Docking
Docking
Following the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and The Docking of Working Dogs Tails (Wales) Regulations 2007, it is now only lawful to dock the tails of bonafide working spaniels, terriers and HPRs when done for prophylactic reason as puppies, ie to prevent injury when at work.
Before docking our veterinary surgeon must certify that:
Evidence Requirements
Dew claw removal in dogs
The owner of the dog must show evidence to the veterinary surgeon that the puppy presented is likely to work. The regulation stipulates the following evidence will need to be seen by the veterinary surgeon before the dog can be certified:
police identification and evidence from the head of a police dog section that the dog is intended to be used for work in connection with law enforcement; orsimilar evidence in regards to the dog’s work during activities for Her majesty’s armed forces, emergency rescue services and Her Majesty’s revenue and customs services; orevidence that—either—a current shotgun or firearm certificate issued to the owner of the dog; ora letter from a gamekeeper, a land-occupier (or his/her agent), a person with shooting rights, a shoot organiser or club official, a person representing the National Working Terrier Federation, andstating that the breeder of the dog to be docked is known to him and that dogs bred by that breeder have been used on his/her land or in his/her shoot, or for pest control.The Act requires that all certified dogs are identified before they are 3 months of age. The Regulations detail how a specified legally docked dog must be marked with identification.
A permanent mark of identification is necessary to be able to prove that the dog has been legally docked, and provide a link to the certificate. This will allow a future owner of the dog to prove that the dog is a certified working dog, under the Act and the regulations.
The Welsh Assembly Government consider that microchipping is the only way of uniquely and permanently identifying a legally docked dog. However, due to the size of the puppy, this procedure may be carried out at a different time from the docking of the tail. Veterinary surgeons (and veterinary nurses under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon) will carry out the microchipping. WAG specify that ISO (International Standards Organisation) Standard microchips meeting specification 11784 or Annex A to 11785 are used. If the microchip does not conform to either of these ISO Standards, it may not be able to be read by a universal microchip reader, so this enables the microchip number to be read successfully.
The RCVS have indicated that, while removal of dew claws is not appropriate where done for the convenience of the owner, there may be cases where the dew claws protrude and are likely to be torn and damaged by normal activity. This makes their removal justifiable, and even advisable.
The National Assembly for Wales does not consider removing dew claws for purely cosmetic reasons, such as complying with a breed standard, justifiable. However, it does not consider it possible to stipulate – and effectively enforce - exactly the circumstances in which this procedure should be performed. The REGULATIONS will therefore leave this decision to the discretion of those performing the procedure. The requirement in Regulation 6(c) would prevent it being performed for cosmetic purposes, as this would not be in accordance with good practice.
