When did tail docking for cosmetic purposes begin?
Tail docking seems to have emerged for a variety of reasons, but for some breeds it was proposed primarily to improve appearance. Books from different periods openly refer to docking of some breeds as a matter of pleasing appearance (e.g., The American Book of the Dog, 1891, p. 619, 6695; also6). The most consistent anecdotal argument for preventive docking relates to hunting with pointers; even in this case, however, the purpose of increasing ‘beauty’ is mentioned.15 Rules for pedigreed dog shows in the United States established during the mid-1950s formalized the docking tradition within some breed fancies regardless of the origin of the practice. The history of veterinary opposition to cosmetic tail docking is long. One example from the United States being characterization of cosmetic tail docking as “indefensible” in The Dog by Youatt & Lewis (1854).7 Most veterinarians worldwide tend not to support routine, cosmetic tail docking as part of a breed standard;8,9,10 however, there is
