Rufts Is Now in Association with Waggers, the Specialist Online Shop Offering Dog Products

Rufts, the world's largest dog show where dogs from more than 30 countries participate for the title of Crufts top dog each year, is now in association with Waggers, a specialist online shop offering an exciting range of dog products.

, will be featuring around 180 breeds in categories such as Best of Breed, Best of Group and last but not the least the Best in Show. It has now joined hands with Waggers, a specialist online shop offering an exciting range of dog products. Together they are looking for the ultimate dog in their online competition. The winner in the category will get a beautiful, luxury dog bed from Waggers!

Tracey Cannon, the marketing manager at Waggers, states, "Rufts is a prestigious dog show and undoubtedly the most watched in Britain. Providing dog products like dog beds, and dog toys for years, we are now happy to join hands with such an award where "dog people" from more than 30 countries enthusiastically bring their dogs to participate in different categories."

Waggers is the ultimate choice of dog owners as they offer their range of products such as dog beds, collar, blankets & towels, coats, ramps, guard, feeding equipment and many healthcare products with a guarantee of 100 money back. One can browse their catalogue online and can even order for a free one from their site http://www.Waggers.co.uk/. Waggers is in association with Kennel club, UK's largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs, has recently joined hands with Rufts. They are helping and encouraging dog owners in every possible way!


Waggers is an online shop offering an exciting range on dog products, including dog beds, blankets and luxury baskets, dog leads and collars and other dog accessories including home furniture and car seat covers plus a selection of dog training products. They provide a wide range of dog beds that will always be appreciated by your dog. Their incredible collection of dog accessories includes dog beds for all breeds of dogs, hardwearing dog beds that are virtually indestructible, designer dog beds, outdoor, orthopaedic and many more designs of dog beds. They have a large collection of dog products like car boot dog beds, plastic dog beds, basket beds, car boot liners, round, rectangular and special dog beds including off the floor and tunnel dog beds.

Affenpinschers and Tail Docking

Over much of its history, Affenpinschers have had their tails docked for a number of reasons. At first, it was thought the "working" dogs, such as hunting dogs or ratters, should have their tails docked to prevent them from being injured while they work. As dogs made the transition from working dogs to pets, tail docking continued because many dog fanciers believed that the shorter tail completed the "look" of the dog. In most cases, Affenpinschers do not have medical reasons to have their tails docked, and today the decision rests solely with the owner.

The breed standard, written by the Affenpinschers Club of America, states that tails may be docked or natural. If they are docked, they should be between one and two inches and length and set high and carried erect. If they are natural, the tail is carried high and generally curves over the back while the dog is in movement. The standard specifically states that "the type of tail is not a major consideration."

Much like ear cropping, questions have been raised about the ethics of having tails docked when it is medically unnecessary. Some people feel that the procedure robs the dog of having the means of expressing itself, while others simply are against putting the dog through a painful procedure that is purely cosmetic, especially when the dog has no way of having a say in the matter. A common argument for the procedure is that the docking is usually done when the dog is just a puppy and therefore experiences less pain. Unfortunately, this is false. Tail docking is usually performed without the use of an anesthetic, and not only severs vertebrae but muscles as well.

Today, the practice of tail docking has been banned in several countries where the procedure is done for merely cosmetic reasons, notably European countries such as Norway, Sweden, Greece and Switzerland.

On the other hand, there are plenty of dog fanciers that believe that the practice is not cruel and goes a long way to prevent damage to the tail later in the dog's life. Many say that if the procedure is done very early in the puppy's life, as early as two to five days after birth, the pain is minimal and the puppy will retain little to no memory of it. Many supports of tail docking prefer the "banding" method, in which a ligature is placed on the tail when the puppy is 24 - 72 hours old, cutting off the blood flow and resulting in the end of the tail falling off in a couple of days.

As far as Affenpinschers are concerned, those who are interested in showing their Affenpinschers in competition should take heart that dogs both with and without tails are winning in competition, so this should no longer be a consideration when thinking about having a puppy's tail docked. In the end, the decision will fall solely on the owner, so it would be best to talk with experienced Affenpinscher owners and your veterinarian before making a final decision.