[Michael Romanos]

Debbie brought up the subject of the tail docking issue associated with Pems.

At the last count I did, there were only six countries in the world that banned the tail docking of dogs and three others that had a partial ban on tail docking. This, at present constitutes a small anti-docking situation but I admit that other countries could follow down this path. I feel it is unlikely that in New Zealand there will ever be a total docking ban because of our large farming and hunting communities.

A major reason for Pembroke Corgis having their tails docked was to further distinguish Pems from Cardis. But the two breeds have been kept firmly apart for many years and this is no longer a particularly valid reason for docking a Pem's tail.

Some Pems are born tail-less and I suppose if Pems had to have there tails kept intact, then in the showring there could be the spectacle of tailed and tail-less Pems competing against each other.

Rather that ban tail docking, I'd like decisions of this nature to remain with the two international dog organisations and for the best method of docking to be promoted. With Corgis in New Zealand, the best docking method has always been the withering away of the tail within a pup's first week in using a rubber band.