Tail docking of dogs in Scotland - an overview

The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 includes a total ban on all non-therapeutic tail docking of dogs.  Section 20 of the Act makes it an offence to perform a procedure on an animal which interferes with its the bone structure or sensitive tissue, unless it is a medical procedure or the procedure has been specifically exempted by Regulations made by Scottish Ministers.

The Regulations do not allow for prophylactic tail docking of any dog therefore it is currently an offence for anyone, including veterinary surgeons, to dock the tails of puppies. It is also an offence to take a dog from Scotland for the purpose of having its tail docked, although a pregnant bitch could be taken out of Scotland and the puppies could then be docked under the English exemption.

Campaigning to overturn the tail docking ban

BASC Scotland, and other organisations, have submitted a petition to the Public Petitions Committee, seeking to overturn this ban.  This has not yet been successful, but soon to be published research may support the argument that prophylactic tail docking is indeed beneficial.

Law on showing docked dogs

A dog docked before the 28 March 2007 in Wales and 6 April 2007 in England may continue to be shown at all shows in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland throughout its natural life. A dog docked on, or after, the above dates, irrespective of where it was docked, may not be shown at shows in England and Wales where the public is charged a fee for admission.

However, where a working dog has been docked in England and Wales under the respective regulations set out above, it may be shown where the public are charged a fee, so long as it is shown “only to demonstrate its working ability”. It will thus be necessary to show working dogs in such a way as ONLY to demonstrate their working ability and not conformity to a standard.

A dog legally docked in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or abroad may be shown at any show in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Find out more

Click here for an overview of animal welfare law in Scotland