Cropping and docking

I feel that it is personal preference, so I guess I am for it.  As long as it is done by a responsible vet when the dog is the appropriate age (i.e. I don't think anyone should dock a tail when a dog is 3 years old).  Dasher's tail was docked by his breeder when he was born (or a day or so later), never had a breed where ears were an issue.  However if I did have a Boxer or Dobe, not sure I would get their ears done, I don't show in conformation and I kinda like the floppy eared look []

but then I also have to wonder why people get rottie and dobe cross pups tails done as well.

 
so they look like purebreds! [] lol. thats what ive seen at least, people dock crossbred puppies so they can sell them off as purebreds, with pups its hard to tell a mix puppy (to the novice eye) unless that "rottweiler" has spots!!!
 
But for the OT I am not against it as long as it is done right and is properly cared for after. My fathers pitbull had her ears cropped and they were taken care of and looked great. I like for them to be done on most breeds that the standard calls for, except for Dobes I love natural ears on them.
 
As long as you dont get some psycho trying to do home jobs. I had a friend in the third grade that owned a Dobe and she told me that Dobe breeders tied a rubber band to the pups tails when they were born so it would fall off!!!! lol, its probably not true, but hey you never know!

I am not opposed. I would not care to have to do it, so I don't have a breed that requires it. Plenty of choices in the purebred dog world []. Ears are a VETERINARY procedure and regulating that as far as it needing to be done that way is fine with me...tho the vets that will do it are becoming harder to find. Tails are less of a big deal but I wouldn't fight much if that also became a vet only procedure.
 
It's my thought that with the AR's having their foot in the door and being under the desks of so many politicians...it will be illegal to crop or dock outside of working stock...in 10 years. There will be a huge outcry but then 10 years after THAT no one will even recall what a cropped/docked dog looks like. Such is the nature of people. What you see daily, becomes the norm...and what you seldom see if freakish and to be avoided.

Ah, docking and cropping...one of those issues that will always have ppl pro and ppl against.  Personally, I'm against it.  I don't believe there's any valid reason to do it.  Pro-ppl often say things like it's to prevent a working dog damaging it's tail.  This doesn't seem to actually be borne out in reality though.  I think it's mostly done for looks.  I love the way rw summed it up:  Such is the nature of people. What you see daily, becomes the norm...and what you seldom see if freakish and to be avoided. 
Over here in England, you never see cropped ears as it's been illegal for many years.  Most British ppl find the look of a dog with cropped ears to be horrific.  I'm not trying to offend anyone, I'm just saying that like rw said, because it's not the norm for us, it's freakish.  Which is hypocritical, as  we are used to docked tails, so we don't think that's freakish.  Doesn't make much sense, but that's the way it is.

Tail docking is being discussed in parliament here at the moment, and is likely to be banned.  I for one, hope it is.

Rubber-banding puppies tails IS a common practise btw. 

This is a link that shows pictures of undocked dogs from traditionally docked breeds if anyone is interested
[linkhttp://www.anti-dockingalliance.co.uk/page_5.htm]http://www.anti-dockingalliance.co.uk/page_5.htm[/link]

My understanding is that Dobes tails were cropped during a time when dogs as pets were taxed, and working dogs (who had a job to perform, as in the case of the Dobe who was bred for guarding) were not taxed.  To identify working dogs, their tails were docked. 
 
Also, it's believed that since these were working dogs employed in guarding/protection, that by cropping the ear and docking the tail, there was less for an attacker to grab on to.  A ripped ear resulting in infection (and back then, less access to antibiotics/veterinary care as we have in this century) made for a potentially deadly situation. 

Ear-cropping/tail-docking continues today in part to maintain the look, in part because their tails are like whips without much protection, so some believe they are more prone to injuries.  (I've seen it in every Dobe I know w/a full tail including one I owned in the past, but I'm sure others will disagree.)

Personally, I will fight legislation in the US that bans cropping or docking done by a licensed vet.  I don't enjoy the thought of either procedure being done without professional knowledge and care (anesthesia for cropping, etc.)  But if cropping and/or docking were banned outright, you're talking about Dobes, Danes, Cocker Spaniels, Old English Sheepdog, Schnauzers, Boxers, Welsh Springers, Affenpinschers, and dozens more - I believe about 60 different breeds mention cropping or docking in their breed standards.  Don't think it's just a few!

Gracie's breed standard is for them to have their ears severely cropped so that when hunting boar and puma that the ears don't get shredded and blind or weaken the dog with bloodloss. I can totally understand the reasoning, but if the dog isn't going to be hunted I don't agree with it.

