I think it looks better cropped/docked.

I wouldn't do it though.

I'd adopt a dog already cropped/docked.

 

i, personally, find no reason for doing it....all the breed that are done that i have seen not done (does that make sense to you), like the Rottie pic that was posted on another topic, i think look better w/ their tails and any of the breeds w/ cropped ears i think look better w/ them "flapped"....i had a little dog once that i had the tail done on more for med/behavioral than cosmetics (he liked to chew his tail as a pup and would make it bleed) i wished that i had figured another way to get him to quit....he hurt for about a wk after (actually it was more of an itch, but it annoyed him, non the less)

 

Our first two Boxers were docked and cropped and looked fabulous. Cooper is docked (which I am all for, those Boxer tails are dangerous!) but we left his ears floppy, after much arguing on my part. I do appreciate the look of cropped ears, but I told my husband that I would much rather spend those hundreds of dollars that would be spent on cosmetic surgery on training instead, as Cooper will hopefully be a "working" dog. (Therapy and maybe some obedience and agility). I do not regret leaving his ears natural at all, they are adorable and fall so perfectly and are so expressive. Of course my husband makes little comments here and there like "he is so handsome, just imagine what he would look like if we had done his ears"... Anyway, that said, I can appreciate the look of both, on Boxers, Danes, Dobes, etc.. but I don't know if I would ever do the ears again, even I were to have a show Boxer. Many are doing well in the ring with natural ears, which I think is great.

 

I'm not sure if it's the norm for all breeds (I assume it is) but Charlie's tail was docked at about 2 days old, so I didn't have a say. But his ears aren't cropped. I like the floppy eared look better anyway.

I agree with you, I don't think I would do it with another dog either since it is just asthetics. And again, like you said, I'm not bashing anyone who does - I don't care.

 

I like the floppy eared look better anyway.

Elsa mad!

CP agrees.

 

Well I have mutts so the whole cropping/docking question is pretty much moot for me, but given the choice I would not crop/dock simply because I have no compelling reason to do so. If I was getting a puppy from a breed that does do that, and the breeder did the tails shortly after birth (as in the norm), that would be fine. Unless I was planning on showing and it was unacceptable to show a non-cropped dog, I would probably not do the ears, given the choice. To take it one step further, there is a chance I would pass on showing in order to do avoid doing the ears, if it came right down to it.

The important thing for me is that the cropping/docking is being done by a licensed professional who is skilled in both the medical and the aesthetic aspects of the procedure, and that it is done as humanely as possible. Provided those criteria are met, I would not raise an eyebrow, much less a fuss.

 

Personally, I don't have anything against cropping/docking. I'm not a huge fan of cropping, I think the only breed I would do it to is a Doberman. Docking on the other hand, I'm more for. I know on Dobermans their tails break really easily so I would rather dock the tail at birth over 3 years down the road and having them go through that pain. I don't think I've ever seen a Boxer with a normal tail.

The fact is, A dog which its standard calls for cropping and/or docking when its in a adoption position is more likely to be adopted (and a lot sooner) then one that isn't.

 

This topic has been hotly debated here in the past many times, you can use the search feature to check it out.

Personaly I feel that all breeds where it's standard to dock for work or show should be docked regardless if it's pet quality or not. Tails are docked between 3-5 days old, therefore the breeder has no idea at that age which pups are going to have work or show potential. I've also seen countless dogs of breeds that should be docked come in with emergency tail injuries. Tail injuries can be very painful and difficult to heal. Despite all efforts to save the tail; every tail injury I've seen has ended up with the tail being amputated, either from too much damage done or the pet re-injures the tail.

