Doberman ears/tails

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Posted : 10/12/2006 1:38:55 AM

Honestly I'm on the fence about this subject....

On the one hand I absolutely love the look of a cropped/docked Doberman, on the other hand, I don't think there's any benefit to the DOG to have his ears cropped. Unless of course he's a guard dog and then having less ears/tail for a person or animal to grab at will benefit him. I think that's what Louis Dobermann intended for the breed..... But again, that still comes down to human needs, since that's who the dog is working for. [&:]

But then on the other hand again, if the ear cropping is done under anesthesia by a good vet and pain meds are given afterward, I think it's minimally uncomfortable for the dog.

As far as the less ear infections argument (in favor of cropping); I really don't think Dobermans with cropped ears get less ear infections than those with natural ears. [8|] Great Danes have the same type of ear and are a breed that is more evenly split with people who leave the ears natural and those that crop. I've heard that there are pros and cons to each (the cropped ears allowing more dirt and stuff into the ear that otherwise wouldn't be there) and that sometimes causes even more problems. I think the type of ears with bigger problems are those like Cockers and Basset Hounds have, so long and heavy that they don't get good circulation and the Poodle and Shih Tzu type that have have so much hair growing in and around the ear.

Tail docking I think does have it's place. When I worked at an animal shelter there was a Pit Bull who wagged his tail so hard against the concrete that it busted open, bleeding. The vet tech would bandage it up and he would just bust it right open again. It would have been good if his tail had been docked when he was only a few days old and prevented those injuries. There was also a Golden Retriever at the same shelter who came in with his tail already docked because of frequent injuries.

What doesn't make sense to me is why certain breeds with the same long, thin whip-like tails aren't routinely docked- like Great Danes and Amstaffs. [8|]

Firestorm

Posted : 10/12/2006 8:57:30 AM

I think it is the owner's choice. I the breeds that do crop and dog look good and it is for a purpose.

rwbeagles

Posted : 10/12/2006 9:00:47 AM

What doesn't make sense to me is why certain breeds with the same long, thin whip-like tails aren't routinely docked- like Great Danes and Amstaffs"

Generally with tails it is the work. You need tail on a Pit to pull it out of the fight, which is why most Terriers that ARE docked are not docked close, enough is left to grab the dog out of the hole when it goes to ground.

The Dane was bred to live in LARGE open spaces such as a castle or estate...not small apartments or homes with many walls. I doubt the Boarhounds of medieval times had issues with splitting their tails because they were kept either in large stable like kennels or in equally large halls and keeps etc.