I have to ask, since you're very well researched and read about dogs, and I value your opinion on the matter... What do you think about cropping ears and docking tails?

Also, these are amazing sketches. I'm sure the owners of the pups really loved them!

My stance is very odd and long winded. Basically both had purpose before dogs were ever, ever shown, and injuries in both tails and ears did actually happen in certain lines of work. I don't value the eagle crop, or longer crops on dogs except for the fact it gives them a better chance in the show ring, thus a better chance at being bred, especially if they have something of value to offer a breeding program these days.

If you have a dog that is going to be working, and it is typical that they are cropped/docked, it should be done. If you have a breed that is likely to lean towards dog or same-sex aggression, I somewhat recommend it. If you're showing and you don't want a dog to have to fight against getting points, especially if you believe the dog is going to have something to offer, I highly suggest it. If you are just going to have a pet, cropping is a personal choice. Docking is done very early, and you can't really tell what's going to be a show or working prospect at 3 days, so it's likely to happen regardless in most cases. If you're iffy, go for a natural eared and tailed breed, there's plenty that are left intact.

People really don't understand the *real* reasons behind cropping either. They play up the 'to keep the ears from getting infected' bit, and that's not it, because the cropped breeds typically don't have nearly as heavy or wet ears like the spaniels(and their ears are quite heavy), it was out and about in the old days, an ear tear from a fight against another animal could get infected or bleed out and kill the dog if it was a livestock guard. Or that the ears were a weak point that a person could grab from a guard dog breed. Tails on low dogs or dogs with whip like tails that worked in brushy areas could easily break or tear and bleed. They could also be grabbed and yanked and that is messing with the spine.

Overall, I'm for it being kept legal. Tail injuries are nothing to muck with. And if a tail is injured and then a late dock is done, that's more stressful for the dog and THEN you have to prove it was done for medical reasons which is completely against the 'guilty until proven innocent' thing. -.- Arg.

Also, thanks. Some of them saw them, typically it was just a few handlers who did. I was pretty out of it at the show. x.x

A lot of those things are stuff I didn't know! I knew their basically was a reason back when dogs were worked.

The point of view from that of a breeder is also an interesting one!

I knew I could learn a bit about it if I brought up the subject to you.

Quite Pretty ^_^