For croping it's original purpose was for more than just looks, but in some breeds the looks was part of the purpose. Dobermans for example originaly had thier ears croped to prevent inury from and attacker and give less for a bad guy to hold on to, keep in mind thier ears were originaly alot shorter than what you see today. The ears were also croped to make the dog look more intimadating, which means the dog could possibly scare away an attacker just by looking at him and not have to get into a physical fight. Croping is usually done at 12-16 weeks depending on the breed, by that age the breeder has usually picked thier show, working, and pet dogs. The dogs are also usually off to thier new homes by then. I feel the descission to crop should be left up to the owners, and whatever descision it may be is fine with me.

 

Croping is usually done at 12-16 weeks depending on the breed, by that age the breeder has usually picked thier show, working, and pet dogs. The dogs are also usually off to thier new homes by then. I feel the descission to crop should be left up to the owners, and whatever descision it may be is fine with me.

I don't really want to voice an opinion this late at night; I just wanted to correct this statement. Most responsible breeders crop the ears themselves at 7 to 8 weeks old, as soon as the ears have grown large enough. The puppies aren't generally placed till nine weeks. Formal grading generally doesn't take place until after the ears are done. Therefore most new owners will have no choice as to whether their dog is cropped or not.

 

I personally don't like docked and cropped myself. Takes away from the dog, IMO. Just look at my Betty and that beautiful tail. She wouldn't be the same without it, lol.

 

It does seem purely cosmetic to me.. and pointless to put the dog through it for something that isn't necessary. I know with Cresteds that although cosmetic as well, many puff and some hairless puppy's ears are actually just taped up (just bracing them with cloth tape) to get them to stand. It involves no cutting or anything and there are even ways to do it with just masking tape; it's completely painless. That doesn't seem as bad to me as the dog obviously doesn't have to go under anesthesia or anything just because it's simply "topical" and just encourages stronger ears to stand upright; it doesn't actually "re-shape" or mutilate the skin at all.

 

I have less of a problem with docking than I do cropping - but either way I think it should be the owner's discretion.

 

Here it's forbidden unless it's a show dog. I think it's OK (the law) but I prefer dogs that require neither so I don't have to deal with that

 

I think it should be illegal.....

after going to the UK and seeing that the world has not collapsed because of the ban I am more of the opinion that it should not be allowed except in the case of working dogs.....

just my two cents
s

 

I think it should be illegal.....

after going to the UK and seeing that the world has not collapsed because of the ban I am more of the opinion that it should not be allowed except in the case of working dogs.....

I'm with Shalva on this one. I've decided I will never buy a cropped/docked dog from a breeder, which stinks because I want an Australian Shepherd someday. But there's usually Aussies at the shelter, so I should be able to find one, and I wouldn't deny a homeless dog a home just because he had the misfortune to be docked as a puppy. But I won't do anything to support cosmetic surgery on animals. I'm not rabidly against docking and cropping, but I just don't think it's necessary, and subjecting animals to unnecessary surgical procedures is not an option for me.

 

i personally never would do it.

i have a question though...

i know floppy earred breeds are more prone to ear infection. does cropping help that?

 

i noticed a couple of responses that mentioned the "damage" that can happen to dogs tail....this can happen in any breed of dog, not just the Dobe, Boxer, Rott, etc......my GSD used to get "knots" on his tail that would break open from him wagging his tail and hitting a shelving that was by the front door....i didn't dock the tail for it, i padded the shelfing....took care of the problem....if you were to take away a Borders tail, you'd really mess up their movement...they use those tails as "rudders", balance "poles", "flags", etc....and i think that most dogs do use their tail for about the same purposes....

so, for me, the fact that they can damage the tail is not a good enuff reason....w/ BooferButt, i docked his not so much b/c of the damage getting done, but b/c of the damage he was doing....the damage was self inflicted and, at the time, i didn't think there was anything else to do.....now, i'd try behavior modification 1st....

 

I wouldn't do it personally just because I now know what is done to the dog to have it docked Luckily for me Maggie's tail was that way when she was born.

 

I personally think that the dogs whose ears were traditionally docked & cropped look better that way. They appear (to me) to be more streamlined.

