I think they're so much prettier when they're natural.
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Its only for show and that is it. So it is up to you.
to be mean : (
i don’t know why some people like it. it sounds like it hurts.
The purpose is some people get caught up in “you do it because it’s always been done”- just because something is traditional doesn’t mean it’s the right thing. The tails were originally docked so that they wouldn’t hurt it- but as a pet life is alot easier then it was then and it is not necessary. I have no idea if the ears served an original purpose.
for show like showdogs. poodles are cropped, too. so are a lot of other dogs.
I prefer the ears the way the good Lord made em as well. It’s just people who have their own set of canine esthetics and think cutting and snipping body parts to some standard in a book is OK. I really can’t see it helping already acute hearing.
Dobie’s were used to guard people, not things, people. They followed people around, kind of like a walking panic siren. Their ears were cropped to make them loook more scary and unlike any other dog around, no other dog has tal thin pointy ears except a mini pinscher.
It is merely for show reasons. I have a minature pinscher and a miniature schnauzer and both of them have their tails docked (since the breeder did that), but I never really wanted to get their ears clipped. I have seen one Schnauzer in a show without its ears clipped on Animal Planet and I wish they would allow it more often. Its just a personal choice I guess.
The original reason is because dobermans were bred as personal protection animals.
Smaller ears give a person less to grab onto and hurt the dog, same with docked tail. Having either broken is very painful to the dog and will make many guard dogs back off in pain.
No natural breed of dog has floppy ears, as breeders seeking to create the different dog breeds some have resulted in floppy ears. In some cases this is a + for example in hunting/tracking animals the floppy ears can help to funnel scent from the ground to the nose. In others it is just a side effect of the breeds used to create the new breed and not a desirable trait.
Dogs with pricked ears also hear better. They are also believed to suffer less ear infections than hanging ears because it increases air cirulation. Shar-pei are a perfect example of a breed that should have small tight fitting to the head hanging ears and they are notorious for yeast infections.
The show standard does call for ears “normally cropped and erect” based on the purpose the dog was originally bred for. Whether this is of benifit to the average pet is highly debatable since they are not as often depending on the pet for protection.
Some countries have outlawed docking and cropping. Some consider it mutilation but then most baby boys are circumsized shortly after birth before they are old enough to consent and in some places that is also considered mutilation.
Hanging ears look better than cropped and unposted ears that do not stand. Before cropping always consider whether you are willing to spend the money and months needed to post or don’t put the dog through it for nothing.
Some do feel the cropped ears make a dog more intimidating looks wise. Many breeders feel that a cropped dobe is easier to place if the original buyer can not keep them. Most responsible breeders have a right of first refusal in the contract so they can screen/insure a good home for the pup whos owner needs to rehome. Any responsible breeder will always take any pup back before letting it go to a shelter or pound.
Most respectable breeders crop before placing pups, don’t fault everyone you see with a cropped dog for it, the breeder likely cropped and it’s just being a responsible owner to care for them till they stand properly.
Cropping a dogs ears does not affect its ability to communicate if anything it increases it. If it did then it would also affect all naturally pricked ear breeds. Pricked ear dogs natural or cropped can turn ears, lay them back etc. Hanging ear dogs have a harder time showing they are unhappy because the ears already hang (shows not feeling good in a pricked ear dog) and they can not lay them back to warn others human or dog that they are pushing too far.
Tails are docked by 3 days old and some dogs without docked tails do still injure them and it is very painful.
I agree with you. Dogs use their tails and ears to communicate with other dogs and altering them make it harder for these dogs to do. This can lead to miscommunication and make it harder for the dogs to get along with other dogs.
It was the standard for the breed for a long time and is intended to give the dog a certain more intense look. But I prefer naturals too.
I wish I knew…I personally think that the AKC and other clubs need to modify the guidlines for the breeds that currently get their ears cropped and tails docked….and to stop it.
