Hi everyone.

Not posted for a while as my last post got a bit OTT by me mentioning that 2 out of the 3 pups had their tails docked. I dont regret doing it, & I done it all by the book & all was legal.

Anyway, thought I'd update you all on the puppies progress. All 3 are doing really well. They are now 16 days old. They have just started opening their eyes & starting to find their feet. So I will be moving them into my utility room soon, right next to the kitchen so they have more room, & then I can divide it up into sleeping area, toilet area & play area. Laminate floor so ideal as I can keep it clean etc. Wont move them for a few days yet though.

Tula has been great, I have not had to do much to help her, I'm just making sure she is eating & drinking enough. But shes a perfect 1st time mum :)

I have attached some pics for you. Dont they grow soooooo fast!

OMG! What fat little pups - too cute for words! I'm a sucker for brownies! So you had tails docked - sorry, I don't see what the big deal is...of course, I'm sure this will start another looooooooonnnnggg post! LOL Dare I ask about their dew claws? LOL Tula is lovely - she looks like a puppy herself. Enjoy the pups!

Karen, Buster, Dixie, Stumpy [www.jack-russell-terrier.co.uk]

Hi, glad to hear that all is well and the pups look so chunky n healthy!!! Tula's done well and she looks so content!! keep us updated!! cant believe they are 16 days old already!! little cuties!!

They are gorgeous. Love the little one with his tongue sticking out.

Fiona Ffluffi Joy, Manny Moo, Ojo the little black piglet and Toffee - the ultimate rescue dog!

Take a look at my photos - [www.jack-russell-terrier.co.uk]

Jack Russells really are the easiest dog to look after - all they ask is a warm bed, a kind word, a good meal - and total world domination!

Lovely, lovely puppies !

Kate x

Love from Kate, Tess, Lily and Thomas xx

How big are those pups! They look so cute and cuddly, I bet you could just hold them all day long. I love the smell of pups.

A dog is for life!

It's time to show the world that more of us support our troops than don't! Remember, if you don't stand behind our troops, then please feel free to stand in front of them.

Gorgeous Puppies, and it looks as thoughTula is a good Mum, she is a pretty little dog too.

Glenice.

Lovely pups! Tula looks v content and the pups look v healthy, keep up the good work :)

You say the tails were docked legally.....can i ask how this can be? Since only working, registered puppies are now allowed to be legally docked. This is for registered breeds (of which the jack russell is not a registered breed), springers and working spaniels/pointers. You have to have certificated proof the litter are working strain, that both parents are registered and that the puppies will be provided to working only homes. The puppies all have to all be microchipped and on the working register with the kennel club by the time they are 12 weeks old.......this is the only legallity to docking puppies!

Its a shame you got them docked, it makes no difference to the dog having a tail, especially to home bred pet dogs. I dont suppose you'll get into trouble for it as the matter is still very grey around it since who regulate the policy, nobody checks up on every breeder, especially of unregistered dogs, so its typically the terriers who are still being docked at almost every litter as a lot of terriers are not registered and crosses also, and its a typically 'done thing' but it doesnt make it right. But please be aware that a vet has to mention it to all the new owners about how its an illegal practice and it only takes for one person to tell another who then reports it, they are handing out jail sentences, fines and bans for it now. Dont know if you saw it but there wa a lot of puplicity about a Rottweilers owner who was jailed for docking 12 puppies tails.

I hope also that whoever docked the dam hasn't docked the puppies,the dam looks like she hasnt even got an inch of tail left,,they are supposed to have a handful to grab anyway,i wish i could dock the docker thumbs off at a few days old.... Angela

.[www.jack-russell-terrier.co.uk] .The Kindness one does for an animal may not change the world… But, IT WILL change the world for that one animal.”

well Tula does work & only 2 of the 3 pups had their tails docked as these will be worked, the 3rd will be a pet & has her tail. I have explained all of this before. I didnt do it lightly, I had all the appropriate paperwork & the vet knows me & knows we work our dogs.

Anniesmum - yes I know, Tula has a very short tail! (so does our other jrt sadie, who we rescued ) I was told when I got Tula that a vet done the tails, but stupidly didnt ask to see proof. Tulas tail like you say is just over an inch. So I reckon they done it themselves - which I would NEVER do. I know different vets do them slightly different lengths, but yes they have to have a 'handful' of tail, which my 2 pups have :)

I know some of you disagree with what I have done, but please don't judge me. We love our dogs, they have a great life & love working. The debate can go on & on I suppose..

