To crop or not to crop?

[PinkSunshine]

I like the look of cropped and docked dogs.

We owned an APBT that had his ears cropped. My fiance had it done when he was a puppy because he liked the look.

I own 2 yorkies who both have docked tails. It's breed standard. And I bought them with intentions on showing, so in order to win, they have to fit the standard.

[Suki Wingy]

and that is just why we still crop here in America! To keep the breed as it was, or better them for their jobs

[cloverfdx]

But how many dogs are atully still doing what they were bred to do? not that many. Croping serves no purpose in the show ring.

[Kenley's Cat Lady]

I am totally against cropping or docking, I had dobies years ago and I loved thier ears so soft and velvety, unfortunatley tails were docked before I got them, but those ears! This picture is over 20 years old. (My son would kill me if he knew I was posting it!)

[nicanc724]

i heard that cropping a dog's ears is the most painful surgery a dog could go through...in my opinion if it is not necessary i wouldn't do it to my child or my dog!!!! If thier ears were meant to be cropped they would have been born with them cropped....

[.sarah]

and that is just why we still crop here in America! To keep the breed as it was, or better them for their jobs

Not meaning to start a riot, but this is a very stupid reason. Great Danes were bred to hunt wild boar - don't see any Danes doing that these days.

Cropping is unneccessary, whether for show or not. If your dog is doing a job and can be injured, then I'm all for it. But in most cases it is done for looks, which is just selfish. Your dog did not ask to go through pain so he could "look good" so why subject him to that? If you are showing your dog you do not need to crop the ears in order to win (maybe there is a breed that still requires this but I am not sure), so why do it?

Hunting breeds like Vizslas, GSPs, etc. that have docked tails are some of the few I agree with. Their tails are often injured doing their job.

[cloverfdx]

I agree 100% Sarah. Thats what i was trying to "say" but you worded it alot better than me .

[Lori Jordan]

I have an Aussie with a cropped tail some i hear have a natural bob is what they call it i think my aussies would look different with tails im so used to them not having one.

[Cataholic]

I wonder....if other countries (or, is it just the land down under?) are beginning to ban cropping of ears/tails....isn't there a reason for it? Americans are the last people on earth to change their habits...we are so ridiculously stuck with 'well, it is OUR right to do it...'. Ugh.

Cropping is as wrong as declawing.

[Suki Wingy]

in the UK cropped ears is an imediate DQ from the show ring or ever showing again, so it's not just Australia. Declawing, on the other hand, I'm against unless it is the last thing keeping a cat in his family. My grandma declawed Seamus when my aunt moved in because he was "playing too roughly" with her cats. Otherwise he would be off the the shelter.

[K9soul]

I wonder....if other countries (or, is it just the land down under?) are beginning to ban cropping of ears/tails....isn't there a reason for it?

According to one site that listed countries who have banned cropping and/or docking, here is a list of some: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa (From 2007, vets will not be permitted to dock), and Virgin Islands.

More are being added all the time. California is working to ban the practice in California. More on that here: http://www.thepetprofessor.com/press/press.aspx?id=1807

Here's another informative link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docking

"The tradition of docking dogs originates in the old Roman empire where worms in the tail of the dog were thought to cause rabies. This belief led to the tradition of cutting off the tail as a preventive measure."

[Cataholic]

K9Soul- thank you for such factual data!!! (or, is that a redundant phrase?)

There has got to be better treatment for pets....

[CagneyDog]

Here's another informative link: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docking[/url]

Wikipedia isn't a reputable site. Lots of information on there is completely false.

[K9soul]

Umm I read the article and found it to be objective and no false information, with plenty of facts you can find on many other websites about docking and cropping. I felt it summarized it nice and simply without going into rabid arguments for or against it. Maybe you could point out what in that article was incorrect or false information. If you feel it's the part about where docking originated as a means to prevent rabies, that is easily proved or disproved by looking around more. Here are some more sites that give that bit of info.

http://www.schnauzerclub.co.uk/docking.shtml

http://www.pethealth.com.au/index.cf...wysiwyg_id=159

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/pro.../LA20040406004

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/d...ingdocking.htm

to name just a few.

I never said "use wikipedia to research any questions." I said that particular article was informative on docking/cropping and why it was started, and what countries are banning it etc. I swear people just look for things to nitpick on here sometimes and it makes me hesitant to even post lately.

[CagneyDog]

Umm I read the article and found it to be objective and no false information, with plenty of facts you can find on many other websites about docking and cropping. I felt it summarized it nice and simply without going into rabid arguments for or against it. Maybe you could point out what in that article was incorrect or false information. If you feel it's the part about where docking originated as a means to prevent rabies, that is easily proved or disproved by looking around more. Here are some more sites that give that bit of info.

http://www.schnauzerclub.co.uk/docking.shtml

http://www.pethealth.com.au/index.cf...wysiwyg_id=159

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/pro.../LA20040406004

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/d...ingdocking.htm

to name just a few.

I never said "use wikipedia to research any questions." I said that particular article was informative on docking/cropping and why it was started, and what countries are banning it etc. I swear people just look for things to nitpick on here sometimes and it makes me hesitant to even post lately.

No need to get hasty. I didn't even read the info, I just wanted to warn people that it may not be correct. In no way, k9soul, was this some personal attack on you. No need to question posting on Pet talk because of this! You are a highly valued member!
All I know is that Wikepedia is banned from using in almost every school around here because of the incorrect info. Every bit of information I have seen from that site has been incorrect or twisted in some sort of way. Maybe this is different though!

I swear people just look for things to nitpick on here sometimes and it makes me hesitant to even post lately.

I also think that a big problem is that people blow friendly statements out of proportion!