To Crop or Not to Crop?

Very good article :)

I try to be active in animal rights communities, and contrary to what most animal rights activists say, I don't see major problems with ear cropping as long as done by experienced vets and handled with care by owner after. but on the other side, I have volunteered for SPCA, and in my first day, I encountered a dog whose ears had been cut off with sizzors by previous owner, and it wasn't even a breed that had ear crop standard. this angers me beyond recognition. I feel that glamorization of ear cropping can lead to incidents such as this. Plus, in my opinion I only think a few dogs look funny without thier ears cropped; such as the Doberman, Cane Corso, Neo, but dogs like the pit, boxers, even banddogs look way better with their ears, it makes thier head look bigger and gives them character, keeping it all natural. take an excellent boxer with big head, when they clip ears all narrow, like AKC standard, it makes them look pin headed, smaller than reality. As far as pain, I am sure it is very uncomfortable for dog after surgery, easy to get infected, and some owners may neglect wounds. But this is like human foreskin removed and such. Its important to remember that many breeds had thier ears clipped for dog fighting, and caried on down lines for superficial reasons. I know clipped ears can make dog look more intense, although I personally disagree. And lastly, dogs ears flop over to protect from ear infection, and true, all ears, clipped or not should be cleaned, but I think it is important to keep all bodies as natural as possible. just my opinion. :D

I personaly don't think that a dog needs to be cropped or must have a docked tail. It is illegal here in Germany, and i don't think that this is wrong. If people want to let their dogs have cropped, it should be done properly by a vetenerian.

I have two dogs with cropped ears...a CAO & CO both are unaffected by their ears. I am more for cropping my dogs ears at a younger age...My dogs were done at 3 days with no taping, stiches etc...

I wonder what they would do with my boy Zero...his tail is short and the breed is docked as a normal rule but 9 out of 11 pups in his litter had naturally short tails...i guess it isnt uncommon though

I've talked to a Great Dame and Dobie owners that have commeted that thier dogs had some sensitivity t in thier cropped ears. Has anyone come across this?......Maybe the vet didn't do a very good job??

Of all the dogs with cropped ears that I've ever met (which includes many bandogges and a few CO's) the only time that I've seen any sensitivity in their crops was shortly after they were done. I don't mind cropping as long as it's done at an early age. I think it's somewhat similar to circumcisions done while a boy is still an infant - you don't remember it. I think for certian LGDs it's almost a necessity (as well as docking their tails). If they need to defend the flock against a wolf or bear or whatever else, the ears and especially tail are just one more thing that can be grabbed ahold of and used to bring the dog down.

I'm glad my rotts have no tails. When I visit my brother (he has 2 working labs) everything goes flying off the coffee table and end tables from happy dogs(they NEVER stop wagging their tails :lol: ) I like bieng able to use those surfaces for drinks and such and enjoy my big dogs' company at the same time... Also, dogs with ears that droop (especially ones with lots of skin and really long ears) are more prone to ear infections if left unaltered due to trapped heat and moisture. :wink:

Well there is always the chance of hitting a nerve, and if that nerve remains exposed, there can be senstivity. YES, oh my god, our rambunctous bandog Cain still has his full tail and I personally love the asthetic look of it, it makes him look beautiful and natural although I do agree many breeds just look so much better with crops and docks, but Cain will wack the @#$% out of you with his tail and knock over everthing when excited. it is very annoying. and for working dogs, getting the dew claws removed, ears cropped and tails docked, depending on breed and work is ESSENTIAL!! I know Cain looks like his tail might be broken in a place, which i would fully understand because he flips that thing around with force. It also might be his bone structure looking like that though. And yes, i could see that with certain breeds with the droopy skin, full ears could actualy even cause infection. But little quick tip, I have heard it is bad for dogs to hang their heads out the window when driving, it can cause ear infections, although I could never take that from my dogs fun time, but good to know...

Ahh, but we do alter ourselves (piercing, ball bering insertion, burning, scarring, tattoos, teeth filing, neck stretching and so on..). As adults we make decisions based on beauty or cultural acceptance, but a lot of baby boys have no choice whether they get circumcised. :wink: This and docking when done at the right age is an experience never remembered.

Well I live in the UK and the majority of people are completely against docking (cropping is not allowed anyway) I personally think that 'some' breeds look stunning when they are cropped and docked but is it right that we do this just to please our own vanity and fashion whims?? I dont think it is but I will confess to being a hypocrite - as long as it is allowed I would have no quarms with purchasing a dog that already has it done (I would not buy one and then have it done myself)