Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) Articles and Information

Australian Cattle Dogs -- Tail Docking Facts

Australian Cattle Dogs or Blue Heelers are commonly known as working dogs due to their involvement in various activities ranging from guarding to rescuing and more. For many years these Blue Heelers have been facing a ritual of tail docking supported by various reasons, but now, this practice is facing strong opposition from the law. 

Tail docking is a custom or practice followed by many owners for their individual reasons ranging from hygiene to safety. The rational explanation behind these docking of Blue Heelers is often named as a need by owners. Contrary to their working image many dog lovers are now keeping this dog breed as a friendly pet in their homes in cities, thus these owners claim to support requirement of docking a Blue Heeler to maintain hygiene from it’s hairy tail and to ease it’s movement inside the house without banging it’s tail here or its causing breakage of things. Similarly, an Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) owner owning it for the purpose of cattle protection or rescue operation or hunting supports the fact that docking a tail avoids any hindrance caused while moving in a forest or climbing hilly area. They also believe that docking a Blue Heeler helps to prevent any infection caused by various termites, ticks and insects.  

While those against the tail docking of an Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) insist on the point that even when this dog breed is kept with its tail fully grown, it is not unhygienic or causes any harm with it’s tail. Supporters for the ban against Tail Docking believe that most of the breeders and owners prefer docking as they are used to seeing a Blue Heeler with a docked tail for years now and thus do not relate this dog breed with a fully grown tail as with any other dog breed anymore.

The major issue behind the opposition of tail docking is the fact that a docking process is very painful and is often done on a Blue Heeler at a younger stage. Many breeders or docking followers tend to cut and stitch the tail of an Australian Cattle Dog puppy with out caring about the blood loss and shrieking pain experienced by it, as the whole procedure is done without any anesthesia. The important reasons why this dog breed requires its tail are:

• Without a fully grown tail, a Blue Heeler will be disqualified from dog shows, as the fail to possess complete characteristics of a true Blue Heeler breed.
• They can not move and steer actively.
• A grown tail help to control them while herding (balance).

Apart from the reasons mentioned above, an Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) requires its tail for a very big reason and that is to show his love towards its owner. After all, tail wagging helps it express its affection too.

Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Netherlands, Virgin Islands, Nepal, Norway, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turin, Rome and Italy are some of the countries where tail docking is banned or illegal. Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Greece, Mexico, India, Portugal, and Sprain are some of the countries where this ritual is unrestricted. UK has ban with exceptions on working dogs. Law also says, docking can be done only when it is very urgent in favor of a Blue Heeler’s health and that too by professional and expert surgeons only.

If you are someone who wishes to own this dog breed but wish to have your pet’s tail docked for pro docking reasons, you can always purchase or breed an Australian stumpy cattle dog. This dog breed is not to be confused with a normal Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) as this stumpy breed comes with naturally short tail. They have the same working ability or herding strength like Australian cattle dogs. Their temperament and behavior is similar to a standard Blue Heeler but they differ in appearance as: 

• They have a naturally short tail which needs no docking
• They are shorter in height
• They have a flatter skull
• Hindquarters angulations
• They do not have tan or black markings

Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) has been facing the gruesome docking procedure for years now and protestors believe that this ban is necessary to protect a Blue Heeler from unreasonable pain and suffering as well as unjustifiable cruelty. Thus, do not make your pet suffer for more reason and even if you wish to have a Blue Heeler with docked tail, Australian stumpy cattle dog is always a good option.