Under section 6 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (c.45), working dogs may be exempted by regulations from the prohibition upon the removal of the whole or any part of a dog’s tail, otherwise than for the purpose of its medical treatment.

Regulation 3 sets out the requirements to be observed before a veterinary surgeon may certify that the dog is a working dog. Regulation 3(1)(a) and Schedule 1 specify the types of dog that are capable of being certified, and regulation 3(1)(c) and (2) describes the further evidence (concerning the likelihood that the dog will be used for certain work) that is required to be shown to a veterinary surgeon in order to obtain such a certificate. Regulation 4 prescribes the way in which a dog whose tail is docked is to be identified by microchipping. Schedule 2 prescribes the form in which the certificate is to be given.

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations and placed in the library of each House of Parliament; copies can be obtained from the Animal Welfare Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ.