Tail docking is the shortening of a dog’s tail for cosmetic reasons, either surgically or using bands to cut off blood supply. The shortening of tails for therapeutic reasons is referred to as amputation, rather than docking.

Our organisation supports the amputation of dog’s tails for therapeutic reasons only (the shortening of tails for therapeutic reasons is referred to as amputation, not docking). In such circumstances, the amputation must be carried out by a veterinarian, or a veterinary student under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, and adequate and appropriate medical care must be provided prior to, during, and after the operation and include anaesthesia and analgesia. Care needs to be taken to ensure that damage to the tail is minimised and that any injury or damage is treated appropriately.

The docking of a dog's tail for cosmetic reasons is prohibited under the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018.