Opinion on Ear lopping/tail docking

[cassie]

I always removed the dew claws on my puppies when they were a day or two old. I considered them to be a nuisance. I am really not a fan of ear cropping, but it does help prevent ear infections. I am neutral when it comes to tail docking. If it was up to me, I would just leave the tails alone.

 

[Squawkers]

I don't have any problem with docking or cropping. People have their reasons for it whether it be usefulness or appearance. Although since I worked at a vet clinic, it does make me a sad. The screams of the puppies as their bones are cut in half and the wounds cauterized is almost unbearable.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I love the looks of docked tails and cropped ears, to the point where I probably will not get a Doberman because they look weird to me without the modification. BUT I also can't justify a reason why I would need them done, so I won't. It's just like munchkin cats to me - I love the look, but cannot justify the issues/potential pain that come with how they look.

Dew claws are a bit different from what I've read. Some are attached, and some are floating, depending on the dog. The floating ones seem to be the ones commonly removed for safety reasons, so if I got a puppy that I knew had floating ones, I'd probably get them removed. I also wouldn't be bothered to the point of looking elsewhere if a breeder I liked removed them when the puppies were still just a few days old.

 

[cassie]

I don't have any problem with docking or cropping. People have their reasons for it whether it be usefulness or appearance. Although since I worked at a vet clinic, it does make me a sad. The screams of the puppies as their bones are cut in half and the wounds cauterized is almost unbearable.

Good grief!! At what age is this being done? If the puppies are just a few days old the tails are just cartilage, there is only a drop or two of blood, and the puppies hardly notice.

 

[Squawkers]

Good grief!! At what age is this being done? If the puppies are just a few days old the tails are just cartilage, there is only a drop or two of blood, and the puppies hardly notice.

I’m not entirely certain of the age, but if that is the case then it was always done too late where I worked. I never didn’t hear them scream.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I’m not entirely certain of the age, but if that is the case then it was always done too late where I worked. I never didn’t hear them scream.

I was at the vet waiting once while boxer pups were getting docked. I could tell when the actual docking took place by the loud squeal, but they quickly quieted down.

As a boxer owner I'd rather they experience that momentary pain than the pain of a tail injury later in life. Those boxer tails are no joke. I see some are leaving them on, but I wouldn't want to risk it. Wagging injuries are a real thing, especially in close quarters.

 

[Squawkers]

I was at the vet waiting once while boxer pups were getting docked. I could tell when the actual docking took place by the loud squeal, but they quickly quieted down.

As a boxer owner I'd rather they experience that momentary pain than the pain of a tail injury later in life. Those boxer tails are no joke. I see some are leaving them on, but I wouldn't want to risk it. Wagging injuries are a real thing, especially in close quarters.

Yeah, I know they have uses I have seen tail injuries at the vet before also.

 

[Seaslug]

I just want to preface: you did ask for opinions...
I am against ear cropping and tail docking. And I do believe that most of the reason behind it is visual but justified as structural.

Tails are important to dogs; they are a major way for the animal to communicate. Indeed, some breeds may be docked in order to keep their signal ambiguous because the dogs are meant to be threatening. Too many amputated dogs remain sensitive to the amputation for their entire lives.

The AVMA states it clearly. "In the largest study to date on tail injuries in dogs the incidence was 0.23% and it was calculated that approximately 500 dogs need to be docked to prevent one tail injury." "Tail docking is painful. The intensity or duration of the pain under ideal or typical circumstances is difficult to quantify. Painful procedures conducted in the neonatal period when the nervous system is vulnerable can result in negative long-term changes which affect how pain is processed and perceived later in life." There is no compelling reason backed by research to justify docking.

As for dew claws... I believe it was Clear Run that did an article on how a dog utilizes the dew claws when doing agility and lure coursing.

 

[TOMTE]

My grandparents have removed the dew claws off of all of their huskies as pups because, according to them, as working dogs, the risk of injury while pulling sleds and whatnot is fairly high. There have been no ill effects that I am aware of.

I agree with seaslug about tail docking. There's really no good reason for it that's beneficial to the dog. If the tail is injured later and has to be amputated then so be it, but tails are important for balance and communication. And I'd imagine that because the tail is an extension of the spine, docking causes spinal issues down the road.

It's like declawing a cat, which would be the equivalent of having your fingers cut off at the first knuckle. A declawed cat is more likely to have behavioral issues because 1) it can't properly defend itself by scratching or climbing to safety, and 2) it causes discomfort and excruciating pain. It's sad and infuriating when I see pictures of front declawed cats standing/walking on their hind legs and it's treated as cute; it isn't cute, they are IN PAIN! They're avoiding standing on their front paws because they HURT! I can see how it would be the same sort of deal for a dog with a docked tail, who might be in pain, and can't fully communicate.

Ear cropping can prevent ear infection in floppy eared dogs... But so does keeping the outer and middle ear clean of fur and debris. If ear infections are a regular thing and your vet recommends cropping, sure. Otherwise, is there really a good reason for it?

 

[lagrange chicks]

Yes docking tails and cropping ears make the puppy cry but so does what some baby boys go through, they cry also.