Anyway, on a happier note, the pups are doing well. They are 3 weeks old now, & they are starting to play. Eyes are fully? open & they have already got the hang of peeing on paper :) as Iam keeping the bed really clean & the paper smelling slightly of...well a toilet! nice! But it works :)

They are sooooooo cute! Its funny when they make small barks / noises & look so shocked that the noise came from them!

A question, my other JRT, sadie, who is nearly 8, has not been herself, she wants to go near the pups & constantly shakes just like she does when working, & catching rats. She must know they are puppies..? Right? Cos we dont trust her around them yet, shes a loving dog, but she just has a look in her eyes. will she hurt them??.. does that make sense? or am I over worrying? Tula is still protective of them so wont let sadie get too close. Bless sadie though I think she is feeling left out maybe, or broody, but def not herself, not eating much etc. If it carries on we will of course take her to the vet, but any thoughts or similar experiences?

Thanks, Rachel (will post more pics soon, my batteries are charging at the mo)

I think we have had enough of the docked tail debate now. Whether everyone agrees or not, it was done legally and that is that! The pups are absolutely gorgeous. Perhaps Sadie wants to be included and is curious, but senses that Tula is protective. It seems unlikely that she would intentionally hurt the pups. Do Tula and Sadie normally get on well? If so I wouldn't worry too much, Tula will be less protective as the pups get a bit older and explore more..

Shaking like that can be a sign of anxiety or excitement. If she does it whilst out ratting thenshe may be in the same state of mind that they are small wriggly things that she should dispatch. I wouldnt let her too close, as your doing, just yet. Dont ban her from the room but let her watch from a distance, then hopefully as the pups get older and more dog like she will realx around them and not want to do them any harm. Has she has litters herself?

No vet would dock a jack russells tails in this day of the ban, like previously said the jack is not a registered working breed (having a tail doesnt stop it catching a rat really does it??!) Its not worth their job, becuase they would be struck off by the royal College for docking them......any way, I'm not causing any arguements about it since its done, I'm just telling you the actual facts of it since I work in the veterinary profession and I'm very aware of the rules and regulations =)

I'm glad the pups and mom are all doing well, they are very cute! Love the heavily marked one, are you keeping any? =)

Link to DEFRA leaflet on docking

Quote:

DEFRA
Frequently asked questions What kind of working dogs can be docked? Any spaniel, terrier, hunt point retrieve breed or their crosses can be docked (as long as the necessary evidence indicating that they are likely to work is produced).

What kind of evidence do I need to prove that my dog will work in order to have it docked? The puppy must be presented with the dam, and a statement provided by the owner (or the owner’s representative) that the dog is intended to work in one of the specified areas. Additional evidence related to the particular type of work the dog will perform is also required. This is detailed in the regulations.

Must a vet dock a working dog’s tail if asked to do so? No – the decision is discretionary. The legislation does not require a vet to dock an eligible dog’s tail.

How do I know if my dog’s tail has been legally docked? Dogs which have been legally docked must have a certificate issued by a vet. The certificate contains certain information required by law and must be signed by a vet.

Whatever our views on docking it is legal under certain circumstances and terriers are included in the list of dogs that can be docked.

Fiona Ffluffi Joy, Manny Moo, Ojo the little black piglet and Toffee - the ultimate rescue dog!

Take a look at my photos - [www.jack-russell-terrier.co.uk]

Jack Russells really are the easiest dog to look after - all they ask is a warm bed, a kind word, a good meal - and total world domination!

That would be registered terriers ;-) = Airedale Terrier Australian Terrier Fox Terrier (Smooth) Fox Terrier (Wire) Glen of Imaal Terrier Irish Terrier Kerry Blue Terrier Lakeland Terrier Norfolk Terrier Norwich Terrier Parson Russell Terrier Sealyham Terrier Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Welsh Terrier

You can imagine it gets abit frustrating for me at work, all these pups still docked, not done by vets, no certificates, no registration and definately not to working homes. But like i previously said its such a hard legislation as there is simply not the man power to check these things and not all breeders are registered, terriers slip through the net, they are such a popular pet and people stil like to see them as they are commonly known. Because you can now not show a dog born after the ban who is docked will put away a lot of the registered breeds being docked and i think most pet breeders will follow eventually, it would be farm bred dogs perhaps still eing docked. I think as people get used to the fact more and more dogs have their tails it will become the 'norm'. There is actually not that much evidence to show working undocked dogs suffer any more tail injuries than their docked counterparts. It was the same with Ear cropping, remember that was still legal not all that long ago and their was huge uproar when the practice was banned, but now its so rare to see and people would be upset and angry if they saw cropped ears in a litter.

Any way, this topic is getting bogged down off topic isnt it so I shall refrain from any more docking debate here and I will enjoy seeing Tula's pups grow up into healthy, happy pups =)