Why? This is a somewhat controversial topic, and not a decision that I made lightly, so I feel compelled to explain at least briefly why I have chosen not to dock and clip as many breeders do.
My long-term goal is to produce Total Dogs--Rat Terriers that can excel as companions, in conformation, and in performance sports such as Agility. I am not against the traditional docking of tails or removal of front "dewclaws" by other breeders, and I do not view these fairly painless traditions as cruel -- but they are unnecessary, and not without risk.
Why does a Doberman look "right" with a docked tail, but a Great Dane doesn't? Why does a Boxer look "handsome" with its ears cropped to a sharp point, but a Mastiff doesn't? It's all about what you're used to. If you're accustomed to seeing a breed with a docked tail or cropped ears, then they will look "odd" at first when you see such dogs with tails and ears intact. It's the same with dewclaws. The ears, tails, and "thumbs" that our dogs are born with are normal, functional -- and beautiful -- and it is easy to get used to.
About Tails: Canine structural experts know that dogs use their tails for balance, and while it is less critical for small breeds, why fix what ain't broke? Tails are pretty, expressive, and functional. Of course, many Rat Terriers (as well as Corgis, Aussies, and other popular 'agility sport' breeds) are born with natural bobtails of varying lengths, and we've got some of those too... so there's something for everyone. Natural bobs of course are not subject to phantom pain or itching, nor are bobtails associated with any other health problems. Ignore the hype about "lethal dominants" --the tail and spinal deformities associated with Manx cats and certain "screwtail" dog breeds are NOT associated with the natural bobtail gene found in so many working dog breeds. By the way, the bobtail gene is an autosomal dominant gene. It is dubbed "lethal" when homozygous (one gene from each parent) but what this means for dogs is that the homozygous fertilized eggs simply do not attach to the uterus and develop. Whether you breed a bobtail to a full-tailed dog, or two bobtails together, litter sizes are not affected--but some will be bobtails, and some will have full-length tails, and you'll see everything in between.
More on Tail Docking and Natural Bobtails
About "Dew Claws": Actually, the term "front dew claw" is a misnomer, though it is widely used; the term properly refers to the vestigial claws on the rear feet of some breeds -- in particular, molosser breeds such as the Briard, Beauceron, Great Pyrenees, and my own Kangal Dogs, all of which often have double rear dewclaws. Rear dewclaws sometimes also appear idiosyncratically in other breeds and crossbreeds. And with the possible exception of the Lundehund, claims about the "function" of those extra rear toes are dubious; often they are attached only by skin, not with bone, and are of varying size. It is hard to believe that they are of any value for navigating in crusty snow, or for disembowelling predators, as has sometimes been claimed. In contrast,the fifth toe of the foreleg is neither vestigial nor atavistic -- virtually all dogs are born with five toes on their forefeet, and all five toes have functional uses in the everyday life of a dog.
Show breeders like the "clean leg" look of forelegs without dew claws... but that's merely a tradition of the show ring. Many people, including most of those in the show fancy, do not realize that on the foreleg, those fifth digits are essentially thumbs -- fully functional and moveable digits that are used for grabbing the earth in running and turning, as well as for grasping objects and grooming the face and ears. Sure, your dog might snag that "dewclaw" on something and injure himself, especially if the owner doesn't clip toenails regularly as they should--but they also injure other toes, very commonly. It does not follow that because a rare injury happens, then it's wise to cut off all such appendages prophylactically. Furthermore, canine structural experts such as Dr. Chris Zink, have found that the fifth toes of the forefeet serve an important function, especially in athletically active dogs. And research has shown that performance dogs without these digits are more likely to suffer carpal injuries as well as other related injuries.
Look at the dog in the photos below. Does this look strange to you? Of course, because we do not have high-speed, stop-action vision! Oddly enough, while all dogs do this, you cannot bend the carpus to this extent on your dog without causing severe distress or injury -- even if the dog is sedated. Yet there is nothing unusual about the fact that this dog's entire carpus is flat to the ground or the A-frame surface. This is a normal running and turning posture for dogs. The carpal pad (that little pad behind your dog's foot, above the other toes) is providing a cushion, and the front "dewclaws" are in contact with the surface. On a fast turn, those "thumbs" dig in and provide stability and balance.
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>Arooo! Photography |
But what if I want to show in conformation too? Fortunately, neither docked tails nor thumbless forelegs are required in the Rat Terrier breed standard, and so we see no compelling reason to remove them. Also, since some of our puppies are meant to excel in performance sports and athletic activities as well as in the conformation ring, we elect to keep the tails and fifth digits intact. Furthermore, some of us who are dedicated to the Rat Terrier believe that it will be of benefit to the breed for judges and breed fanciers to see quality dogs in the ring that are undocked and with all their natural toes. In this way, functional dewclaws and all lengths of tail will eventually be seen as normal and attractive. Because they are!
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