Guardian Rottweilers
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IMPORTANT CHANGE IN THE TAIL DOCKING PROCEDURE OF GUARDIAN ROTTWEILERS EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2010, WE WILL NO LONGER OFFER THE OPTION OF HAVING YOUR PUPPY'S TAIL HACKED OFF.  IF YOU HAVE A DEPOSIT ON A LITTER PRIOR TO MAY 1, WE WILL HONOR YOUR CONTRACT, HOWEVER NO NEW DEPOSITS FOR DOCKED TAILED PUPS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  AT GUARDIAN ROTTWEILER, OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE WELL BEING OF OUR BELOVED ROTTIES.

          I'm sure have noticed all of our German and European Imports have their tails.  As well if you have seen any German style shows/events lately you will notice that these rottweilers have their tails as well.  In 1999, Germany made it illegal for the cropping of ears and tail on all breeds as it was deemed inhumane.  The FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale- the World Canine Organization and governing body for nearly all Canine organizations in the world) published the new published standard on April 6, 2000 the for the Rottweiler which abolished the tail docking.  As a result any rottweiler born in Germany or Europe after this time or desiring to compete in German events was left with the tail intact.  Although it might catch you off guard at first, once you have grown accustomed to viewing the rottweilers with their tails intact, it almost seems like something is missing when they are docked.  (Imagine a Labrador without it's tail--you would wonder what had happened!)

          Because nearly every other country has gotten on board with the Germany standard other than the US (the AKC is not a member of the FCI and therefore does not adhere to their regulation governing the breed standard, Code of Ethics breeding, temperament testing, etc.) puppies with their tails still intact have much greater options open to them.  Not only can a puppy with its tail still compete here in the US in any Sieger style show and most AKC events, but the puppy can also be shown internationally.  A puppy with a docked tail is much more limited in his options.  For this reason, you will see that most breeders producing quality pups are leaving the tails.  Nothing is worse that docking the tail of a pup at 24 hours of age, only to see at 6-8 weeks of age the quality in confirmation and drive and that the puppy could have been the next Auslandsieger or Auslandsiegerin!

          On a personal note, because of all the events and shows we have attended abroad, and been able to see the extremely high quality that Germany and Europe has to offer (and of course all with tails), I have come to see the tail as a status symbol.  Usually, if there is an amazing block head, a deep chest, heavy bone and excellent temperament-- there is a beautiful tail curled over the dogs back!  And nothing is more adorable that a little puppy running around with his little tail up in the air like and antenna!  
 
          Surgically docking of the tail by a licensed veterinary of the pup just after birth (24-48 hours) is the only "humane" (if chopping off a part of an animal just for looks can ever be humane) method for removing the tail.  When the puppy is born, he is not full developed--eyes and ears are still sealed, and most of his bone is still cartiledge.  Docking the pups tail later in life is not only much more painful as it is a full amputation, but it also carries a much great risk and a prolonged recovery.  All puppies imported to the US will have the tail intact.  We will also leave the tail on litters that we plan to either keep a puppy from or will send internationally.  Litters will be announced on the "Available Puppies" page with how the tails will be.  You will always have the right to choose the tail of your puppy provided that you inform us before the pup is 24 hours of age.  However, you must understand that if you do choose to get a puppy's tail docked and his litter is left in tact, the puppy of your desired sex will be chosen completely at random as there is no way to predict physical confirmation or character when the pup is only 24-48 hours of age.  You must also understand that you will not have the option to change your puppy later without forfeiting your $500 deposit, as everyone else expecting a pup from that litter has requested a pup with his natural tail.  You also agree that regardless of whether your puppy is show or pet quality, you will not be permitted to show in confirmation events as partial docking is not permitted (you must either dock the entire litter or leave the entire litter intact- if 2 pups from the same litter compete in a confirmation event with different tails, both pups will be disqualified!).  If the puppy is show/breed quality, you may still breed the dog (as long as you comply with breeding regulations specified in the GR Puppy Contract) and you may still compete in field and working events (tracking, Sch., PSA, agility, herding, etc.) 

Starting in 2010, we will also leave the tails on all puppies we produce unless there is a medical reason to dock (tail injury, birth defect of the tail, etc.)  I have seen way too many pups suffer and even die from this barbaric practice and refuse to participate any longer.  If you truly believe that a rottweiler is not just as intelligent, affectionate, loyal, courageous, regal, majestic and gorgeous with his tail, then I am sure you can find many back yard breeders here that will be happy to chop the tails off of their newborn puppies for you.  Guardian Rottweilers was started with the philosophy of preserving and bettering the ROTTWEILER BREED, and frankly, I do not see how mutilating helpless puppies accomplishes this.

          All the puppies we sell that come with their natural tail MUST remain with their tail intact.  Failure to leave the tail without clear medical reason will result in a breach of contract and be considered abuse/ neglect on the puppy.

