At ST Stead we dock tails for dog breeder and working dogs. Please contact Tim Stead at the veterinary surgery and ask for tail dock details.We charge £40.00 per puppy for litters of less than 4 and £30.00 per puppy for litters of 4 or more . These prices include microchips and certificates

Tail docking is the docking of working dogs, hunting dogs or gun dog tails and is a practice which has been carried out for centuries in order to avoid tail damage. Today there are over fifty traditionally docked breeds which are recognised by various Dog Breeders and Kennel Clubs. But docking a dogs tail has, in recent years, come under the scrutiny of the veterinary establishment, which has condemned the practice as an "unjustified mutilation".

Breeders, pedigree dog owners, animal specialist and many veterinary surgeons disagree with this view. They believe that if docking ceased, dogs would suffer. Docking, they say, is a perfectly humane procedure when properly carried out, and one, which prevents far more distress than it causes. It is, like neutering, simply a practical animal management technique which should remain available to dog breeders and breeding owners.

The Animal Welfare Acts came into force in Wales on 31 March 2007, England on 6 April 2007 and Scotland from 30 April 2007.

ST Stead is the only vet in York, Yorkshire, who will provide dog breeders with this service but strict conditions do apply. The breeds we are allowed to dock are Spaniels, Terriers, Hunt point Retrievers, and Hunt Pointers.We charge £40.00 per puppy  for the litters of 3 or less and £30.00 per puppy for litters of 4 or more , this includes the chip and paper work.

The breeder has to provide evidence of the fact that they are going to be working dogs like a shot gun licence or letter from game keeper or land owner. We will then dock the puppy at 24 to 36 hours old, remove the dew claws and microchip it. A certificate will be issued with each pet puppy. We can loan a microchip scanner to the breeder to identify each chip number prior to sale if necessary.

For all advice please feel free to contact us, we are here to help with any further questions you may have.