Why do they clip dog's ears or tails?

Question

Why is it that people clip dog's ears or tails? I am not purchasing or adopting a dog and considering it, I just don't understand it. I've heard that they sometimes clip their ears because certain dogs are more suspectible to ear infections but that doesn't seem to be quite right. No stupid answers, PLEASE!

I just wanted to add that I was just talking about the practice of it being done in general- I'd guess by a vet.

It doesn't make sense if it's done for herding.. don't herding dogs typically come up behind the animal it's herding, so the animal would be in front of the dog and no where near it's tail?

So it sounds like it's basically for looks? That doesn't seem worth it.

Answer 1

some do it because they think the dog looks good that way..others do it because the fight the dogs.. they say it throws of here balance if they have long ears and the other dog will granb at the ears.... stupid humans.. we are the ones you are suppose to be more humane.. but it seems that we are the most inhumane of all god creatures

Answer 2

Honestly some dogs are better off with their ears docked as some breeds have big problems with ear infections. It is just easier in the long run all around. Same goes with tails. Mostly though these things are done because it is the breed standards according to the AKC etc. Unless you are showing your dog(or there is a health reason) there is no reason to follow through on such docking/clipping. Always read up on a particular breed to find out what should/needs to be done. Also talking to owners of the breed can help you form an opinion.

At the same time these things are usually done when a puppy is very very young. If someone choses to do this and does it properly(a vet does it with pain killers and in a sanitary way) then one should respect their decsion to do so.

Answer 3

Originally the practice was done for either safety or health reasons. For example, Boxers, Pit Bulls and other dogs with cropped ears that were bred as bull fighting dogs were cropped to protect from possible ear injury during their work. Tails were docked for the same reasons, to prevent against possible injury. Some breeds crop for cosmetic reasons in relation to the job they were designed to perform, ie Dobes were cropped to look "tougher" while guarding. Some tails are docked for hygeine reasons. Tails that curl painfully on themselves, or that tuck too close to the body were cropped to promote cleanliness and comfort. These practices have been carried on to maintain the original look of the breed as they were intended. If these procedures are done, they need to be done by someone who's done them before. If a crop is done incorrectly the dogs ears may be permanently damaged, could be deformed or painful, and in the least of concerns, could not stand properly. An improperly docked tail, aside from the possibility of being the incorrect length, can cause long term issues for the dog. If the dogs tail is cropped mid bone instead of between bones, they could have long term irritation from the chip. If the tail is not closed properly the mother could chew or lick on the tail, and cause infection or permanent irritation. I personally own a docked Boxer, and wouldn't change that for anything. Prior to a recent injury, I was planning on becoming a veterinarian, and was planning on doing crops and docks for as long as their was a demand for them.

Answer 4

Hi there

I am totally against eat/tail/claw docking. i believe it is a truly aesthetic procedure and is totally unnecessary. if a dog NEEDS to have any of these docked for a medical reason, then i do not have a problem.where i live, it is illegal to alter an animal in any way like this and considered as animal abuse. (i didnt create this law, it was made for a reason). a dog cant be shown with any alterations.

to everyone who is all for animal modifications, i dont mean any offense by my comments. its only my personal opinion. if u believe in it, then by all means, do it to ur dog, but my belief is that is doesnt need to be done. dogs who arent domesticated have survived for 1000's of years without any modifications - it is purely for looks.

ps- it was believed once upon a time that this would help a herding, dog, but has since proved to be not the case. u r right - a herding dog does not need its ears clipped, and having no tail does throw off the balance, as does the ears.

also, it has been proven that many dogs who are meant to have 'floppy' ears and who have them clipped, suffer from early deafness as the ear coverage lessens the decibels the dog can hear, with nothing to cover them, their eardrums can rupture.

also, dogs ears actually protect hunting dogs etc from getting anything INSIDE the ear, so clipping then so they dont get anything ON their ear is even more detrimental to their health.

again, no intent to offend.

Answer 5

As many people have said, the practices started to enable the dogs to better perform their jobs. In the case of the schnauzers, many of them hunted vermin, guarded farms/carts etc, so if they went down in a hole after something, having cropped ears made it less likely that they would be injured/torn by the other animal or anything else in the hole. Cropped ears also help prevent infection in their case. Terriers tend to grow hair in the ear canal which trapps water, dirt, wax, bacteria, etc. If the ear is cropped and allowed access to air (and the hair is plucked regularly), it reduces the chances of infection since many of the pathogenic bacteria cannot grow in the presence of oxygen or absence of moisture. Dogs with fold-over ears tend to require more frequent ear cleaning to maintain a healthy dry ear. As far as tail docking goes, i'm not too sure, but I would guess that it has to do with reducing "handles" for vermin or other animals to hang on to in the event of a scuffle. My dog is both docked and cropped (breeder's choices) and seems to be no worse for wear, even in the sub-zero wisconsin winters. Hope this helps!

Rae
Biochemistry Graduate Student and Standard Schnauzer Enthusiast

Answer 6

Yeah... Wouldn't that kill the animal? That's kind of sick... kind of curel too, acting like the animal needs for some person to shave it's hair, or clip it's tail off against it's will. But hey, that's just my opinion.

Answer 7

A long time ago, they used to clip dogs tails and sometimes ears, mainly on the hunting breed dogs, or herding dogs, to help keep them from getting burrs, ect... and to keep tails from getting caught or stepped on in hunting,tracking of rabbits, ect... or when herding other farm animals like sheep.

Answer 8

it started by necessity back when dogs had a job to do. depending on what the dogs job was, the tail or ears were adjusted to aid in getting it done. now it's mainly just breed standards. and yes some dogs' ear cropping is done because heavy ear leather allows moisture and debris to be trapped and cause infection.

Answer 9

It is done because people have been doing it on the breed for generations. Everyone is used to seeing them a certain way and expect them to look like that. Also AKC insists that these dogs ear and tails be done for them to be shown. I think it is cruel and should not be done.

Answer 10

I think is mostly for appearances nowadays.

I had a Min Pin and her ears and tail were already cropped (I got her that way) I noticed that she was not quite as steady on her feet. The tail is used for balance, and with hers gone, she was just a little more clumsy.