Why do people get their dog's ears and/or tails cropped?

Question

I have never understood this. What purpose does it serve? Could someone explain it to me?

Ears cropped, tails docked. Sorry.

Answer 1

It's called docking when it comes to tails...

In some breeds, such as my Aussie, it's within the Breed Standard for them to have a naturally bobbed or docked tail. They're herding dogs and having no tail eliminates the chances of livestock biting or stepping on their tails.

Answer 2

Tail docking was originally practiced to protect working dogs from injuries. These days it is still done to maintain breed standards. Since it no longer has relevance to a pet dog, the practice is currently being outlawed in Britain unless the dog can be proven to be a working dog.

I'm not clear on ear cropping, I've never seen it happen over here, I assume it is also a breed standard thing. I can see some medical purpose to it, as the floppy ears of some dogs (does not occur in nature) make dogs very prone to ear infections, which dog's with pointy ears don't get!

I'm not in favour of tail docking because it's only done as a breed-standard thing, it serves no medical purpose to the animal. People argue that it stops animals injuring their tails - but I can tell you this is a fairly rare occurence in dogs. I don't agree with chopping off all extraneous parts of an animal because of what might happen - dogs have tails for a reason and chopping them off affects their balance and takes away one of their major communicative tools.

Here's a good article on cropping and docking, sorry it's horizontal!:
http://www.upei.ca/~awc/tail_docking.pdf

Chalice

Answer 3

ears are called cropping and tails are called docking.

depends if you are showing your dog, most breeds do it for appearance. they were done back in the day for the breeds purpose. now people do it for many different reasons. some for fighting or to make them look the breed.

if the dog is not going to do the job, ie: herding or fighting, there really is no reason to do it.

Answer 4

In Great Britain and Austrailia it is illegal to crop ears and dock tails.

There are ligitimate reasons for docking a dogs tail.
1. To avoid tail damage
A number of working gundog breeds have to hunt game through heavy vegetation and thick brambles, where their fast tail action can easily lead to torn and bleeding tails which are painful and extremely difficult to treat. Docking the end of the tail eliminates the risk of injury.

Working terriers are docked for the same reason. In addition, terriers which are bred to hunt below ground for purposes such as fox control, have their tails docked to a length which is more practical when working in a confined space.

Other non-working breeds which have an enthusiastic tail action, are also liable to damage their tails, even in the home.

Since docking was banned in Sweden in 1989, there has been a massive increase in tail injuries amongst previously docked breeds. Within the 50 undocked Pointer litters registered in that year with the Swedish Kennel Club, 38% of dogs suffered tail injury before they were 18 months old and in 1991, the number of individuals with tail injures had increased to 51% of the group.

2. For reasons of hygiene
Long haired, thick coated breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier and Old English Sheepdog are docked to avoid the hair around the base of the tail becoming fouled by faeces. Even with constant grooming and washing, such fouling is unpleasant. If allowed to get out of hand, it can lead to severe problems of hygiene, or even flystrike and subsequent infestation by maggots.

Hygiene problems can be greatly reduced or eliminated altogether by docking.

3. To maintain breed standards
Breeds which have been docked over many generations have been selected for specific qualities of build and conformation, but not for tail length, shape or carriage.

If left undocked, it is unlikely that the best dogs would carry good tails. In seeking to maintain the quality of the breeds, breeders would therefore be left with a diminished number of suitable sires and dams. The genetic pool would be reduced, greatly increasing the risk of hereditary diseases taking hold. Some breeds could even disappear for ever.

As for ears...
As many dog owners know, there are several different dog breeds that are often altered by the process called ear cropping. Pit bulls, Dobermans, Great Danes, Min Pins, Boxers and Schnauzers are just a few of the breeds whose ears are commonly cropped.

Owners have many reasons for having their dog’s ears cropped. Many feel that the dog appears to be more of “show quality” with cropped ears. Others believe that dogs are required to have their ears cropped to be shown or even be registered by the AKC. Some owners are under the impression that this is a necessary surgery and opt to have it done for that reason. Finally, it is a common misconception that dogs have fewer ear problems when their ears are cropped as opposed to leaving them floppy and natural.

There are some facts that owners don’t realize, however. The American Kennel Club does not require that any breed of dog have their ears cropped in order to be shown or registered. Breed standards apply for dogs with both cropped and natural ears.

Ear cropping is a strictly elective surgery, meaning that it is not a necessary procedure for the benefit of the dog’s health. The surgery is done for one reason; to change the overall look of the dog. It is simply a cosmetic procedure.

Many owners have their dog’s ears cropped without knowing what actually happens during the procedure. A lot of people are under the impression that something simple is done to make the ears stand up. This is not the case.

The procedure is named ear cropping for a reason; the ears are cut off. While they aren’t completely removed, much of the ear flap is excised, leaving only the thicker cartilage to stand up to a point.

Each breed has its own pattern for what the ears should look like once they’ve been cropped. Great Danes for example, have very tall ears while Pit Bulls and Min Pins have short cropped ears.

As the surgery is cosmetic and elective, one has to consider the side effects and possible complications more so than a surgery that is non-elective. If this were a procedure that was required, side effects and complications are still considered but the benefit may outweigh the possible harm.

Answer 5

I know gang bangers do this so when the dogs fight, there's less for another dog to bite onto. I don't know why normal people would do it. It seems a little cruel, to lop off part of a dogs body just for asthetics.

Answer 6

I suppose they find it fashionable. I find it cruel, especially cropping the ears.

EDIT: You know what? If there is no healthy reason for having it done...IT IS INHUMANE.

Answer 7

Very good question, I would like the answer myself.

Answer 8

i could never explain it to u...i think its sick.

Answer 9

so if they get into a fight, they can't get ripped or bitten off