James,
how do you feel about human male circumcision?

The Rottweiler Standard calls for docked tails for some practical reasons. In a fight with a wolf, the tail was a disadvantage; when pulling a cart, it got in the way. Over the years, the outline of the Rottweiler -- the view you have that determines breed type -- always had it with a docked tail.

Several years ago, the Animal Activists convinced the breeders in Germany to abandon docking for "humane" reasons. The breeders agreed because it's cheaper to turn out a litter if you don't have to have your vet dock the tails. And so Germany -- the home of the Rottweiler Standard -- essentially abandoned it.

Here in the US, we tend to be more cynical about Animal Rights Groups because we know that ultimately they would like all dogs freed as pets to run the streets and meet their maker by getting hit by cars. As breeders, we also like to maintain the physical appearance of the dog as it was originally intended. So in AKC showing, docking is still strongly preferred.

Docking isn't cropping but it's the same purpose. We've bred 25 puppies in 10 years and every one has been docked. And none of them had any long-term psychological issues as a result of it. We do it at 3 days of age and by 5 days, they are healed and not in any pain at all. There's more trauma the first time I clip the nails .

A Rottweiler with a tail is a very nice dog. But it isn't the vision of this breed that I prefer. I have a tailed dog, my Golden. I don't need 6 other tails swishing stuff off the coffee table, thank you . Like I said, I breed to the Standard and docking is still in the standard. I support that. There are others that don't. We probably disagree on several more important issues as well. So be it.

Jim