比 tails that they are born with are prone to getting injured and since they wag their tails so hard， those injuries can be significant. Infection can set in and cause chronic problems and possible fatality， which is another reason why tail docking was started in dogs who were used for hunting and herding， and would be running through the brush where the tail is easily injured. This is still true today， so another， and more important aspect of docking tails is for the health and safety of the dog.
比 tails are docked， in the US， within the first 5 days after birth. It is a procedure that is quick and relatively easily done (although it must be painful - which is another argument against doing it) and is really just a snip off the tip of the tail and not much different than clipping your own nails and with about the same amount of discomfort， and healing is also quick. In Canada， the UK and several other countries， there have been stringent regulations enacted against tail docking， citing animal cruelty and unnecessary disfigurement.
比 tail docking in pets is still widely in use in the US for a number of reasons. To meet breed show standards is one of them， but it is also done to promote the health and well being of the dog as well.