DOCKING YOUR PUPPY'S TAIL

             Cutting off a functioning part of your dog's body is not a decision that should be taken lightly.  We will not agree to chop off the tail of your puppy unless you have read and understand exactly what you are doing to your best friend.  Officially, I would rather never have to put any puppy through this painful, and truly barbaric procedure, however,  there are some people that believe a rottweiler is not a rottweiler without his tail.

HOW IS THE TAIL DOCKED?
If done "correctly," the puppy is taken to the vet at about 24-48 hours of age.  The reason it is done this early is because 1) it minimizes the scarring as the pup's tail is still very small at this age,  2) the pup's bones are still mostly cartilage rather than calcified bone; and 3) When done this early, the pup is not put under anestesia which minimizes trauma to the heart, etc.
          So, this newborn, tiny pup just hours old is taken to the vet where it is held down while her tail is clamped and then the tail is sliced off while the puppy is fully awake and screaming.  The surgical knife cuts through skin, muscle, sensitive nerves and the cartilage that would later become the tailbone.  The raw, open tail is then stitched up, again, without any anestesia.  The poor helpless puppy will continue to scream until it is too exhausted and then just whimper for the next 3-4 day.  Because the raw, open wound of the chopped off tail is right at the anal opening, the risk of infection that, in such a young puppy, could become septic and life threatening quickly and easily, is high, so the puppy is put on antibiotics for the first week or two of life.  Now, a helpless newborn puppy who is in so much pain that if does not feel like nursing and on antibiotics that can reek havoc on a digestive system that is only weeks developed has to fight for its life and what little it does eat, its tiny body uses to heal itself rather than grow.  When pups in a litter and leave the siblings with the tails intact, even a pup that was born the largest in the litter with be so significantly behind on growth from his/her siblings that at 3 weeks of age, they do not even appear to be from the same litter up to 1/4 the size and weight of their siblings!!  
 
 
 
Why should I leave my puppy's tail intact?
         Besides the obvious reasons (I'm pretty sure that God probably did not put it there on accident, and as stated you have much more options open to you for showing), there are also health risks to consider.
          The American Veterinary Medical Association takes a strong position on tail docking stating that "ear cropping and tail docking in dogs for cosmetic reasons are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient.  These procedures cause pain and distress, and, as with all surgical procedures, are accompanied by inherent risks of anesthesia, blood loss and infection.  The AVMA encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards."
 
 
          Cutting a puppy's tail off, even when performed by a veterinarian,  is very painful to the young puppy.  Although the puppy is not fully developed, all medical research suggests the central nervous system and pain sensory are fully developed.  Skin, sensitive nerve endings, cartilege and bone are cut through then stitched up all without any anesthesia.  Then, the exposed, raw bone and meat are in such close proximity to the anal opening that there is no way to avoid contamination with the puppy's own excrement.   Antibiotics will often help prevent infection, but not always.  And because of how fast a rottweiler puppy grown, the stitches, and consequent scabs are ripped off every couple of days due to growth, causing the healing process to take weeks or even months.  Some puppies that are docked get what is called "failure to thrive."  This is where (presumably because of the pain) the puppies do not eat enough, and sometimes have no will at all to eat and must be force fed or have a tube put in through the mouth and into the stomach.  What a horrible way to start out life- only a few hours old and already someone has hacked off part of your body, and caused so much extra stress to your body when it is already so fragile and struggling to finish developing... and why? because it look cool.  Hmmm... wonder of humans would look cooler with only one arm... then it wouldn't get in the way when your trying to get comfortable in bed... maybe we should chop the arm off someone's baby and see if it really hurts or it the baby looks any cooler later...

          Ok, so your puppy "survived" getting part of his body chopped off, what now?  Sometimes the stump can get what is called neuroma, or nerve scar tissue.  This happens in human amputees as well.  I have friends who have lost an appendage, and I can tell you the pain and discomfort is very real.  It is just not as well know in dogs because, anyone who has ever owned a rottweiler can tell you that they do not let pain stop them from doing their job, even if it is a significant amount of pain.  They do not sit around and wallow in self pity (that's a human thing) they simply suck it up and drive on.
          The dogs use their tails constantly.  Even if you do not believe in God, then surely your evolution theory would suggest that if the dogs have evolved to have a tail, then it is for a reason.  It is used in balance, swimming (like a rudder) agility and aerial movements, and of course in expression.  I can tell a lot about my dogs out in the garden just by their tails.  Is it stiff and rigid?  Wagging, but very stiffly? Straight in the air?  Wagging freely?  Wagging excitedly?  Tucked under?  Not only do we humans rely on the tail to communicate how our dogs feel, but other dogs do as well.    

          I cannot tell you how many people have bought a puppy with the tail left intact and been apprehensive only to later say that they could not imagine their puppy without it.  I have NEVER had not even one person purchase a puppy with the tail and regret it later.  Your rottweiler will love you completely and unconditionally regardless of what you look like.  Do you really need to cut part of him off to love him back?