Also, ear cropping is a VERY painful surgery for a dog. The older the dog, the more painful and hard the surgery is. After a certain age, ear cropping shouldn't even be considered.

As for tails, I know Dogos use them for balance when running down a boar and that docking them in any way is considered detrimental to the dog. I can't imagine that this is any different for other breeds of dogs. Tails are there for a reason.

I am not against cropping or docking as long as it's done responsibly, the vet is knowledgeable about cropping and understands that "one size does not fit all" and the owner knows how to properly care for the crop afterwards. I've witnessed many a docking and cropping and while I believe it can be painful, I don't think it's as bad as some folks make it out to be. Pups that are docked are usually done so within the first week of birth and when they're docked, some don't even notice and all of them are fine once you put them back with mama. I've owned Dobes in the past and had them cropped. They acted like fruit loops before the procedure and they came out acting like fruit loops after the procedure. If they were in insane pain, they hid it well. The only thing that seemed to bother them was the ears being itchy as they healed. I don't think the pain is worse when they're older. In Boston Terriers, it's not uncommon to wait until the dog is older to crop their ears. You want to see how the head and ears develop as the dog gets older and if the ears look too big for the melon, some folks will crop the ears. I've seen older dogs go in for a crop and they come out of the procedure acting just as nutty as they did when they went in. I think what's most important is the aftercare of a crop. I have found that crops go bad due to owner negligence. I personally love the look of cropped ears in some breeds... particularly Dobes and Great Danes. It makes them more more sleek and regal. Then again, it is a matter of personal preference. If you don't like cropping and docking, don't dock or crop your dog. []

I've never had a purebred dog and will probably never see a show ring either, so I'm inclined to let the poor dog enjoy the ears and tail he was born with. [] I used to have a little lab/cocker mix who had the most gorgeous long feathery tail and I'm sure if he had been a purebred, it would have been whacked off when he was born.

Joyce

Ear cropping surgery should be done under anesthesia, and generally at no more than 13-14weeks of age (some will argue that, too).  Older than that and you're talking cosmetic surgery or amputation.  I understand most folks think it's highly painful to heal from the stitches afterward, but a spay surgery is FAAAARRR more invasive and the recovery is far more difficult/painful than ear cropping done by a veterinarian under vet care and supervision.  (Just clarifying again that this does not refer to the sick-o's who cut their dogs ears with scissors.  I think they should have pieces of their bodies cut off in the same way...)
 
If the idea is to save the dogs pain, then we should be looking at spay surgery and the pain there.  Please know I am not saying that spays should be banned, that would be idiotic.  My point is, check the arguement against other surgeries.  The "real" arguement is pain for beauty should be discouraged.  However, the argument persists that cropping or docking may not be "pain" in the way folks think, and the reason may not be "beauty".  Having experienced and witnessed the recovery from ear cropping and tail docking in more than one breed, the sutures healing properly is the most important to avoid pain and if health and care are maintained, the recovery is not painful.  Perhaps itchy, but not painful.  Infection can be ainful.  Ripped out stitches from mother dogs who try to lick out tail docking stitches can be a bad complication.  Amputation or surgery without anesthesia is painful, no matter which surgery we're talking about.

I'm very against ear-cropping. It's cruel and unnecessary. Once you see a lot of a particular breed with their natural ears, the cropped-ear dogs start to look odd and horrific.

I prefer dobes cropped and danes natural.

Ear cropping surgery should be done under anesthesia, and generally at no more than 13-14weeks of age (some will argue that, too). Older than that and you're talking cosmetic surgery or amputation.

 
Why isn't it cosmetic surgery or amputation when it's done by 13-14 weeks of age?  I don't understand.

I prefer natural, but I also am pro-choice.  If the dog wishes to be cropped, then they should be allowed to have the surgery.

Speaking to Dobes and the like, it has to do with the fact that the muscles and tendons that are trained to keep the ears erect are less trainable beyond that period.  The ear cartilage is pretty well set after 4 months of age.  Thus, cropping the ear without the intention of training them to stand erect is usually for dogs whose ears naturally stand erect, but may not be in the proper proportion to the dogs head as desired by the owners.  (As mentioned above referring to Boston Terriers.)
It could go either way - some would consider it cosmetic surgery at any age.
And since we're on the topic of altering dogs appearances, what's the thought on dewclaws?  Cruel cosmetic surgery, too?