Cropping ears and tails?

Question

I can understand having animals fixed, there's a darn fine reason for advocating that, but why do selective ear cropping or tail chopp[ing if it's elective and the animals actually gains nothing from it? Surely it's all about the owner's vanity? Thank GOD people have started realising how stupid it is and are phasing it out and not doing it any more. What's your view?

I see there's a few people who don't understand that pets are not there as out vanity-pieces. They just prove my point even further. If you can't handle big dogs with naturally long tails, don't get one, it's really simple. If you want ears that stand up, get a beed like that. Also simple. Don't try and make them into what YOU think they should be, that's just childish. For the record, I never crop and never dock and apart from one accident with a newly adopted rescue dog, have NEVER had any problem with their tails.

Answer 1

Silkeng, maybe you should have some body part of yours docked! Do you think that a puppy has less nerve endings than a grown dog? Of course it hurts them no matter when it is done. There is no way I would ever have my dogs ears cropped or tail docked unless it were absolutely medically necessary. It is cruel and inhumane and those who do it electively are sadists.

Answer 2

I do not like it at all. I have several dogs, all adopted. My one (really huge, old and lovable) neo mastiff had his tail docked by one third. Apparently that is what they do. My weim had her tail docked. My other mastiff has a long, and I may add VERY powerful tail, that can clear a coffee table in one sweep. I guess if people planned on showing dogs, that was the "thing to do" I think it is cruel.The only thing I feel different about it the dew claws. All of my dogs, at one time or another have literally "ripped" a dew claw right off, causing pain and a lot of blood. I was walking my dogs in the park about 6 months ago, and while on the trails, someone, who had obviously seen us, wrote IN DOG POOP, on my windshield of the van, NO TAIL DOCKING. Now, I understand the opinions of people, and I also agree with no cropping or docking-but that was really a nasty thing to do. Considering I had gotten her out of a shelter a few weeks before, and had no control over what had been done. It is becoming law in Europe not to crop or dock in many cases. People are vain. You are right.

Answer 3

I know that I am opening a can of worms here, BUT....there is NOTHING wrong with cropping a dogs ears. I just don't GET IT when some people rant and rave saying that this is a cruel procedure. It is a medical procedure people! GET OVER IT! It harms them in NO way. They are under anesthesia while having it done by a PROFESSIONAL.

I have a Boxer and a Doberman Pinscher that have their ears cropped. Yes it is a surgery that has a cosmetic outcome but I swear to God, when those ears are cropped the are done for a purpose other than cosmetic to some owners. When the ears are cropped on a gaurd dog such as any dog in the working class group, they can "zone in" on specific sounds (such as an intruder). My Doberman and Boxer can hear things other dogs with natural ears cannot hear. They can pin point the source of a sound perfectly...and when they do that....they can go straight to the source and take care of business!

Ever watch a cats ears move around when they are trying to listen to different sounds? It IS the same thing with a dog with cropped ears.

It is a matter of personal preference! Nothing more , nothing less. If it is done professionally it is fine.

Yes, there is a purpose for tail croppings also! Who in their right mind wants a watchdog with a long tail that can give someone an opportunity to have something to grab ahold of? When guard dogs with long tails fight or protect, tails get broken.

CROPPED EARS ARE LIKE HAVING RADARS!!!

Answer 4

for the record maybe more research by some of you here would be helpful. Sweden outlawed tail docking 2 years ago. In the first year of this working dogs suffered 31% increase in tail injuries. Year 2, tail injuries were up to 51%. These were working breeds that required tail docking so that injuries would not happen. Amputating an adult tail is extremely dangerous leading to nerve damage and even death. Docking a tail on a puppy at 2 to 5 days does not. The nerves have not developed yet so in fact majority of the time the pup does not even know what has happened. Some breeds these days really do not need to have docked tails that prior breeder club required they do. As a former long time breeder of Min Pins this is still required for show. As for cropping, AKC no longer requires this and in most cases reputable breeders will not crop a puppies ears anyways as no way to determine the correct length until the puppy is closer to 4 to 5 months of age. Then at least when or if the owner decides to crop, the vet if knows what he or she is doing will know how long to make the ear when cropped. But docking is a must in many breeds to avoid injuries then can and will sustain when performing the work they were bred for. Whether most of you realize it or not, dog shows and dogs for pets only comprise a portion of the dogs out there. Many are bred to work and that is what they do. They are not put in show rings or in your living room for your enjoyment. So by insisting on any ban will only force many to dock the tail themselves as was done 200 years ago to prevent life threatening amputation. To these dogs this is not cosmetic but essential.

Answer 5

I agree that ear cropping/tail docking is nothing more than vanity and perpetuation of ridiculous breed conventions.

Ear cropping has been illegal here for as long as I can remember, and tail docking became illegal about two years ago. These procedures can now only be carried out by a registered veterinarian for medical purposes (e.g. an injured tail that requires amputation).

Answer 6

Well I have had dobermans since i was little, and their ears and tails were all cropped except for 2, their ears wernt cropped. But people do it for diffrent reasons, Health that does benifit the dog, and looks. And when you crop the tail, you do it when they are a couple days old, and they are put under, also with the ear cropping. and are giving medicine if it does hurt them, signs of discomfort, or they owner prefers it. (I have alsways preferd it)

For health: Dobermans when older, have very long long tails and can slightly drag, and dobies are extremly fast runners, and can trip and break their leg, or tail and that would really hurt them. And since they are so long, they can wag it really fast and all the blood vessels will burst, and may bleed out too, a person i know has seen this. Also, they could hit it on something or run over, and it could painfully be amputated. And its not like the dogs are fully awake and feel it when it happens, and the tail isnt haked off with a dinner knife and spoon. Its neatly done by a vet, and made sure that they are very comfortable. Since doberman are gaurd dogs, if someone were to come into a house, they could use the tail as a weakness, and prevent the dog from protecting its house, and can hurt the dog seveerly if they wanted.
So the dog does actually gain, by not having the possibility of something happening to it.

And for ears, they could become infected, and like the example for guarding, it could be used against them. And people do its for prefrence mostly, but the tails are kinda mandatory because of what could happen. But, I look and see what I prefer for for each dog.
But it depend for each breed. Like pitts, I disagree with that because they do have very small ears, and they shouldnt be done. But like I said, Depends on the breed. You could e-mail me if you disagree, i would like to know why?

Answer 7

i personally find this evil and hurtful to the animals. they try to justify it with," we dock their tails so they don't break them from wagging so much." but that is really no reaon to cause them so much pain. i have a dog with a docked tail but i had no idea of the matter when i got her because i was only 6 years old at the time. i see no reason al all to make them suffer for weeks from something that has only a small chance of happening in their true lifetime. i have no idea why the people who do this think it makes their dog look pretty or better than what nature intended for it. nature should the the supreme decision maker on all of its ceature and for selfish reasons, we have usurped its power.

Answer 8

Our son has 2 Great Danes and people were telling him to get their ears cropped. He absolutely would not do that, feeling it was cruelty to the animal.
There are a lot of vets that no longer will do this, feeling the same way. I agree, it is about the owner's vanity and I also think its cruel.

Answer 9

ok so people think cropping and docking is mean and cruel but the real question is have you see them circumsis a baby boy? isnt that pretty much the same thing>? they strap the baby down and dont use any anistetic or any pain medication and i can tell you the baby cries in pain and it hurtsfor them to pee etc. in my opinion i think its just as cruel too humans.

Answer 10

I agree. Leave their tail and ears the way they are. A friend of mine has a young German Shepherd. She is happy that her dog's ears stand up but she would never have done anything to make them that way artificially.