That being said, I am far too lazy to deal with the bandaging that goes along with cropping, so I wouldn't be bothered. I would be much more likely to adopt/purchase a dog whose ears have already been done.

 

tails, some dogs require it, otherwise they will damage their tails. hunting dogs especially.

ears, well that's likely just cosmetic, but it depends on your situation. If you have Dobermans for security reasons they look a lot meaner with their ears done.

it happens so early in life though the dogs aren't likely to be affected by it.

if you had a son would you have him circumsized?

 

if you had a son would you have him circumsized?

nope (twice) and if i had another son it would still be no....if that was the way they were meant to be they would be born that way.....

i have always thought it funny how the show people say "the dog should be shown in it's natural state" and then they dock/crop the tails and ears....where is that natural?....the clips i understand for the working purpose behind them, plus the hair grows back.....mutilating the ears/tails to me is wrong w/out a good medical reason.....

 

I don't have strong feelings one way or another about it, personally. I think there are good arguments for both sides of the issue, but I wouldn't presume to force people to do either.

 

I personally don't think it's necessary. I like tails and floppy ears - it's cute.

 

My only argument with cropping/docking is if, as an owner, you make the choice to do it, do it right. That means by a vet with experience cropping and docking. Do it at the right times. Docking 2-3 days old cropping 8-10 weeks depending on breed. Then take care of the ears while healing and take great care of the dog for the rest of it's life. There are so many bigger issues to worry about in animal care then cropping and docking. IMO

 

Docking doesn't bother me so much. Libby is docked, and I don't mind.

I would never crop, though.

I'm with Shalva on this one. I've decided I will never buy a cropped/docked dog from a breeder, which stinks because I want an Australian Shepherd someday.

I thought most Aussies were naturally bobbed? IE, born with no tail...?

 

many of you have mentioned dogs whose tails get hurt.... but ya know what for the average dog who is not in the field working any longer its purely cosmetic....

In the UK working dogs can still be docked..... but they can't be shown and they must be done by a vet.... not the ole rubber band method like I know some still use but lets be honest.... how many of these cropped and docked dogs work at all.... other than guarding a couch....

there should be exceptions for those that do work..... but the reality is that most cropping and docking at this point is done for purely cosmetic reasons
s

 

many of you have mentioned dogs whose tails get hurt.... but ya know what for the average dog who is not in the field working any longer its purely cosmetic....

As to tail injuries. Before the ban in Australia the traditionally docked breeds started a register to record tail injuries this to be used as proof against the ban, and this to be kept running after the ban came into effect where dogs then had tails. After quite some time there were only 3 dogs on the register, and it was decided to delete the register as it was starting to provide proof in support of the ban.
.

 

Austrailian Shepherds are, indeed, docked. Fact is, at a recent Sheep Dog trial a dog was running that we all thought was an Aussie... They run a little differently than Border Collies. Turned out to be a Border Collie that had its tail removed as the result of an accident. One of the comments from a very experienced competitor was that docking Aussies definately affected their gait.

Personally, I have no opinion. I know it was banned in the UK and no dogs died... and some choose to dock or crop here in the US and as long as it is done correctly and anesthesia is used, what difference does it make? I tend to have dogs that need neither proceedure so I have never had need to make the choice, spend the money or any of the rest.

 

I think Aussies born with bob tails are the minority, most are docked. I admit I like the look of a stumpy tail on a dog, I think it's cute, but I still wouldn't choose to do it to my own dog. Ears I prefer to see natural on all breeds but the Dobe, again though, wouldn't choose to do do it to my own.

 

Just curious why Dobes should still be cropped and the rest left natural?

I currently have an uncropped dobe - but personally prefer the look of cropped myself - but I also think Danes, Boxers, Beaucerons and Schnauzers look nicer cropped as well

 

Personaly I like dogs with long tails and floppy ears, they have them to start with so let them keep them. Our lady came with her tail docked, we have mutts but even if we had a purebreed i would fight with my husband to keep their tails and ears natural. I just like the way that they look.