AUSTRALIA
Tail docking of dogs is banned in all Australian states and territories. The ban, which came into effect in 2004, prohibits the docking of tails for cosmetic reasons. Tail docking is only permitted for therapeutic purposes by a registered veterinarian. 

AUSTRIA
Tail docking is banned in Austria. Austria is among the countries that have ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, which prohibits cosmetic tail docking. The Austrian Animal Welfare Act 2004 further restricts surgical procedures, including tail docking, to therapeutic or diagnostic reasons only. 

BELGIUM
Tail docking is banned in Belgium for both dogs and horses. In dogs, the ban was implemented on January 1, 2006, according to CiteSeerX. For horses, a Royal Decree in 2001 prohibited the practice according to Mad Barn Equine. 

BULGARIA
Tail docking is illegal in Bulgaria. It is considered a painful mutilation and is banned in most cases under Bulgarian law. However, there are exceptions to the ban, particularly for hunting dogs. Additionally, the legislation includes provisions for some procedures to be conducted for veterinary medical reasons or for the animal’s benefit, if deemed necessary by a veterinarian. 

CROATIA
Tail docking is banned in Croatia. The Animal Protection Act prohibits the amputation of sensitive body parts, including tail docking, ear cropping, and declawing, except for specific reasons like legitimate animal health needs or hunting dogs with breed standards. 

REPUBLIC OF CYPRESS
Tail docking is banned in the Republic of Cyprus. The ban was implemented in 1991. 

CZECH REPUBLIC
Tail docking is banned in the Czech Republic, except for medical reasons and in puppies younger than eight days old. The practice of docking tails for cosmetic purposes is generally prohibited. 

DENMARK
Tail docking of dogs is banned in Denmark, with limited exceptions. The ban is in place for most dogs, with exceptions for five gun dog breeds. The ban went into effect on June 1, 1996. 

ESTONIA
Tail docking is banned in Estonia.  According to Estonia’s Animal Protection Act, surgeries and other veterinary procedures that alter an animal’s appearance and are not performed for medical reasons are prohibited. This includes the ear cropping and tail docking of dogs, which is only allowed if medically necessary. 

FINLAND
Tail docking of dogs is banned in Finland. Specifically, the ban on tail docking in Finland was enacted in 1996. Furthermore, dogs with docked tails cannot be shown in Finland. 

GERMANY
Tail docking in dogs is largely banned in Germany. While exceptions exist for medical reasons and for certain working breeds, the practice is generally prohibited under the German Animal Welfare Act. Specifically, the law prohibits the partial or complete amputation of body parts, with exceptions only for medically necessary procedures and working dogs. 

GREECE
Tail docking of dogs is banned in Greece. Specifically, Greece has prohibited “beautifying mutilations” including tail docking and ear cropping. This ban is part of the country’s ratification of the European Convention on the Protection of Pet Animals. The ban in Greece is not new; it was enacted in 1991

HUNGARY
Tail docking is not completely banned in Hungary, although there are restrictions in place. Ear cropping is banned in Hungary. Tail docking is still permitted in Hungary, but only for puppies under 7 days old. This suggests an effort to minimize potential pain associated with the procedure.The Hungarian Kennel Club (MEOE) will not allow dogs with docked tails or cropped ears to participate in its events after January 1, 2025. This indicates a shift towards discouraging the practice, even though it may still be legally permitted in some circumstances. 

ICELAND
Tail docking of dogs is banned in Iceland. This ban is part of a broader trend in many countries to prohibit or restrict cosmetic tail docking, which is considered a form of animal mutilation. In Iceland, tail docking is banned with few exceptions, and even those exceptions require strict conditions and a special permit from MAST (the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority). 

IRELAND

While ear cropping is definitively banned, tail docking is allowed under specific conditions in Hungary, and there’s a trend towards limiting its acceptance in dog show circles. The ban, introduced under the Prohibition on Tail Docking (Dogs) Regulations 2014, prohibits the removal of a dog’s tail or part of its tail. While there are some exemptions for medical reasons or for certain working breeds, these are strictly controlled and must be performed by a veterinary surgeon. 

ISRAEL
Tail docking of dogs is banned in Israel for cosmetic purposes. This ban is part of a broader movement to restrict or prohibit the procedure in many countries due to animal welfare concerns. The ban in Israel specifically prohibits tail docking for aesthetic reasons. 

ITALY
Tail docking in dogs is banned in Italy, except when performed by a veterinarian for medical reasons. This ban is part of broader animal protection laws in Italy that aim to prevent unnecessary cosmetic procedures on animals. 

