What do you say to the people who give you flak for cropping and docking?

When I was younger, I used to think it was mean, only because I didn't realize its purpose.

My Aussie Shep is docked because it prevents some sort of illness her breed is susceptible to.

I don't necessarily support it being done for aesthetic purposes but I'm not necessarily against it either.

I think that as long as it's done when they're first born, it's okay.

I'm sort of neutral on this matter. I wish it didn't have to be done but if there's a benefit, why not?

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I think ANY dog's tail can bruise some people. Why do you assume that because you don't get any bruises from your dog's tail that no one ever would get a bruise from a dog's tail? I've gotten bruises from tails before, not from rotties, because most the rotties I know don't have tails(stubby things, not tails), but other similar dogs, including mixes, or labs, or other larger sized breeds have indeed bruised my legs, and arms in some cases.
I'm not saying to dock a dog's tail to prevent bruising your legs, but still, it can happen, and tails do indeed swipe stuff off tables in some cases too.
Again, if it's someone choice to dock a pup's tail, and it's not illegil, then they should go for it. If you don't want to dock your dog's tail, then leave it.

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You're making some major leaps. I was talking about the tail of a Rottweiler- not any dog's tail. I was speaking from experience with my rottie and other people's rotties who have tails. Nope- no bruising on anyone. Their tails just aren't like that. I have experience with this and so I am telling my experience.

I think that if a person can bruise so easily maybe they should get a cat ;)

I have apbt's and all of their ears are cropped ( for cosmetic only) I just think it really brings their looks out as with dobi's. PPL will always find something to complain at other people about. Also theres alot of very cynical and hypocritical PPL out there that really have crap else to do .

I showed Danes for years. I don't like putting them thru the process. But after a few days they're fine. It makes such a gorgeous head piece. I've had uncropped danes, but I will always favor cropped. I would rather see an animal cropped and docked then abused or neglected. People normally get the breeds that are cropped because they like the look. Here is one of my past kids.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...oose/Marty.jpg

That's a nice looking Dane!

As far as the tails go- my GSD can wag his tail with fury, but it never hurts you. It's got thick fur on it and that softens the blows when they hit you. The Dane's tail is like a whip, and she wags it so hard that it hits her on each side with a loud "thump".

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Originally Posted by starmom

You're making some major leaps. I was talking about the tail of a Rottweiler- not any dog's tail. I was speaking from experience with my rottie and other people's rotties who have tails. Nope- no bruising on anyone. Their tails just aren't like that. I have experience with this and so I am telling my experience.

I think that if a person can bruise so easily maybe they should get a cat ;)

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Is a Rottie a fairly large dog? Does their tail wag?

Are you going to tell us that because it tends to curv up, this can not happen?

http://www.dogsindepth.com/working_d...eiler_id73.jpg

Our pup D.O.G has a tail that behaves in much the same fashion as a Rotties does, It has cleared our coffee table, knocked over our youngest (the kid learned to stay out from behind the dog, and the dog learned not to stay put if the kid was behind him), and several other things.

I am only relaying my experiences :)

A Rotties tail is not like a pits tail and is more like a golden's tail (again, relaying my direct experiences). My rottie has not knocked things over with his tail, has not knocked over any of my grandchildren with his tail, and has never caused pain and/or bruising with his tail.

As for size, my rottie is 1.5 years of age, is a male, and currently weighs 110 pounds.

Will I say it will never happen? Lol!! I am old enough to know to never say never!! Can I say it has not happened with my rottie? Yes.

Thanks for the comments everyone! It's been too long since I checked on the thread otherwise I would respond to everyone individually. I went to a hockey game on Sat, and a Globe Trotters game yesterday :banana:

I will say that we wanted a dobe because of their brains and their look. Like I said before I wouldn't have bought her from a breeder that didn't crop/dock her dogs.

I hate those people who think cropping & docking is bad! The cutting and shaping of the tail and ears goes way back in history... After so long of a certain type of dog getting its ears cropped and tail docked, its become tradition :) And you should never break a tradition :) For instance, i hate the look of a rottie with its tail...The reason the tails were cut in the first place was because farmers kept their money sacks strapped to their back, and a criminal wasnt able to grab the dogs tail to hold it an grab the money sack... Back in history these parts were altered by humans for certatin tasks and have become as i said Traditon... I have an Mastiff, and naturally they are soo BIG and SCARY looking, that back, hundreds of years ago, when they were used as guard dogs they didnt need to be altered to look scarier... lol But smaller mastiffs such as cane corsos in Italy had their ears and tail cut to look scarier because they weren't as big... I know in few years when i get a Baby Italian Mastiff, the ears are getting Professionally cropped, and the tail is getting cropped... Again, Tradition comes into play :)

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Originally Posted by DBD

I hate those people who think cropping & docking is bad! The cutting and shaping of the tail and ears goes way back in history... After so long of a certain type of dog getting its ears cropped and tail docked, its become tradition :) And you should never break a tradition :)

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Tradition, like slavery, voting rights, dictatorships, torture, among other things?

I don't really give a hoot about tradition. Doing something just because it has been done before isn't very logical.