I'm trying to understand the reason for cropping ears and cutting off tails...?

Question

... is it just for showing purposes? We met a miniature Yorkshire Terrier puppy today - and the adopting couple told us that the breeder had already docked the tail. Why? I don't get it. The dog is just going to live in their house - and be a dog. If a tail is set to grow a certain length - isn't it best to just leave it that way? Are dog shows kind of like beauty pageants for dogs? Shouldn't the breed be seen as it was meant to be? (like with a long tail and floppy ears - if that's what it naturally has). If not - then what's the reason behind the cropping and docking? I really want to understand this - so any insight you could provide would be great.

Answer 1

The docking of tails and cropping of ears was intended to help check ear infections in dogs and prevent hunting dog tails from picking up burrs off the ground or getting them caught in a gate. Nowadays, these two procedures are banned in most European countries, but we (the U.S.) still practice this. Why?

The American Kennel Club mandates how show dogs should look, which typically includes the cropping of ears and docking of tails. When someone decides to breed their dogs, they want to use the same standards the AKC uses in order to command the best price for their pups. If the AKC ever decides to stop these mandates, you'd better believe this practice will all but cease to exist in America.

Answer 2

I only agree with ear cropping and tail docking if it directly benefits the animal's health. Unfortunately, I think both of those procedures are the most easily done when the dog is young.

I've seen a Doberman wth its ears and tail left natural--it looks a lot like a greyhound, but with a shorter nose--rather adorable!

I don't know why it is standard for some breeds to have their ears and tails altered. I've never been to a dog show, but I have been to a cat show, and it was one of the weirdest things I've ever attended. During part of the show, the judges would take the cats out of their cages and stretch them like they were Slinkies--not literally; it just looked like that. Amazingly enough, the cats put up with this. (g) I know the judges were just checking the cats' body types, but it still looked odd.

I think it's wrong to alter an animal's ears or tail just for show purposes. If it's a guard dog, then, yes, it makes sense to crop the ears. But for just a regular dog that doesn't run risk of attack from other dogs? No. Leave him as he naturally is.

Answer 3

Dockiing of the tails, cropping of the ears, does not cause pain to the puppy, why, if the breeder and vet know what they are doing, it is a good thing, the standard of the breed, is cropped ears, docked tails, and I make sure dewclaws are done very early, no cartillage built up in a 4 day old puppy, its painful when people wait till dog is older to do these procedures....let me explain

1- the ears of my dogs are done at 4 days old, after being trimmed, the edges of the ears are not stitched, they are super glued, no bleeding, no tears, no redness, no swelling ever,,,,,,the tails are done at 2 days old, no cartilage, puppy has no feeling and does not even whimper or move when the procedure is done...the dewclaws are done at 1 wk old.

it is cruel to do all of this any later......but I care about my dogs and my vet is terrific, people drive along ways to get him to do their dogs ears,tails, dewclaws, he does alot of the show dog puppies for dobies, he does the California Curl for the ears, and it is beautiful,,he does not use stitches,,,the super glue peels off by its self, oh in about 12 wks, leaving the ears and tails beautiful...I have been breeding Min. Schnauzers for 14 yrs, showing and handling,.......this is not cruel if you have it done right...the dog does not suffer....what suffers is peoples ignorance about the procedures, and trying to wait till its too late to do them right, that is painful, and then the dog does suffer...this is for any breed that gets cropped ears, tails and dewclaws done......if done right, it is great...

Happy New Year

Answer 4

I am not for cropping ears unless there is a medical reason, but I do see the reasoning behind docking tails on some breeds.

With hunting and herding breeds that are being used for those purposes, it is VERY common for dogs to severely injure their tails. Many of the time the injuries are so severe that the tail must be docked in the end. It is a more painless process to just have it docked at a few days old than as an adult. Many owners of certain hunting and herding breeds dock tails for that reason. Having a tail docked as an adult is an extremely painful experience.

As for smaller breeds such as the Miniature Pinscher, it is mearly for look.

I have heard of dogs having severe ear infections that cleared up as soon as their ears were cropped. It's only in a situation like that where I support the cropping of ears.

Answer 5

The way you say it "cutting off tails" makes it sound bad it is docking tails. I am a big animal lover and I think it is fine to crop ears and dock tails it distinguishes the breed they are supposed to look like this for a reason

Answer 6

I am actually thrilled that Schnauzers are no longer supposed to have their ears cropped.. Now to get the docking of the tails stopped as well.. I honestly think it's a rather over rated custom.. aside from making the ears somewhat easier to keep clean.. it doesn't make a difference.. (neither of my current schnauzers have cropped ears.. although both had tails docked before we got them)

Do you notice a huge difference? (not my dogs btw)
http://axcium.com/Images/AbbygCalHead.jpg
http://axcium.com/Images/schnauzer_club_808.jpg ( I love the lion tail that undocked schnauzers have..)

Answer 7

Don't try to understand for you will not. The cropping and docking is done to met a set standard that are older that you are. If you do not plan to show a dog it does not mather what you do with your dog. But if you don't go with the standard and you dog turn out to be the best you will never know because you will not be allow to show him in the impotent show. Also it is accepted practice. were do you think Geldings and Steers come from

Answer 8

It keeps guarddog and hunting breeds with long, thin tails from breaking them in their line of work. With Yorkies it's meant to keep them from voiding into their own fur and getting an infection. It went from utilitarian purpose to a breed standard and that's why it's done. Why it's done to every puppy is that the puppy has to have its tail docked in a certain age range (while their bones are still soft and the wound will heal fastest). The breeder will just be on the safe side and assume people want the breed like it appears in show. If they wait and let the owner get it docked after the first 2 or 3 months, it becomes major surgery (and dangerous). It is possible to ask that your pup be left natural if they're just born if you ever decide to buy such a dog. I never saw a problem with it myself: my boxer's tail is docked, his ears are cropped and he's as fat, dumb and happy as they come. If it traumatized him, he sure doesn't act like it.

Answer 9

Dog shows are not a ' beauty pageant for dogs ' Dog shows are Conformation shows.. Checking to see how well the dog conforms to the breed standard set out for the breed by their breed club.

Ears are cropped and docked on certain breeds because it's part of the breed standard. Any of the breeds cropped and docked are done so because originally they were bred for a particular reason or job. Many new breeds are not bred for any reason, so they have no specifics like that because they are not produced to actually do anything.

I don't like people who leave their dogs chained in the yard, or left to live outside in the winter. I don't like people who hit their dogs. I don't like people who work 12 hours a day and leave their dogs on alone all day long. I don't like people who own dogs and have no clue what to do with them, how to raise train and care for them. I don't like people that don't feed good quality food, and don't like people who refuse to take their dog to the vet.

So you can see in the big scheme of things, the cropping and docking of certain breeds is very minor when you think about the horrible things people do with their pets for no reason but selfishness and greed... If you knew about the whole process and procedure you wouldn't even question it.. You should do some research into it all then ask questions.

Answer 10

Is it any different from nose piercings? Belly button piercings? Piercings in places I don't care to spell out on this board?

If you want a certain look for yourself or your pet, sometimes it involves a little pain to achieve that look.

I think it's all rather weird. Except for MY three tattoos and six piercings in my right ear alone. LOL!