It is not medically necessary, is purely cosmetic, causes pain and trauma to the puppy, and carries the risk of infection, as well as allergic reaction to meds. Not to mention a lot of people are unhappy with the crop job once it's healed, because not a lot of people are "skilled" and do a good job. So...why do it?
2006-09-19 12:46:29 · 11 answers · asked by moni 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Show breeders do it because AKC insists that it must be done to show your dogs. Other breeders do it because people who buy the pups want the look that the cropping and docking gives them. If AKC would stop insisting on having it done, I think most people would leave the ears natural.
2006-09-19 12:50:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
cropping ears is not cruel and causes very little if any pain to pups. I have done this with very few dogs and I don't do it for cosmetic purposes. My dogs hunt boar with me so I do it for that purpose. You don't want their ears to get bit or a tusk to go through them... now that would cause trauma! The tail docking thing I totally agree with you on. It is purely for a look and can actually upset a dogs balance. This isn't done that much anyway but I am sure it will illegal soon once AR nutjobs get enough support. Ear cropping is also like dating your dog, as in APBT's (pitbulls) it is a throwback look to the pits and working days of old. You are also right that a lot of people are not good at this procedure and it should be done by someone who is skilled. I have seen some horrible backyard jobs done on dogs and the "murder one" crop that goes all the way down leaves dogs ears open for infection.
2006-09-19 13:19:56 · answer #2 · answered by Clark 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Contrary to popular belief it dosen't cause any pain or suffering.
Even as an adult an animals preceptions of pain and suffering differ so much from ours that there is a complete science devoted to it's study.
In reality docking tails begane in the 13th centry as a way of proving that a dog was a "working dog" and not a pet inorder to get out of the Kings tax. Guess that excuse for doing it doesn't exist anymore.
2006-09-19 13:23:39 · answer #3 · answered by tom l 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's foolishness. It's required for showing with AKC. Tail docking and ear cropping started with working dogs. Dogs that worked around heavy equipment could get ears and tails caught in wheels, conveyors, and other machinery. They are also faster without ears and tails and dogs that were needed for burrowing jobs or hunting could maneuver better without them. Removing tails and especially ears helps give competitors less to grab onto in a fight as well. It also makes their heads look larger and can contribute to a "scary" appearance. I am the owner of two pit bulls and the only alteration on them is that they are spayed. I will not even buy merchandise showing pitbulls without ears and tails. They are beautiful the way they are born and there is no reason to cut them. Before veterinary care for pets was common, ear cropping helped prevent ear infections as well. However, so many are cut too close anyway and that actually makes infection MORE likly. Today, it's just tradition. People are so accustomed to seeing certain breeds done that way that they think it's how they have to be. I actually once heard a breeder say a doberman without its ears cropped it "not a REAL doberman". WTF??? The way a dog is born is the way it's meant to be. Only surgeries done for health benefits should even be considered.
In the days where "animal cruelty" was the norm, cropping and docking were common, but now we know too much for these procedures to be acceptable. Even if we didn't care about our pets' pain or quality of life, how many people truly have "working" dogs anymore??? Docking of tails takes away a major tool for dogs. It is their means of expression! People and other animals can often read the intentions or emotions of a dog by watching his/her tail. If you take your dog to a dog park and when he meets other dogs without his tail wagging, they could easily be intimidated because they don't know he's happy to see them. When you dock a dog's tail you take away a tool that helps them balance. Dogs without tails may have weaker muscles around the anus and are therefore more likely to develop hernias. Docking is associated with urinary incontinence in bitches. The muscles that help control urination in female dogs, attach to the tail base. These may become weakened or damaged in docked dogs, leading to an increased likelihood of urinary incontinence.
Overall, it's cosmetic, cruel, and unnecessary. Besides, dogs with cute ears and wagging tails are much more attractive than any chopped up, faux beast of burden!
2006-09-19 13:24:42 · answer #4 · answered by Brooke B 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have 2 Cocker Spaniels and was told by the vet that their tails get docked because they can cause rectal problems fro the weight. I am not sure about other breeds. As far as the ears, not sure why.
2006-09-19 12:50:30 · answer #5 · answered by **KELLEY** 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
originaly ears and tails were cut to protect them from injury
depending on breeds
thats the same for why dogs get the strange hair cuts
but now it is jut for looks and when showing its for breed standards
2006-09-19 12:57:32 · answer #6 · answered by suzanne w 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are sooo correct. it is purely cosmetic, and if u ask me, only people should get plastic surgery. yes it is painful for the puppies. and it's really sad.
but i don't know the answer to your question. just wanted to put my 2 cents in int and say that i agree with you 100 percent.
one more thing: i have a yorkie and he had 4 front teeth in the front. the two front teeth were normal but then he had two more front teeth overgrown on top of the normal ones. (he looked like a little monster). well we took him to the vet and they said to do surgery. and then i said "well, if it's going to be purely cosmetic, then i don't wanna do it, but if it's gonna overcrowd his teeth adn if he'll have probelm chewing and in pain later on, then of course do it), and the vet said that he will have problems and only then i went ahead and had the teeth removed. but i am against doing stuff to animals that is purely cosmettic. he is as cute as can be and i'll love him the way God gave him to me. If god wanted him to have 4 front teeth (and trust me, he looked like a cute monster), then be it!!! hehehe
2006-09-19 12:52:13 · answer #7 · answered by chapped lips 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
My ears are cropped and tail is docked.Don't I look BAD?
2006-09-19 13:26:40 · answer #8 · answered by Chase 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
B/c thats what the public wants.
2006-09-20 02:35:19 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
****YOU**** obviously don't know SQUAT about dogs or you wouldn't be SPEWING such UTTER AR/humaniac/peta-NUTZ ***CRAP/PROPANGANDA****!!!!
How many of EITHER procedure have YOU ever seen??? Let alone DONE???
NONE??? SURPRISE!-not.
Then you DON'T know what the*F* you're talikng about,do you? Just parroting *B-S*,aren't you?
Go away,wittle sissy gurl.
2006-09-19 12:53:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