should you crop a dog?

Question

should a dogs ears and tail be cropped and docked or is it cruel

Answer 1

Docking is done at 3 or 4 days, the bone has not solidified it is still cartilage and they dont feel/remember it. Any older and it's considered amputation and that's a little bit different, depending on the breed though, there can be a lot of damage from an undocked tail that would normally be docked and often natural tails end up being docked anyway. (I'm mostly speaking for dobermans).... Ears are different. They sometimes are a little painful for the first couple of hours after surgury, but my boy never missed a beat. I swear he didnt realize anything happened at all. The worst part with cropping is the taping and if you arent going to take the time dont do it. Cropping is an elective surgury. Any good breeder will have already had the puppies tails docked. They do not leave one natural because they cannot pick a puppy for you based on personality etc. at 3 days old. Lots of people say bad things about cropping and docking but for most breeds its a functional matter that helps live healthier lives for the animals. Dobermans LONG SKINNY BRITTLE tails break or get hematomas and are painful. Their ears that are long and floppy can get grabbed and are prone to infection. As a matter of fact one of my fellow voulunteers at rescue today said he wished he had cropped his second girls ears (his first are done) because she has had 4 infections in her 3 years.... the other is 6 and never had a single infection.....

It's a personal choice and if somebody gives you crap for it, its NONE of their business.... I prefer it on the breeds where the standard calls for it.

And spaying/neutering are FAR more invasive and painful surguries.... nobody runs around saying that's cruel now do they...

Answer 2

I agree with jordi....boxers are the same way i own three and have all tails docked. Ears are done on just one and i care not care either way about the ears. But tail wise boxers tails are like whips and they are such wiggle butts that they hit everything with them walls, lights, tables, people, ect. Because of this the get hematomas and split their tails open. My friend has one with a tail and wishes she didnt because she has come home time and time again to blood all over her walls and furniture because her tail hit something and split open at the tip. I am in favour for the tail docking for this reason its not good for the dog to have this happen repeatedly and it can be painful. The surgery is nothing being its done when they are 3 days old. Ear cropping is up to you its elective and may help with infections but may not it depends on genetics as well.

Answer 3

It does seem a little cruel but if it's done right and when they are young enough, they do not remember this. Where I live, in Central Oregon, many dogs have and should have their tails cropped, especially because so many work as herding animals and it is dangerous for their tails to be on. If a dog has his tail stepped on by a horse or cow...it can be life-threatening. As far as ears go...I think that's wrong because it serves no purpose. -Or maybe it does? The person above me raised a valid point that I hadn't considered.

Answer 4

This is qusetion that youwill get two different answers on!! But what it comes down to really is what you think or how you feel about it!! No matter what others may say about it, it all comes down to how you feel about it and your dog !! I have a boxer and i had her ears croped, because its how i feel and think about a boxer, on how i think a boxer should look!! To me it's not cruel because they do not remember it and they are given medication for the pain!! And there are those who will get a newborn babys ears peireced and cause it pain and thats a baby!! They say a baby won't remember it too!! it may be a little differnt but there is still pain involed!!! and Pain Is Pain right!! my fisrt boxer i had hers done so i had this one done too! the tail is done by the first owners anyway if there a boxer! I just think thats the boxer look, to me!!

Answer 5

Not only is it cruel but it's also illegal, well here in australia it is I'm not sure about america and other countries, although some dogs do look weird with tails it's incredibly cruel, it's like putting a rubber band on your finger and leaving it til your finger falls off, try that and you'll get a bit of an imagination of what it's like and feels like

Answer 6

This is personal preference with the dog owner.

now a days you see alot natural rather than being cropped

Answer 7

Well it depends.....
If it's the breed standard,then yea.
My dog's tail is cropped.
I don't like the idea of ears being cropped,it just doesn't seem right.
If it's painless,then im pretty much indifferent to it.

Answer 8

Personally,I think it's cruel.
But vets do it in a way that's safe and harmless to your dog. So if you want to do it, tell your vet.

Answer 9

It's cruel.