Tail Docking, Dewclaws On Table In PA

Myself, I'm a devoted fancier of Rotties and Danes; both of which either require docking or cropping (by choice).  For me, my personal choice is to have a docked Rottie.  I love the stubby Rottie bum, and the clean lines that docking provides.  Some may say it's only for aesthetics, others see it as a health preventive.  Whichever way one wants to look at it is fine by me, but I want to continue to have the right to have a docked Rottie by choice.  I fell in love with the whole breed, so that's not to say that I don't loved tailed Rotties, there still Rotties.  Just I personally feel the docked tail adds a uniqueness to this breed.

As for Danes, my stance is this.  Some Danes ears when cropped turn out horribly, resulting in a 'bat ear'.  After some serious discussion with vets and breeders, bat ears are often a result of a Danes ears being cropped when there is either too much ear leather, or not enough.  If the Dane has a correct ear set in all ways, then cropping may be an option.  I feel a good and responsible breeder would discuss that option with the perspective puppy parents.  As well too, cropped ears can require a bit of work to maintain, and if you aren't prepared to handle that extra bit of care, don't get the ears cropped.  Finding skilled veterinarians who will perform cropping too is becoming an increasingly difficult task.  So with Danes, I'm on the fence.  Some suit their ears cropped, others look just as beautiful with them left naturally. 

The only place I differ on this opinion is with Dobermans.  I just don't like the appearance of an uncropped Dobe.  They look like a hound (which isn't bad in itself, I'm not picking on hounds... :)) and have a completely different look to them. 

denise m

eaglerock814

Because we don't want to...and because some of us still believe in personal freedom...

 

 

EXACTLY! OMG if you take away our freedom to dock and crop our freedom of speech or worse our right to bare arms will be next! What is the use of living in a free country if you aren't allowed to dock a dogs tail? It's madness I say, MADNESS!  

Actually, the infamous "slippery slope" thing that dog owners fear the most when issues like this come up.  Topics like this are *exactly* why horse owners fight it tooth and nail whenever someone wants to designate horses has "companion animals" rather than "livestock."  Why borrow trouble? 

I admit to loving the look of a cropped and docked doberman, but I couldn't have the heart to have it done to my own dog (if I had a dobe). People are weirded out by, say, African tribes who do things like stretching their necks for aesthetic purposes...yet we perform unecessary body changing procedures for dogs every day. Like I said before, I agree that the cropped and docked look is more noble and impactful on a dobe, staffy, etc., but is it really okay to change a dog's natural body for our own reasons?

IrishSetterGrl

I admit to loving the look of a cropped and docked doberman, but I couldn't have the heart to have it done to my own dog (if I had a dobe). People are weirded out by, say, African tribes who do things like stretching their necks for aesthetic purposes...yet we perform unecessary body changing procedures for dogs every day. Like I said before, I agree that the cropped and docked look is more noble and impactful on a dobe, staffy, etc., but is it really okay to change a dog's natural body for our own reasons?

you took the words right out of my mouth. i read all the posts and i couldn't agree with you more.

i have a docked jack, and i PERSONALLY wouldn't be ok with it if it was done when she was more than just a few days old. the idea of ear cropping seems really pretty/good looking but i find it hard to accept since it is purely cosmetic, whereas the tails have a "reason" behind it (haha get it? behind.... nevermind)

i will leave it at that, because i've seen how heated people can get about this topic. i don't wanna be another canadian that gets ripped on for being sarcastic :S (i had to agree tho, this shouldn't be joked about) ...eh?

JRTzoey

i will leave it at that, because i've seen how heated people can get about this topic. i don't wanna be another canadian that gets ripped on for being sarcastic :S (i had to agree tho, this shouldn't be joked about) ...eh?

Hey, I've been ripped on for far less. Canadians are known for their sense of humour although sarcasm is the lowest form.

Back to topic...cropping/docking please folks....and treat with the respect such a serious and hot-button topic deserves.  All opinions are valid, but share opinions about this please, in this thread.

Thanks.  

IrishSetterGrl

but is it really okay to change a dog's natural body for our own reasons?

I don't think that all dog breeds have "natural" bodies. Long pendular ears of a Doberman or any hound are not natural in my book.  Breeders made them look like that for one reason or another and in the case of Doberman who's ears were not included in a breeding program (should be) we have to fix their ears surgically for a more natural erect look. And tail docking is for safety purposes. That's my way of thinking on this subject.

In regards to "cosmetic tail docking" and "cosmetic ear cropping", I think it's now 30 countries that have banned it, but it can only be done by a veterinarian for valid medical and working reasons.
 
Here is some information via this link that forum visitors might like to read. From UK DEFRA and which was put before their Parliment, and it starts off with docking of various farm animals then goes into docking dogs, and it's interesting that many other types or breeds of dogs were also similarly docked to AVOID TAX and although the tax was repealed in 1796 many had got use to "the look" that they kept on docking tails, anyway have a read via this link:-
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/domestic/awbillconsulttaildocking.pdf
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