All the barbaric custom of tail docking and ear cropping is is a throwback to the days of dog fighting and bear baiting. A damnable horid thing to do to an animal!
A dog’s tail is one way they communicate. The way a tail is positioned signals to other dogs what it’s attitude is along with body language. As for tails getting caught in car doors, tail docking goes further back when there were no cars. Because the breeds specific to the practice were always seen with docked tails, it was put in the breed standard to be done. I see no real reason to dock tails or crop ears. Both should be outlawed and the breed standards will have to be changed to describe the natural ears and tails of those breeds. The exceptions will be those breeds that are born with naturally short tails.
cbrsarah: More than those valid points, the tail is part of the spinal column and docking is damage to the spinal chord. “Health” is an excuse more often than reason. Witness its use in restricting barefooted humans as well as animal tails.
I take it you own Doberman’s ? I would think the nearly soulless eyes of Satans favorite breed would be enough of an insentive to stay safely away from them. But I digress. Most of them I have been associated with have been very friendly, thinking themselves to be lap dogs. It was only when they were approached when no one was home that their baser instincts were revealed. Went to my dad’s once when no one was there. Knocked on the door a couple times then leaned down to look inside and there was Zeke, my dad’s doberman, just sitting there calmly. Staring right back at me thru the window. Almost daring me to come inside. I swear he was almost grinning. LOL. His eyes looked like dead black pools. Like a sharks, but more intelligent. I loved that dog.
clivia grana almost 13 years ago
i concur!
Dani Rice almost 13 years ago
I never saw the point to tail docking. Our vet won’t do it.
cdward almost 13 years ago
Agree with all the above.
teddyr almost 13 years ago
All the barbaric custom of tail docking and ear cropping is is a throwback to the days of dog fighting and bear baiting. A damnable horid thing to do to an animal!
sacldczoo almost 13 years ago
Not if they are kept under proper control.
cbrsarah almost 13 years ago
A dog’s tail is one way they communicate. The way a tail is positioned signals to other dogs what it’s attitude is along with body language. As for tails getting caught in car doors, tail docking goes further back when there were no cars. Because the breeds specific to the practice were always seen with docked tails, it was put in the breed standard to be done. I see no real reason to dock tails or crop ears. Both should be outlawed and the breed standards will have to be changed to describe the natural ears and tails of those breeds. The exceptions will be those breeds that are born with naturally short tails.
hippogriff almost 13 years ago
cbrsarah: More than those valid points, the tail is part of the spinal column and docking is damage to the spinal chord. “Health” is an excuse more often than reason. Witness its use in restricting barefooted humans as well as animal tails.
JudyShelton almost 13 years ago
Euorpean Dog shows dont allow cropping or docking for the most part.
sfburke almost 13 years ago
Not to mention the Labrador tail, which is the perfect height to sweep everything in sight off the coffee table in one pass.
hippogriff almost 13 years ago
Either keep the Lab outdoors in its natural habitat, or don’t put things on a coffee table when the Lab is in the room.
Rick Sickelsmith almost 13 years ago
I absolutely agree that this senseless and inhumane procedure should be outlawed. In no way does it benefit the dog. I’m a veterinarian.
rotts almost 13 years ago
AMEN!
steelersneo about 12 years ago
I take it you own Doberman’s ? I would think the nearly soulless eyes of Satans favorite breed would be enough of an insentive to stay safely away from them. But I digress. Most of them I have been associated with have been very friendly, thinking themselves to be lap dogs. It was only when they were approached when no one was home that their baser instincts were revealed. Went to my dad’s once when no one was there. Knocked on the door a couple times then leaned down to look inside and there was Zeke, my dad’s doberman, just sitting there calmly. Staring right back at me thru the window. Almost daring me to come inside. I swear he was almost grinning. LOL. His eyes looked like dead black pools. Like a sharks, but more intelligent. I loved that dog.