Ear and Tail Docking?

[Slayton]

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Just wondering your different views on ear and tail docking.

 

[verbal_kint]

Just wondering your different views on ear and tail docking.

check out: http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/animal_welfare/default.asp

 

[MossPoh]

I'm not prevet or anything just saw the post. The only real time I see it worth doing is if you are dead set on making it a show dog where if you don't you will be disqualified. I have a doberman and never got his ears or tail done, although when I was little my sheepdog did have her tail done. Overall I think it is generally worthless just as the website above says. If one is really into doing it then it MUST be by the proper person. I have seen too many poor dogs that have had idiots butcher their ears so they look meaner or just try to do it themselves to save money. Also the douches that put elastic bands around tails or cut them off with scissors makes me sick...

 

[HorseyVet]

I'm not prevet or anything just saw the post. The only real time I see it worth doing is if you are dead set on making it a show dog where if you don't you will be disqualified.

There are several breeds which are allowed to be shown with natural ears and tails, but the fact is that the almost always loose to dogs with them done. Until the judges change their perspective I doubt there is going to be much movement on that front which is a big hold up for change.

That being said, personally I think it should at this point remain legal to have these procedures done. There are always lobbies ongoing to make the practices illegal. Many vets who are against cropping simply opt to not perform the service, which is fine. However, especially with ear cropping...it's becoming a lost art and fewer vets are trained to do them well. The result is often either ears that do not stand or ears with very very little ear left (this happens in failed efforts to get them even). Both outcomes can be disastrous for the animal and its future.

One of the vets I shadowed did ears very well and at one point he said he practically had every boxer in 3 hours of his practice coming to him.