Tail Docking in the UK

Tail docking has historically been undertaken largely by dog breeders. However, in 1991, the UK government amended the Veterinary Surgeons Act, thereby prohibiting the docking of dog's tails by lay persons from 1 July 1993. After that, only veterinary surgeons could, by law, dock.

However, following the Government move, the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in November 1992, ruled docking to be unethical, "unless for therapeutic or acceptable prophylactic reasons". Furthermore, the circumstances in which the Royal College considered prophylactic docking to be acceptable were so hedged with conditions as to make the routine docking of puppies by veterinary surgeons extremely difficult.

Vets who continued to dock risked disciplinary action, including being struck off the professional register.

The Council of Docked Breeds was formed in 1991 to campaign for the retention of the docking option and to 2007 managed to ensure that those breeders who wished to have their litters docked, could be introduced to veterinary surgeons willing to offer the service.

Many UK vets wished to defend the docking option and contribute to www.vets4docking.org.uk

Tail docking in the UK was finally banned except for a few working dogs, in 2007