Tails in Latvia

[Irena]

I'd have to find the respective documents to make sure it is correct, but I am told that in Latvia
docking of tails (or ears) is not allowed anymore, but
SHOWING docked/cropped dogs is allowed, no restrictions. Yet.
Import of docked/cropped dogs is allowed, too.

[fialCo]

Irena, what about it now? what is the situation ? I saw few interesting shows comming up in Latvia... What about Your Audrey?
I 've imported dog from Poland, where docking was still allowed, now I've heard, that I won't show my dog in lots of countries:(

[szarasfora]

fialCo
- docking is oficially NOT allowed in Poland.....
...althought some breeders (me too) dock our pups....
But showing docked dogs IS allowed. So you can always come to Poland ))

[Wetdog]

There is no problem with showing dogs with docked tails in Latvia.

[fialCo]

but how then come so?? Iza explain, please!!!
Not allowed, but some do that, some not, and how many chances to lose against undocked dog?? Judges could say - sorry, your dog has a docked tail:(
And as I have read, Germany also does not allow docked tails for weims if the owner is not a hunter or smht?

[szarasfora]

fialCo
The law in Poland does NOT say directly: "docking dog's tail is forbidden". It says that it is allowed to make only such operations that save the dog's health or life. THere can be different interpretations of the statement. Some people say that docking tails "saves" the dog's health (prevents possible injuries etc.), some people say that it doesn't. Polish kennel club allows docking tails on the shows and registers docked litters. Polish Hunting Union allows docked dogs to participate in hunting competitions.
I talked to the president of Polish Kennel Club last year and he told me that Kennel Club would not take a stand on docking. So one thing is animal protection law which is not unequivocal, the other thing is a mandatory weimaraner standard of kennel club.
That's why some breeders dock, some others don't.
Most of Polish weimaraner judges are hunters too. They are accustomed to short tails. So a docked dog has more chances to win while compared to an undocked one (of course provided that both are equally excellent). Although the judge is obliged to treat docked and undocked dogs in the same way.

[fialCo]

Thanks, Iza, but what about FCI standart? I checked it yesterday, and there is now nothing about tail - just how it should look like (there was a sentence about docked tail earlier). Comparing to kurzhaar standart - there is still written that docked or normal tail.
Actually, in Lithuania it is forbidden to dock tails and crop ears since 2004, but dogs from abroad may be shown. And if the tail or ears are docked, you have to have a vet's paper which says, it was a medical operacion, amutation, disease or injury...
What should I say if some judge will disqualify me for the docked tail? That Polish breeders do it for dogs' health? I myself think so too, but ...
This year World show in Poznan, but next - in Sweden, so I won't be allowed there I understand...