cropping your dogs ears and docking his tail?

Question

why do people do it? do you have to do it? are there health concerns relating to it? i am wondering because why would u go through all of that trouble IF it didnt mean anything (health). so, why do it? anyways i think dogs look cuter without it

what do you think?

Answer 1

Some people do it out of tradition and because it is the breed standard. I don't think its cruel if it's done early but personally I have a APBT with natural ears and an undocked tail and I think he actually looks cuter.

And to Oscar S, yes I got a APBT because I was concerned with cuteness and their not monsters. Uneducated people like you are what fuels BSL.

Answer 2

I have worked with Dobermans all my life. I can assure you that when done 2-3 days after birth, docking the tail causes almost no pain and heals very quickly. It is no worse than getting a hangnail. Also, I work with a Dobie rescue, and dogs with tails are so hard to place. People that are into the breed want a dog that matches the standard and a Dobie with a tail doesn't fit the standard.
As for the ears, that is more painful and dangerous than the tail, but I do not find it cruel provided that it is done correctly by a vet and maintained properly. I choose not to do my dog's ears since I like the natural look anyway, so I figure why put them through that, but I don't have a problem with others doing it, provided that they don't neglect the ears later.
There is really no medical reason to crop ears, but docking a tail can prevent injuries in working dogs. A tail injury later in life can be traumatic an very painful, so I don't see docking the tail as a bad thing necessarily. If people choose not to dock a breed that is usually docked, they better make sure that they are never going to have to re-home that dog as they are very hard to find a home for.

Answer 3

Your from the UK so having cropped ears is illegal. For tail docking you have to prove to the vets that the dog would be worked. I won't go into what you need cause if you do work dogs you should know what is required. It is the vet who would dock tails at a very young age. Tail docking on dogs for pets or show(cosmetic) is now illegal. For medical reasons then yes the vet will do this at any age. Only the vets can dock tails. I am actually starting to get used a Rotti with a tail and i quite enjoy seeing them wag them..

Answer 4

This is and always will be an issue where emotions cloud reason. With some working breeds docking is essential to prevent injury. The rest of the time it is only cosmetic. So I guess it depends on if you like Michael Jacksons nose or not. People do it to themselves all the time, but it has somehow become wrong for a dog.
So if you think getting a dogs tail docked hurts,,,, get a boob job and see which hurts more.

Answer 5

To me, docking the tail of a dog a few days after birth is way less "cruel" than circumcizing a week old baby boy. As with circumcision, "cute" is in the eye of the beholder.

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With Old English Sheepdogs and other English herding breeds, it (tail docking) began in the 1700's or 1800's when dogs were to be taxed. The herders b!tched because their dogs were responsible for their livelihood. It was decided that working/herding dogs like these would not be taxed and in order to recognize which ones they were their tails were to be docked.

(I hope I've remembered this correctly)

It is presently a part of the breed standard and it is tradition.

Some OES rescues will turn away an OES in a shelter with an undocked tail because they simply cannot place them, and they do not feel it's humane to amputate when a dog is older than a few days of age.

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ADD:

http://faqs.cs.uu.nl/na-dir/dogs-faq/breeds/oes.html

"What happened to the tail?

As mentioned in the breed standard, the tail is usually docked a few days after birth. Dogs are not customarily shown with any more than a bob at most. In fact, as late as the 20th century, breeders began reporting the birth of tail-less pups. In the United States it is difficult to find a breeder who will not dock the tails. However, some countries, like Sweden, prohibit docking. In European dog shows, OES
with tails are as equally acceptable as those without.

Historically, the docked tail has given a nickname to the breed: "Bobtail"

Answer 6

I have two pits. My felmale i didn't crop the ears for i didn't have papers on her and didn't plan to breed her. My male pit comes from a very good family line and we were going to breed him and crop'd ears help show him for this. It was the worse decision i have made. It was very painful for him and alot of work for me. I ended up just letting them do their own thing. I've since have had to fix him due to other medical reasons but will never consider crop'ing ears again!

Answer 7

I think people do it based on AKC standards of what the dog should look like. In my opinion it should only be done if the owner plans on showing the dog otherwise it is just a waste.

Answer 8

People have been breeding dogs to their own
personal needs for centuries, i sure some of the things you ve mentioned have a basis in what the dog was
being used for, check into the history of the breeds
that have cropping done, there may be some
answers there. i agree with you that they look cuter
in their natural state.

Answer 9

Against it or not, some breeds are disqualified from pedigree shows for not having it done. It's all for show. A serious breeder will have them done. My mom raised dobermans. That's how she made a living. No one would have bought our pups w/long tails.
Why do people pierce a newborn baby's ears?
Same thing.

Answer 10

I got my pit bull ears cropped because somebody told me that if their ears are cropped then they won't get a ear infection but I now know that was completely wrong
http://www.facespayneuter.org/adoption/images/Buttercup.jpg