act of tail docking is now banned to some extent in most countries. So, why did people begin to dock dogs’ tails, anyway? And how did the phenomenon become so widespread?

And when it comes to the Jack Russell Terrier breed specifically, why are Jack Russells’ tails docked? This is what we are taking a look at in this article, so read on to find out more.

What were Jack Russells Bred For?

Did you know that this hyper, energetic dog was first bred to hunt foxes? This means that the breed has amazing stamina, with the ability to sprint for miles, originally alongside horses and with a group of people following closely behind.

And today, the boisterous breed still has a tendency to sprint off gleefully and unexpectedly, as well as to “hunt” and stalk their toys, garden birds, and squeaky balls. So, if you are an active person, taking your Jack Russell Terrier to agility, or jogging with them will be an ideal activity for you both.

But back when they were hunting, a Jack Russell would have had their tail docked to prevent it snagging on bushes and undergrowth when chasing after that fox. This was thought to make the dog faster and more aerodynamic than the fox too.

In fact, tail docking was quite popular and was once carried out on most working dogs – especially all hunting dogs.

Does tail docking prevent injuries in Jack Russells?

Hardly any pet dogs have their tail docked today. However, of these dogs, the breeds that most commonly come to the vet’s with a tail injury are dog breeds that are known to be cheerful and boisterous, like the Golden Retriever or Labrador!

Dogs like these were, of course, once working dogs. But these dogs did not sustain their injuries in the line of work. Instead, these Labradors and Golden Retrievers are reported to have injured their tails in the home, wagging them too hard and smashing the tail against furniture or walls!

We mentioned earlier how Jack Russells got their tails docked to prevent them from getting caught up in undergrowth or bramble. Conversely, however, none of the dogs who come to the vet’s today with a tail injury has injured their tail by running through the bushes, though Jack Russells are always doing this.

Therefore, tail docking does not remotely appear to prevent or reduce tail injuries in the Jack Russell. In fact, it may actually increase the likelihood of injuries somewhat. This is because docking a Jack Russell’s tail leaves the dog with a wound that takes quite some time to heal.

Is docking a Jack Russell’s tail legal?

No – in most countries, docking a Jack Russell’s tail is seen as an unnecessary, cruel and cosmetic procedure, and you can expect to find at least a law against docking a non-working, pet dog’s tail, or a law restricting who is allowed to carry out the procedure.

The fact that this act is illegal does not mean that zero Jack Russell puppies are being sold with docked tails, however – many breeders still dock their Jack Russell Terrier puppies’ tails a few days after they are born.

If you do come across a Jack Russell puppy with a docked tail or cropped ears, you should get in contact with a local authority, like the RSPCA or ASPCA.

Why do some people still dock Jack Russell’s tails?

Some people still dock their Jack Russell puppies’ tails because it is what they have always done. After all, tail docking was once the breed standard. In the recent past, if you wanted to show your Jack Russell at an event like Cruft’s, you had to dock their tail so that they fitted the breed standard.

But, the managers of events like Cruft’s are increasingly changing their breed standards so that even dogs with docked tails can be shown. Sometimes, dogs with docked tails are not even permitted to be shown at these events.

Why shouldn’t you dock a Jack Russell’s tail?

As we mentioned previously, people say that if you dock a Jack Russell’s tail, they are less likely to get hurt when running in the undergrowth, though this is inaccurate. But, did you know that docking a Jack Russell’s tail is actually more likely to cause them pain?

This is because many dogs develop neuromas at the site of the amputation after getting their tail docked. This condition can be very painful.

Or, the wound on your Jack Russell’s tail may become infected while it is healing. Tissues in your Jack Russell’s tail will also definitely be damaged by tail docking, which causes ongoing pain to your Jack Russell while they heal.

These are just some of the potential complications that could be caused by the unnecessary surgery of tail docking.

Docking a Jack Russell Terrier’s tail also deprives them of a vital communication tool. Everyone knows a dog wags their tail when they are happy or excited, so what happens when they have less of a tail to wag?

Well, when a Jack Russell with a docked tail is in the park playing with other dogs, the other dogs are much more likely to misunderstand such a Jack Russell.

This could lead to a Jack Russell with a docked tail being interpreted as aggressive by other dogs, causing them to get into more fights than a standard dog would.

Docking your Jack Russell’s tail may also leave them with lasting tail pain, and could interfere with their sense of proprioception. With less ability to balance, your Jack Russell may end up unable to swim, and they will enjoy car rides way less.

Taking away your Jack Russell’s sense of balance through docking can also mean that they become afraid of bridges and heights. Docking your Jack Russell’s tail can even interfere with their ability to walk in general.

So, why are Jack Russells’ tails docked?

As we have detailed, Jack Russells today mainly have their tails docked for purely aesthetic and unnecessary reasons.

However, thankfully, many people are waking up to the fact that docking their Jack Russell’s tail is a procedure that is not needed and can have highly negative long-term consequences for a Jack Russell, even if docking was once a major part of the breed’s standard.

In fact, with many dog shows banning dogs with docked tails from being shown, and with most countries and areas making docking of tails illegal, it is likely that there will soon be zero Jack Russells with docked tails in the future.

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