What is your opinion of cropping ears and tails and fancy haircuts?

[jackiesdaisy1935]

As a novice with our first Schnauzer we went the route of having her ears cropped listening to the breeder that she would look so much better. Our second Schnauzer who is Daisy, we decided not to put her through this painful experience. She has very big ears and we love her the more for it. When we got our third Schnauzer, Perry, we got him from a breeder who already had his ears cropped., but still had the bandage on one ear, so my husband worked with him and his ears stand straight. I would never, ever, again crop any of my dogs ears. I would never put them thru this painful experience just to make them look pretty. I'm not sure about cropping the tails, I thought I read somewhere it is better for some dogs to have their tails cropped for safety. Our dogs tails were already cropped when we got them.

[RachelJ]

My dogs tails were both cropped when I got them too. Poor Tucker's was done so short, he really doesn't even have a tail, just a stub. I didn't dock the tails of the one litter of puppies that Bailey had and our neighbor (from whom we got Bailey as a puppy) didn't dock hers or any others in that litter either. I wish the AKC would revise their standard to eliminate these practices. Different haircuts I have no problem with.

[Angels3]

There's a campaign here by the primary animal welfare organization to ban tail docking in dogs.

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Angels3, how about ear cropping? Do they perform that on certain dogs?
Jackie

[Logan]

I was watching something on tv the other day about the guy that produces the Marmaduke cartoons. He has a greyhound with undocked ears. She (?) is absolutely beautiful, but very different than what you are used to seeing.
I am DEFINITELY against docking and cropping. Of course my Goldens have lovely, flowing tails and floppy ears that I love!

[Daisy's Mom]

Being the mom of a Basset Hound, I simply love big ears and would never want to crop them. Why put them through pain just to have them look nice? I personally think that's sick. Same thing with tails. What's wrong with a long waggy tail? I find dogs are cuter when they have their ears and tails. As for the haircuts, they don't really bother me. I think they look pretty stupid, but at least it doesn't harm the animal. Well, as far as we know at least... it might get made fun of by the other dogs!

[karlicat]

My dog sorta gets embarrassed when we cut her fur too short. I am WAY against dock n cropping!!

[Genia]

I am against cropping, docking and fancy
haircuts, unless for health and/or safety reasons. I believe that some dogs are sterotyped because of this procedure. In certain breeds of dogs, their look is intimidating. A gentleman who has the same vet as I has one of the most beautiful dobermans I have ever seen. He is un-cropped, un-docked (are those words?) and is so sweet natured and devoted to his owner. All dobermans may be this way but some people can't get past the intimidating look to discover this. I thought this way until I had the pleasure of living across the street from a gentle doberman. I also had the pleasure of meeting a Standard Poodle without the "foo-foo puff ball" cut (as my 11 yr old calls it) He was trimmed neatly and absolutly beautiful. Poodles are great family pets, but with the cut the perception is sometimes that they are spoiled, costly, pamperd animals with no real use. I admit have stereotyped only to find out later the wonderful qualities these animals possess. I'm not saying you should care what others think. I just think that if they were born with a certain look, why not accept them they way they are? If anyone can give me a good reason as to why these procedures are done, I would love to learn.

[Rottie]

I really like the fact that Carl has no tail. It never gets in the way, knocking stuff over and everything. I also think he looks better with it off (although I never saw him with it on )

If the tail is docked when it is supposed to be (when the pups are a few days old), it supposedly doesn't hurt them, too much. But, I've never actually been there during a tail docking.

The ear cropping is okay, I guess if you like that look, but I think it makes them look mean.

I think the fancy haircuts on poodles, and cockers, etc. are weird. Again, if you like that look it's fine, but I really think that it makes the dogs look like hairballs, not dogs.



[This message has been edited by Rottie (edited March 07, 2001).]

[wolflady]

I think that cropping and docking is an inhumane act. What's the point? People are so superficial that they have to cut pieces of their dog off so they "look right"? Then again people modify their bodies these days too. But that's through choice. The dog's don't have that choice. I agree with Genia that uncropped, undocked dobermans are just beautiful! I don't know why or how anyone came up with this barbaric practice in the first place. Of course, sometimes the animal comes that way and there's nothing you can do about it, but just give them love!
As for haircuts, I agree that some of the haircuts give the animal a bad wrap, like the poodle...but a lot of people get this done for show. It doesn't hurt the dog, so that doesn't bother me. Also, clipping keeps dogs cool in the hot summers.

[carrie]

I am going to upset some people ( nothing new there then!) but why get a dog that you have to perform surgery on before you are happy with the way it looks?
The surgical mutilation of dogs is only a necessary if the dog you have chosen to own is the wrong breed for you. If the characteristics of the dog suit you and you, personally, have no reason to think that a tail or ears are going to be a health risk then why would you want to give the impression that your dog looks different than the rest of the breed? What possible justification is the fact that you think it looks nice for cutting bits of healthy tissue away from healthy dogs?


"you" being a generic term - not, I repeat NOT directed at anyone!!

[This message has been edited by carrie (edited March 07, 2001).]

[ownerof3dogs]

I am not even going to touch this topic with a 10 foot or even 100 foot pole
But I do like the way Dobermans look with the ears and tail done. And I do sorta agree with Rottie on this one.
I guess it is just a prefrence.

[BoxerLover]

Ok, When I rescued Nikki from the Boxer Rescue place, she was 10 months old and she already had both procedures done to her. I am TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY AGAINST ear cropping on boxers and other dogs. It is unnecesary and very painful. The reason that breeders have ear cropping done today is just because of traditional looks of a fighting dog. This is totally inexusaeable (is that a word?). Now, about tail docking. I personally love Nikkis little tail! I thought it was extremely painful to them until I got Nikki's litters tails docked. They were 3 days old and their tails were just cartilage, so it wasnt painful. I am just saying that I like Nikki's tail, I wouldnt change it. Tail cropping is kind of neutral for me because I cant really make up my mind if it is good or bad.

[KYS]

Personal preference:

I prefer a natural look.

CROPPING: wouldn't do it.
DOCKING: I am neutral and will admit
that I like the look of docked tails on
certain breeds. I have been told that
docking has little or no pain, but I have
never had my tail docked, only my ears pierced.
FANCY Haircuts: To each his own.
I prefer the puppy cut.

[Angels3]

Originally posted by jackiesdaisy1935:
Angels3, how about ear cropping? Do they perform that on certain dogs?
Jackie

Jackie, I've never even heard of ear-cropping in Australia & I've been associated with dog shows, and rescue & animal welfare for years. And I've never even seen a dog with cropped ears (except in pictures). But the campaign is strong against tail-docking. Here's the press release from the RSPCA, our major animal welfare association. http://www.rspca.org.au/media_releas...-18-12-00.html



[This message has been edited by Angels3 (edited March 08, 2001).]