It is part of the show and makes the dogs look more aggressive. With shorter ears and tail, there is less to grab onto in a fight.
Obviously, as you’ve stated… there is no good, practical reason for the surgery.
Cropping the ears and docking the tail is the the breed standard. This must be done if you are planing on showing this breed of dog. Thats it. Alot of breeders dock the tails, as for ear croping it usually is up to the owners to pay to get this done. Some people do it just to get the mean look out of the doberman.
Its for show….and nobody is screaming TORTURE about that are they.
there is no real purpose…it is simply a “look” and a good breeder would have these done…because it is what the “standard” says…however if you do not wish to show the dog and you prefer the look of the long ears and long tail…ask the breeder to not have this done on your puppy.
Like other dog breeds that are cropped and docked, such as Boxers, Great danes, etc…….it serves both a utilitarian and aesthetic purpose. Originally bred as working, guard and protection dogs, the ears and tails were something that someone could grab onto. Also the erect look of the cropped ear creates a more agile, noble and fierce look. Now , it is a matter of opinion, but I love the look of the agile, noble Cropped Doberman. If you want long, pendulating ears- then stick with a hound dog . The tail is more for health purposes. Long tails can be harmed more easily , causing pain and damage to the dog.
And isn’t it wonderful that if you live in the US/Canada that you have the freedom to make the choice instead of being dictated to by a bunch of narrow minded animal rights people that have nothing better to do that take away your right to choose
and know little or nothing about animals but are simply trying to make their lacking senses of self feel better by whinning about something they are wholey ignorant of in the first place.
The purpose is that it is a guard dog breed and the cropped ears and docked tail provide less of a handhold in a one on one situation. Whether you think it is ‘prettier’ or not doesn’t matter.
Also ‘natural’ is the way ‘nature’ allows for which is in ALL animals to have erect ears – it is when man has selectively bred that the UNnatural dropped ears occur – dropped ears allow for problems with hygeine and auricular capabilities.
BTW, no responsible breeder allows for some potential puppy buyer to dictate how they best care for their puppies – whether it be health, structure or temperament, the buyer doesn’t get to put their special order in like at a Jack In The Box.
The breed standard calls for cropped and erect ears.. docked tails and dewclaws removed.
In the past, the ears were cropped because the Doberman was used as a guard dog… The cropped ears and docked tail gave a burglar or criminal less to grab if trying to get the dog.
The Doberman has a long thin tail that is very prone to damage if left natural.. Docking the tail at 2 -3 days of age when it causes no pain, is far more humane than having the tail AMPUTATED later when he breaks it.
You will never get a dog with a natural tail from a good breeder.. The tails are done at 2-3 days of age. There is no way to determine which puppy in the litter is best for your life, experience, situation etc at 2-3 days of age.
Some breeders will leave the ears natural for you.. IF you put down a deposit before the rest of the litter goes in for ear cropping.
Most people want the ears cropped.. If for any reason you are to get back a Doberman as an adult, it’s far easier to find a new home for him if his ears are cropped and standing than it is for an adult with natural ears.. So if for whatever reason the puppy isn’t sold before the litter goes in for ear cropping, he is going to get cropped no matter what.. They can only be done at a certain time.. Can’t sit around waiting to see what people want.
There are far worse things going on out there than cropped ears and docked tails. The abuse people put their pets thru each day here on YA is far worse than ears and tails.. Tying a dog in the yard is worse, the guy whose ‘stud dog ‘ that is infested with fleas is far worse.. The people who won’t take their dogs to the vet when they are so obviously sick, is far worse than tail docking and ear cropping.
People breeding their mutts, or allowing their dogs that are obviously not breed quality to have litters, no homes, no care no vaccinations no worming and everything else.. FAR worse than ear cropping and tail docking..
