Cookiemonster
Member
Several people have asked me this now. I do not agree with cutting off a puppy's tail and it is something that disgusts me about breeding dogs just for show. I will never cut off my dog's tail. I find it unnecessary and downright cruel. (The only people who have asked me are male. I have no idea why!)
My standard response is "you don't dock a cavalier's tail, they get gorgeous tails". This man yesterday was totally unconvinced (because, at 17 weeks, her tail doesn't look much different to a rat's ). I'm not a particularly confrontational person, which is why I give such a response. I feel that if someone is so ignorant that they would ask a person such a question - and I am talking about people who don't know me from adam, just people I bump into while out walking - then there's no point in engaging in any real conversation. But I wouldnt stop them in the street and say "why the feck (pardon my French) did you slice your puppy's tail off, is it because you're a barbarian?".
Now I'm not trying to start up a debate here on whether or not docking is okay for a dog, really if you do dock your dog's tail then good luck to you (and to your dog, who may well need good luck in the future). I'm just voicing my opinion AND would like to know how other people with undocked dogs deal with these intrusive, almost accusatory questions. I will happily continue to say that it's not standard to dock a cavalier's tail, whereas it does happen a lot with the king charles spaniel, which is a different breed of dog (as they continue to shoot me sceptical, you're-so-thick looks. And no, I'm not being paranoid, unfortunately that's just how it is!! I encounter more tail-less dogs while out walking that I do intact ones, I think half of Ireland must be hoarding dog tails!).
The thing is, I just can't think up of a witty response to have at the ready. So that they next time someone dares stop me in the street and ask when I'm going to cut my puppy's tail off, I can have even half a chance of making them feel uncomfortable in their own skin. Does anyone have any constructive ideas or experience to help me out? Thanks!!!
My standard response is "you don't dock a cavalier's tail, they get gorgeous tails". This man yesterday was totally unconvinced (because, at 17 weeks, her tail doesn't look much different to a rat's ). I'm not a particularly confrontational person, which is why I give such a response. I feel that if someone is so ignorant that they would ask a person such a question - and I am talking about people who don't know me from adam, just people I bump into while out walking - then there's no point in engaging in any real conversation. But I wouldnt stop them in the street and say "why the feck (pardon my French) did you slice your puppy's tail off, is it because you're a barbarian?".
Now I'm not trying to start up a debate here on whether or not docking is okay for a dog, really if you do dock your dog's tail then good luck to you (and to your dog, who may well need good luck in the future). I'm just voicing my opinion AND would like to know how other people with undocked dogs deal with these intrusive, almost accusatory questions. I will happily continue to say that it's not standard to dock a cavalier's tail, whereas it does happen a lot with the king charles spaniel, which is a different breed of dog (as they continue to shoot me sceptical, you're-so-thick looks. And no, I'm not being paranoid, unfortunately that's just how it is!! I encounter more tail-less dogs while out walking that I do intact ones, I think half of Ireland must be hoarding dog tails!).
The thing is, I just can't think up of a witty response to have at the ready. So that they next time someone dares stop me in the street and ask when I'm going to cut my puppy's tail off, I can have even half a chance of making them feel uncomfortable in their own skin. Does anyone have any constructive ideas or experience to help me out? Thanks!!!