456 DOGS USED FOR SPORT. 



suggests that those sportsmen who desire short tailed animals, 

 had best breed them from short tailed sires, and stigmatizes the act 

 of docking as a piece of cruelty. Such is undoubtedly true in part, 

 but there is nothing, in our opinion, that detracts so much from 

 the beauty of a setter or pointer as a very long crooked tail. If 

 we could not have ^.good dog without such a deformity, we would, 

 of course, endure it. But there is a remedy for it, and consequently 

 we resort to it when we can, and by docking improve the appear- 

 ance of the dog ; neither need it be an act of cruelty, if skilfully 

 and properly performed. How often do we meet with pointers 

 who have the skin whipped off from their very long tails, for two 

 or three inches ! To work a dog thus is not only cruelty, but the 

 animal, being in constant pain, does not work nearly so well as he 

 would with a good sound tail of proper dimensions. Therefore, 

 it is better to take off a small piece of the tail of most pointer 

 pups, unless the appendage appears of the proper length. If this 

 is done when the pup is but three or four weeks old, he will not 

 show a docked tail when he arrives at adult age. Some setters, 

 too, have tails entirely out of keeping in length ; and what can be 

 more currish in appearance than a very long tail turned up over 

 the stern, or as is sometimes the case, turned to one side or the 

 other } Most sportsmen would consider the animal improved if 

 he were tailless. 



The operation is simple, consisting merely of laying the tail on 

 a block, and turning back the hair at the point where it is desired 

 to be shortened, and with a chisel cutting it off between the joints. 

 The bleeding usually ceases of itself in due time, but if not, the 

 application of a little muriate tincture of iron, or the persulphate 

 (Monsel's salt), will control it. If the operation be skilfully per- 

 formed no deformity will result, the hair falling over the end and 

 hiding the alteration. As may be surmised, it is better to wait 

 until the setter is full grown before docking, otherwise you are as 

 likely to detract as to add to his appearance. Many animals, both 

 setters and pointers, have been marred by unskilful docking, hence 

 the operation should never be attempted except by those who are 

 skilled in its performance. 



A good rule to follow, to get the tail in proportion to the length 

 of the dog's back, is to stand the dog square upon his legs, take 