LATAVIA
Tail docking in dogs is banned in Latvia. While there may be some exceptions for working dogs, particularly those used in hunting, the practice is generally prohibited for cosmetic purposes. 

LITHUANIA
Yes, tail docking of dogs is banned in Lithuania, along with several other European countries. This ban is part of a broader effort to prohibit or limit surgical mutilations of animals for aesthetic purposes. While some exceptions may exist for therapeutic reasons, the practice is generally not permitted for cosmetic reasons. 

LUXEMBOURG
Tail docking in dogs is banned in Luxembourg. This ban is in place due to concerns about the unnecessary pain and suffering caused by the procedure, which is considered a mutilation by many countries and veterinary organizations. 

MALTA
Tail docking in dogs is banned in Malta for cosmetic purposes. This ban has been in place since 2001, and includes restrictions on importing dogs with docked tails and prohibiting participation of such dogs in competitions. There are some exceptions, particularly for certain working dogs related to law enforcement, pest control, or hunting

NETHERLANDS
Tail docking of dogs is banned in the Netherlands. The ban on physical interventions, including tail docking, for non-medical reasons came into effect on September 1, 2001. This means that only veterinarians can perform tail docking, and it must be medically necessary for the animal’s health and wellbeing.

NEW ZEALAND
Tail docking of dogs is banned in New Zealand, according to New Zealand Legislation. The ban, which came into effect in October 2018, prohibits routine tail docking of dogs. Tail docking is only permitted for medical reasons, such as when a veterinarian determines it is necessary for the animal’s health and well-being, according to Veterinary Hospital Group.

POLAND
Tail docking in dogs is banned in Poland. Specifically, ear cropping and tail docking have been prohibited since 1997, with exceptions only allowed when the animal’s life is endangered and depends on the procedure. This aligns with a broader trend in Europe and other parts of the world where such cosmetic surgeries on animals are increasingly restricted or banned. 

PORTUGAL
Tail docking of dogs is generally permitted, but only when performed by a veterinarian, according to a review of dog tail docking laws. This is in contrast to many other European countries where tail docking is banned outright or restricted. 

ROMANIA
Tail docking dogs in Romania is generally banned for aesthetic or non-therapeutic purposes. 

SLOVAKIA
Tail docking of dogs is banned in Slovakia, with exceptions for medical reasons or if the dog is a recognized working breed. The ban, which took effect on January 1, 2003, prohibits tail docking for cosmetic purposes. 

SLOVENIA
Tail docking in dogs is banned in Slovenia. The ban was implemented in April 2007. This ban is part of a broader set of progressive animal protection laws in Slovenia, which also prohibit ear cropping, declawing, debarking, and the selling of dogs by unregistered breeders. 

SOUTH AFRICA
Tail docking of dogs is banned in South Africa for cosmetic purposes. The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) banned the routine tail docking of puppies by veterinarians as of June 1, 2008, unless it’s for justifiable medical reasons. Veterinarians performing tail docking for cosmetic reasons face prosecution under the Animal Protection Act. 

SPAIN
Tail docking in dogs is banned in some parts of Spain, with the practice permitted in others for breed standard requirements. While non-therapeutic tail docking is banned in certain regions, national law allows it based on breed standards. 

SWEDEN
Tail docking in dogs is banned in Sweden. The ban was implemented in 1989, according to Doggie Academy. This means that it is illegal to dock a dog’s tail in Sweden, except when deemed medically necessary by a veterinarian. 

SWITZERLAND
Switzerland bans the import of dogs with docked tails. Tail docking, which involves surgically shortening the tail by removing vertebrae, is prohibited, and importing such dogs is also not allowed. This ban applies to dogs with tails docked for cosmetic reasons. 

UNITED STATES

MARYLAND
Tail docking of dogs is banned in Maryland unless it’s deemed medically necessary and performed by a licensed veterinarian. Maryland law prohibits tail docking (and other procedures like ear cropping and declawing) unless a licensed veterinarian determines it is medically necessary. The law also specifies that anesthesia must be used when appropriate during these procedures. Violating this law can lead to misdemeanor charges, with potential penalties including imprisonment and fines. 

PENNSYLVANIA
Tail docking in dogs is restricted in Pennsylvania, but not completely banned. Tail docking is legal for dogs under five days old, but requires a veterinarian to perform the procedure on older dogs. Additionally, anyone possessing a dog with an unhealed incision from tail docking must prove it was legally performed. Pennsylvania law also restricts ear cropping and debarking to procedures performed by a veterinarian.