[hacyOrgachbic]

I'm not reaming the OP for docking his tail, but I will say it's not the norm for a bully breed to have it's tail docked..

Very cute puppy and cute kid. He's a big boy.

[Frdsdx26]

no tail it was docked when his ears were done, I debated it a lot and came up with loosing the tail, When he gets older its less complications with him wacking stuff or kids faces and not getting soars or lumps and bleeding. I do miss his tail, he wags his whole rear end now it looks so funny. In the one pic of him younger in the grass he does have his tail there its just wagging and out of the picture. Whats DA?

This is the most...odd reasoning for having a dog's tail docked. If you did it as a preventative for "getting sores or lumps or bleeding".....guess I outta chop off my dog's legs and ears as well as his tail. Maybe if I skin him...he won't have skin issues anymore?

[SAUNDERSAN]

Awesome pup and child! I'm not going to say anything about the docked tail other than, I have a list of dogs I'd like to remove the tails on!

Enjoy the forum, great people here and great dogs too!

[ChicasCams]

To the OP: It's just very odd to dock a dog's tail, to WANT to dock a dog's tail and to find a vet that really doesn't have a problem with it. It's not exactly a traditional, common thing to do to a dog (other than Dobes, Rotts, etc) and when done, is done at one or two days old. I believe you when you say the dog did okay with it, but that's not what I'm amazed at...

Are you sure you want a DOG? With a tail that will hit the kids and the coffee tables and such? Kinda goes with having a DOG.

Carla

[Barryrich]

Is it seriously this big of a deal that someone chose to dock THEIR OWN dog's tail?

holy shit people. Really getting ridiculous about things.


OP welcome. Cute dog. Enjoy your stay.

[VYholden]

Thank you bugsylove and is that really a good food for him?? I have been trying to research a good food for a good price. I found a feed store that sells 30 pound bags for $39.99 after taxes. But is that a really good food for muscle, coat, and healthy life??

[Barryrich]

Thank you bugsylove and is that really a good food for him?? I have been trying to research a good food for a good price. I found a feed store that sells 30 pound bags for $39.99 after taxes. But is that a really good food for muscle, coat, and healthy life??

taste of the wild
canidae
fromm family

those are my favorite three but there are plenty more out there.

[Intockatt]

nice boy... but I sttill don't understand why ppl cropp animals ears/tails

[OWDavid]

she is beautiful i love the sweater

[ChicasCams]

Is it seriously this big of a deal that someone chose to dock THEIR OWN dog's tail?
.

Of course, he can be allowed to DO it, it's just that I don't want the OP to think that is a normal, common thing to want to do to a dog. Ears, yeah, that's kind of a common, generally accepted thing. Tails not so much.

It IS unusual.

Carla

[Frdsdx26]

I think the reason is unusual, lol. Not the act itself really.

[Barryrich]

Of course, he can be allowed to DO it, it's just that I don't want the OP to think that is a normal, common thing to want to do to a dog. Ears, yeah, that's kind of a common, generally accepted thing. Tails not so much.

It IS unusual.

Carla

Who cares if its normal? lol.

Not normal to drive a car thats an inch off the ground but I do it everyday.... is that a giant deal that needs 8000 posts? No.

It's their dog. They can do what they please. End of discussion.

[VYholden]

Wow I cant believe that stirred up so much controversy. I asked for constructive criticism and you gave it to me. I have very thick skin, Ive served in the military now for 4 1/2 years with a combat deployment in southern Afghanistan '09. What you say does not hurt or effect me. So I thank you for being honest and carrying about our pets/animals, I care same way, which is the reason why I wanted to join a forum/community that feels the way I do. Unfortunately some do not agree with the choice of the docked tail, I respect that.. it is unnecessary and pointless also can be considered cruel to some extent. I will admit I was not too educated on the specific breed and should have been smarter. I was moving from Arizona back to Chicago and always wanted a APBT. Well in Arizona very very close to the border of California and Mexico all within 5-10 miles it so happens the majority of the dog population there is APBTs and Chihuahuas. Since APBTs and other specific breeds are not allowed on Marine Corps military bases I had to get a APBT right before the move and had to house it for a week or two "illegally" in my base housing. I will state that I could have waited and got one here (up north) but there are WAY TOO MANY pits down there, that are VERY mistreated and not taken care of properly. Its hot down there especially where I was. I have seen so many, of these dogs chained up in 130 degree garages, left outside with no shelter or water, Bone skinny from poor nutrition. So the reason why I chose to not wait was, if I could save just one puppy from that fate and give him the best life possible I would, and I DID!
In doing so I had to make choices fast as our pups, we all know don't stay little babies for long. And what ever choice I made I had to make early before he got any older. I was mislead in the wrong direction by people and made the choice to dock the tail. Am I sorry? no, do it regret it? a little. Only because I miss his floppy ears and his tail wagging everywhere when he got excited. My wife and I always metion how we miss his cute ears and wagging tail. But hes still the same dog there isn't anything different about him besides cosmetically hes still our same old big goof ball. After hearing about how its looked down upon and the APBT community does not accept it. I WILL CONSIDER NOT cropping and WILL NOT dock any dog I may own in the future. I Love my dog VERY much I protect him and love him and care for him like hes my second son because he is. A lady a few weeks ago who we don't know (just moved, still new to our neighborhood) knocked on our door asking if we "had our dog". She said she had "seen a young man walking down the street with a dog that looked just like ours and the dog was acting out like the man wasn't his owner "I immediately went to our bedroom loaded my beautiful sexy .45 Kimber ultra crimson carry II and was about to run down the street to find who stole my dog. My wife stopped me half way out the door telling me he was laying in the living room enjoying the warmth from the sun. I care for my dog And I would never mistreat my dog in any way or ever let harm come to him. My wife hates how "obsessed" I am with him all I do is talk about him and research the breed and wanna do this with him or that with him. she got on me again about it just today, because I was researching how to build a spring pole for him. I know he would absolutely love it. He clamps down on his rope toy and holds on as I drag him around the house or yard on his belly. I care about him living a happy, healthy, loving, life. I'm a VERY strong believer in these amazing animals and spread the good word everyday, to people about the breed. And do what I can to educate them and stop the reputation that careless ignorant cruel PEOPLE have given them. Gatlin cant tell people in words how hes a big baby, but I can tell them. He does the visual aid by being friendly and licking them and showing hes a lover. It makes it better having the cropping and docking done because its helping stop the discriminating "mean and dangerous belief"(!!!which is not why I did it!!!!) any dog can be mean and dangerous or start a fight its that our dogs most likely will win, then people point their finger at the APBT saying thats the bad guy. who threw the first punch? is what my momma always asked me. I love it when people ask me if hes friendly with other dogs and Gatlin wags his whole behind and licks and plays nice and sniffs, then their dog acts out, starts barking, going crazy and being mean..growling. while Gatlin sits there and stares calmly and quietly with his beautiful face. Now I'm rambling on and on, sorry this has been so long but I had a lot to talk about. I'm actually surprised about the docking issue I didn't expect it or thought about it at all. I thought I was for sure going to catch heat about the harness I have him pulling my son with. I know its not a weight pulling harness or proper harness to use, but hes far from fully grown and im not spending the money on a really good harness until he is fully grown. My son weighs 30 pounds, and in a sled sliding on top snow is nothing for him to pull. I would like to end on a good positive note saying thank you for opening my eyes to the tail docking on APBT it must be more common around this area as I have seen a few APBT with docked tails, and thought of it just as a choice to dock/crop or no dock/crop and if you could afford to spend the $300. I look forward to talking more and sharing Gatlin's story/life as he grows older to the people that care. Thank you for everyone that cared and were courageous enough to say the truth.
P.S. my wife does not hate Gatlin she loves him very much its just that I'm so about him she gets sick of hearing about dogs, So I tell her I get sick of hearing about purses and clothes. & sorry about spelling or grammar I put periods and commas where I think they should be, I didn't go to college I went to war. and I was too young/little to care when I suppose to learn it in school, I was too busy playing and chasing the ladies around. -TKCG-

[Intockatt]

anyway- I can't understand it. It's a part of a dog body. It will be the same when you'll cropp your ears or leg or whatewer. I still wondering why in so many countries such thing is still legal.

[VYholden]

The reasons "why I did it" That I previously stated in the earlier post, are not the soul reasons behind the choice to dock or not. They were among a list of many other misleading pros vs cons, those particular ones stood out to me because I have a child and don't need a powerful tail whacking my kid in the eye ball and I have seen dogs who knock there tails on edges of stuff and have permanent lumps and bald spots. I WAS UNEDUCATED and listened to people instead of doing my homework, so stop talking about how my reasons are blowing your minds out of the water. I already am considering not being part of this forum, I feel like this is the Jehovah Witnesses of APBT owners. Its not the end of the world! Hes ok people, its not like I chopped it off in my kitchen. If you wanna cry about it, cry about the people that don't do it the right way and do it themselves. Youtube max's ear crop and then come tell me I'm the bad person. I made a bad decision well at least my bad decision was done the RIGHT WAY...PROFESSIONALLY!!!

[lierro]

Very cute dog and kid!

I swear, it seems like some people on this forum just FIND shit to bitch and moan about.
Whoopty f*cking dooooo, the dogs tail and ears are done.

OP, hope you enjoy it here.

[VYholden]

P.S. With absolutely NO disrespect what so ever at all, and absolutely not being sexiest or bias or negative towards a specific gender. I bet majority of the people complaining are women (and possibly some men) but mainly women. The female point of view/feeling on the issue, may be different to me Because I'm a man, I think there are way worse things we can rant and rave about. You can go ahead and cry about that comment next. Have a good night -TKCG-

[massons]

Sometimes they get a little carried away in here but they are passionate, so they really don't mean to come off rude or anything. Heck I get blasted for dumb things I do that are dumber than what you did. I'm scared to mention stray cat incident because I was stupid for not bringing a leash home with me.

---------- Post added at 08:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 PM ----------

The only thing I heard is that apbt need their tails for balance

[Preorbtat]

Welcome to the forum. Your pup and your son are cute as can be.
And a big Thank You for your service over in Afghanistan!

[Anfester]

I think there are way worse things we can rant and rave about.

Amen!!

Welcome to the forum.... great way to "break you in". I apologize that you received a less than warm welcome. This forum prides itself on not immediately attacking new members when they join. ( we like to get you involved first, then attack when you least expect it. ) I'm kidding, but in all honesty, I do apologize for the lack of tact of some members. It is unprofessional, and unnecessary. However, this is the internet, and people will make comments, no matter how inappropriate. Please over look them and please don't hold it against the forum. All in all, this is a really great forum, and I'm glad you found us.

Welcome to the forum. Your pup and your son are cute as can be.
And a big Thank You for your service over in Afghanistan!

I couldn't agree more. Your pup is beautiful... and of course, the baby doesn't look "too" bad.

Adorable pup, and adorable child. Thanks for coming to the forum to learn all you can about being a responsible owner, and to share with us as well. And most definitely, thank you for your service for our country.