To band or not to band

[poteetkennels]

If trialing is in her future, Band it. It will effect her in the long run. If not and pleasure running, and gun hunting, Spray the blue stuff on it after your done. and go on.....JMO, but I have banded quite a few and after the fist couple day's they feel better, or at least that is how they have acted. The good news is, that is a guaranteed sign of a brush bustin hound.

[fasttrackpa]

I honestly do not think a dog loses enough blood from its tail during a hunt to effect how it feels. I heard someone say one time they had a dog bleed from its tail while hunting so badly they had to carry it to the truck due to weakness. Personally I don't believe it. I also just do not like the looks of a banded tail. I have a male right now that is missing alot of hair on the end of his tail and it begins to bleed within the first few minutes of hunting. However it doesn't seem to effect him any. But if you feel banding is the best option it won't hurt the dog.

I have seen more than one dog get very weak from blood loss because of a tail. One actually came close to dying when she ripped an ear also. I have also seen dogs not want to get in the brush after their tails got too beat up. On the other hand I have seen dogs wear it to the bone, literally and never show a sign it bothered them at all.

[pilotknob]

Congradulations on having a young dog that you raised that has that much hunt to her.I have a 4yr.old female that is the same way.Sides are bloody 10min.out of the box.I put a red collar on her because no matter what color she has on it's red in about 30 min. From what I've seen The tail isn't what bothers mine it is her ears.I just pleasure run and gun hunt so it dosn't matter if I let her lay up few days after hunting her 2 or 3 days in a row.If I was going to condition one for trials it might become a problem.As far as dog problems go It's not that bad of one to have I'ed take it over a lot of other things that gould go wrong...Like having one that follows you arround and the only way it can get hurt is if you trip over it. George

[Alabama John]

Its not the loss of blood that causes me to band, its the tail on both sides having all the skin worn off and the raw bone showing.
Its the look of it that bothers me. I'm afraid of infection.

[cris axtell/coal hill ken]

i have a male that will get week from blood loss if i don't tape his tail. i take a razor knife and cut the duct tape in half on the role. then i coat the end of the tail with bag balm. start wraping about an inch below the bag balm. it very seldom comes off. split it with a pair of sisors to remove.