What are your views on cropping and docking?

[Julee]

This is a pretty big board, so I figured it'd be a cool question to ask. Keep it civil, please.

[CatStina]

Unless done for medical reasons, I am against both. This goes for declawing and devocalization, as well.

[Julee]

Looks like we're on the same page, Stina.

[Airn]

I don't understand the reason for it?

So, until someone can give me some logical reasons, I'm not really for it.

But I'm also the type who believes if you need to mess with your breed, you probably shouldn't have that breed. (Excluding 'bettering' genetics. Avoiding deaf and blind genes, etc.)

[Laurelin]

We've had this discussion a lot. My opinion is meh. I would rather have a dog left natural with ears/tail/dewclaws. However I am looking at a couple breeds that are altered- one is docked, and the other is docked/cropped traditionally. I would not turn down the right dog from either breed if it were cropped or docked. I am more concerned with how good the breeder/breeding is and if the dog is the right fit.

[Linds]

Personal choice and preference. I would hate to see it banned and I refuse to villainize people who crop and/or dock.

I do think sometimes people romanticize it more than it needs to and I would like to hear "I did it because I prefer how it looks" more often because I think deep down that's the truth for most people's decision to crop or dock. But I don't fault them for that at all.

There are some breed I like the look of cropped/docked and others I like not cropped/docked.

[JacksonsMom]

Originally Posted by CatStina

Unless done for medical reasons, I am against both. This goes for declawing and devocalization, as well.

Pretty much me. But by me being personally against, I'm not saying I think it should be banned necessarily either.

[AdrianneIsabel]

The same way I feel about altering. It's not needed, nor ideal in most cases, but a personal preference and not to be villainized.

[Michiyo-Fir]

If it's done responsibly, I see no problems with it. If I were getting a breed such as a Dobe, I would crop and dock.

I only have a problem with people doing it themselves without the proper knowledge. For example.. We have a BYB neighbor that docked their poodle puppies' tails themselves with scissors........... I think they were reported to animal control after.

[Lizmo]

Originally Posted by Linds

Personal choice and preference. I would hate to see it banned and I refuse to villainize people who crop and/or dock.

^this, exactly.