Dogs that are cropped and docked no matter what you think about it, are being done because someone cares. At least they are being taken care of, are being seen by the vet.. It’s far better than alot of the dogs around here…
You might not like cropped ears or docked tail, but lots of people do.. I don’t like it when people get their dog debarked, but it’s their decision.. I don’t like it when people walk their dog without a leash, but they still do it.. Walking your dog down the street without a leash is far more inhumane and dangerous than cropped ears and docked tails.
People do NOT get the ears done because it makes the Doberman look more ‘ mean ‘ in most cases, they want it done because that’s what they expect the Doberman to look like. Personal preference, and honestly, I think it’s none of anyone’s business what someone else decides to do, as long as people aren’t abusing or neglecting their dogs…
I think people that don’t train their dogs, or don’t socialize their dogs are abusive and neglectful.. Dobermans heal, they go on to live good lives.. Dogs that are not trained and socialized go on to terrorize and bite, and they are fearful and live horribly scary lives..
If you like natural ears and tail, get a lab.. You want a piece of crap Doberman with tail left natural you’ll have to get those from bybers and puppymills.. No breeder is going to leave tails natural and decide which puppy is the best for you at such a young age.. There is no sense whining and complaining about ears and tails.. It’s part of the breed standard, and if you don’t have one.. you have no reason to complain.. Don’t look at them if you don’t like it… I happen to think it stupid to dress your dogs up.. and parade them all over town.. I don’t stop people and tell them that, I roll my eyes and look away.. Do the same thing with cropped ears and docked tails.. Keep your opinions to yourself..
I agree. In Austria it is illegal to crop ears and cut tail of dogs.
Both the ears and tail are copped and docked for their role as a protection dog. When breeding them Louis Dobermann had trouble breeding in nautrally prick ears and bob tails. Dobermans are an extremely streamlined dog. They dont have floppy lips so that you cant grab onto them, they have short slick coats so their coats cant be grabbed on, their ears were cropped to become less of a handle as were their tails docked so they couldn’t be broken. Most dobermans have unusually LONG , skinny and brittle tails. Many of the undocked adults I know have broken their tails at least once or suffered hematoma’s. They are extremely painful and at least 2 that i know had to have their tails amputated (it’s considered amputation after a certain age). This left them with phantom pain and other problems because they had grown used to having a tail. Docking is done on a puppy at 3-4 days old, before the cartilage of the tail becomes bone. It’s not painful (i’ve been there while it was done and there wasn’t a squeak heard) when done by a knowledgable vet and they won’t remember it. I compare it to circumcision(done in hospitals). Ears are cropped for the same reason as tails are docked but in todays world it doesnt serve quite as much function. I had the breeder do my fawn females ears because their coloring is close to a weimaraner’s and I didn’t want her mistaken for a weim since many dobermans dont appreciate people running up to them and petting them, (ended up not being the case with my girl lol) so i wanted her to LOOK like a doberman to avoid possible bites. Also, many dobermans with natural ears suffer from ear infections because they have relatively long floppy ears. Those types of ears are prone to infection whereas a cropped ear almost never gets infected. I also had my males ears done because he is more aggressive than my girl and againi wanted it to be VERY clear that he is a doberman and i was there when he had the surgury. At first i had him on pain medicaton but soon realized it wasn’t necissary. he acted like nothing happened at all. Dobies are a VERY sweet loving dog, but they (mine) are first and foremost my protectors. I live by myself down the street from some not so nice apartments and I picked a dobie because not only are they PROTECTIVE they are cuddly and loving goobers. I know that if the occasion ever arises the will be there but I think for the most part they are enough of a visual deterrent to scare off anybody that might think of harming me. The ears and tail add to this appearance and i’m all for it.
I also want to say that my girl had FAR more trouble with her spay surgury than her ear crop. And my last foster dog was at my home because of serious complications with his neuter. Most people think that these are necissary surguries but I feel they are just as optional and far more traumatic than either ear cropping OR tail docking.
no reason its all about the look
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