Wow, this was an interesting conversation on different view points, however, I think some people have taken others statements to mean that they are forcing their opinion ... which really doesn't read like that.
Chinchow, I'm in agreement with you on this. In the years I've been around dogs, I have yet to see a damaged tail from enviroment - behaviour problems, well thats a different story. Lets just think for a minute about wild dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes and other ferral canids. I'm not saying that dogs are the same creatures, but these guys all live in some pretty harsh conditions, and they seem to get around just fine with their tails.
I don't think Chinchow is trying to force her/his (sorry I'm fairly new and don't know many people on here) opinion on everyone, rather just making a case for one side, as some of you are making a case for the other.
However, in my own (researched) opinon i see that many people just like to follow with tradition, and do not like change ... which is fine, sometimes change is hard, and some standards would have to be slightly modified if docking, cropping were banned.
As I said in my previous post, I can handle the dock ... would rather have a full tail, but am not so against that. But the crop, on the other hand, can be rather cruel, and is a full surgery, and I just don't understand why someone would want to put such a young pup through a procedure like that just for looks. I have first hand knowledge of the crop, specifically the medium to long (show) crop of the doberman. Infection can set in, stiches need to be removed, ear infections happen alot due to the lack of air circulation in the ear cannal, depending on how the ears are taped, not to mention the task of taping, trying to get a naturally floppy ear to stand, there is pain afterwards and associated with the proceedure etc. etc. I do realize that some crops are easier, free standing crops than others (ie. the pit/staffie crop or the cane corso crop as opposed to the dane or dobbie crop), but I still see this procedure as unnessessary and somewhat cruel. Not that I'm telling any of you not to do it, just want to reiderate that this is only my opinion.
And a funny fact is, many regular folks think that dobermans (and I would imagine other breeds as well) ears come erect. There are a lot of people ignorant to the cropping proceedure, and I had tons of questions as to why my dobes ears were taped, whats wrong with them, don't they come standing straight up etc etc. Just an odd observation, and I guess may be a reason why a lot of people go along with it because they don't know any different/or better.
Oh well, JMO and not meant to offend anyone.