MSPs vote in favour of tail shortening
Under the new legislation, up to a third of the tail may be removed.
Scottish MPs have voted in favour of a motion to allow tail shortening in spaniel and hunt point retriever puppies that are likely to be used as working dogs.
Tail docking was banned in Scotland in 2007 but since then many stakeholders have called for an exemption for working dogs. The Scottish government held a consultation on the issue in 2015.
Environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham said in a statement: “After conducting extensive consultation we have seen enough evidence that some working dogs are suffering tail injuries to make the case for the law being changed.
“This will allow vets practising in Scotland to make a professional decision about whether shortening the tails of spaniel and hunt point retriever puppies presented to them will protect animal welfare overall by preventing further injuries later in life. This will only apply where there is evidence that dogs are likely to be used for work.”
Under the new legislation, up to a third of the tail may be removed, which Ms Cunningham said will “[minimise] the effect on the dogs’ use of its tail to communicate”. The procedure involves cutting or crushing the muscle, nerves and bone in puppies under five days old, without anaesthetic.
Draft legislation was approved by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on Monday (12 June). It will now be taken to a full chamber vote in Scottish Parliament.
The BVA’s Scottish Branch president Melissa Donald said she was “saddened” by the decision. She also raised concerns about the enforceability of the proposed legislation, which does not explain how to prove a young puppy of five days old will go on to be a working dog.
Additionally, Dr Donald questioned whether the prevalence of tail injuries justifies a change in legislation.
“Research commissioned by the Scottish Government suggests that up to 320 spaniel puppies would need to be docked to prevent one tail amputation. This prevalence of tail injury simply does not justify unnecessarily submitting puppies to this painful procedure.”
She described the vote as “the start of a retrograde step for animal welfare in Scotland” and urged MSPs to maintain the country’s position as a leader in animal welfare when the legislation goes to a full chamber vote.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
