Dear Critter Corner: I was recently surprised to learn that Doberman Pinscher dogs have naturally long and curly tails and floppy ears. Every one I had previously seen has a short bobtail and sharp, pointy ears. What is the point of cutting their tails and ears?

The process of removing a dog’s tail is commonly referred to as “docking,” while the removal of the flaps on a dog’s ears is referred to as “cropping.” Docking is done to young puppies within days after birth, with the argument that they will not remember it and heal quickly. They will yelp in pain during the procedure. Cropping is done within the first few months of a puppy’s life.

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As for why, the most common arguments are that working dogs can often get their tails caught in rough brush that may lead to severe injuries, while cropping is supposed to reduce ear infections. However, there is no scientific evidence to confirm the theory of reduced ear infections and the number of injuries prevented by the docking of a tail is statistically miniscule.

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The main benefits are less targets for dogfighting, which is inhumane and banned in all 50 states. The reality is that most animals are surgically altered for cosmetic purposes. People want their Doberman, Rottweiler, etc. to have a certain look. Many of these dogs used to have cropped ears and docked tails as their respective countries Kennel Clubs’ breed standard. However, across many countries across the world, over the past few years, Kennel Clubs have been no longer accepting animals with cosmetic alterations to participate in shows. The United States remains unrestricted (meaning it allows the practice) in its legal status regarding docking tails and cropping ears. However, many veterinary clinics in the U.S. will refuse to do the procedure for cosmetic purposes and will charge exorbitant rates for “medical” surgeries to phase them out.

Daniel Levit is the Assistant for the Behavior and Training Department at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For more information, visit www.PHS-SPCA.org, call 650-340-7022, ext. 416, or e-mail [email protected].

Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY