What breeds do you aesthetically prefer "altered"?

[GaelicBlues]

Our Brittany is docked (WAY too short IMO). I would have a Brittany with a tail but my husband who takes her hunting in some pretty rough country prefers her docked although agrees the dock could be longer. They also come in a NBT which of the ones I have seen pictures of they are also really short. I presume that is why when they docked they are docked so short, so they match.

I live in a country where cropping is banned but aesthetically I prefer boxers and dobes docked. But I prefer Rotties with tails.

 

[Paviche]

The more time that passes, the more I dislike crops, both for ethical reasons (which I won't go into since this isn't the thread) and also because I think they look weird. They look so unnatural and I think they move oddly. Cropped Dobes and Danes can look really nice in still photos, but as soon as I see them in motion, I'm turned off. Doesn't mean I don't like the dog itself, I just wish the ears were natural. I strongly prefer natural ears in just about every breed except Beaucerons. For some reason I think a Beauc crop is as aesthetically appealing as their natural ears.

Tails... eh. So many of the breeds that I like have docked tails. I think they're cute and I love Rowan's nub, but I think they look just as nice natural in most if not all breeds.

 

[Ozfozz]

Doberman is the only breed that I really prefer the dock/crop. Their ears are too houndy IMO when natural, and their tails are just unappealing.

I prefer cropped in *some* Beaucerons. I don't know enough about their lines to pinpoint which ones, but from what I've seen the more slender built Beaucerons I like with a crop, but the thicker faced ones look better natural.

 

[amberdyan]

The more time that passes, the more I dislike crops, both for ethical reasons (which I won't go into since this isn't the thread) and also because I think they look weird. They look so unnatural and I think they move oddly. Cropped Dobes and Danes can look really nice in still photos, but as soon as I see them in motion, I'm turned off. Doesn't mean I don't like the dog itself, I just wish the ears were natural. I strongly prefer natural ears in just about every breed except Beaucerons. For some reason I think a Beauc crop is as aesthetically appealing as their natural ears.

Tails... eh. So many of the breeds that I like have docked tails. I think they're cute and I love Rowan's nub, but I think they look just as nice natural in most if not all breeds.

I haven't seen enough dobermans to agree for sure (I never see them in our area) but I love crops when I see pictures of them. However, there is one dobe at our dog park who has cropped ears and it looks really weird. They move weird and I don't like them, but I always thought it was because they're so short. Most of the crops I see here on chaz are tall hears, and this dog has a short, triangular crop. It's weird.

 

[Beanie]

Beanie, I love prick eared shelties!

THEY DON'T EVEN FIT IN THE PHOTO THEY ARE SO BIG
NOOOOO

 

[Elrohwen]

I agree about liking the look of cropped dobes in photos, but in person I'm not a fan. They move differently than a naturally prick earred dog.

 

[Julee]

THEY DON'T EVEN FIT IN THE PHOTO THEY ARE SO BIG
NOOOOO

Yeeeeees.

 

[Laurelin]

I much prefer natural ears on shelties. Do not like the folded over look even though that's what Trey had.

I do not like beauceron crops at all. It just looks like a weird Doberman to me. The short crop doesn't seem to fit their head shape either.

Pyr shep crops (straight across the top) are weird too.

With dobes I like a good show crop though still would rather have natural ears if I ever got a dobe. I just am so so so picky about crops and I NEVER see good crop jobs on dobes in real life unless it's a show dog. They're always absolutely butchered looking. It makes me wonder why people bother cropping if they're just going to a vet that does a crap job. Dobermans are definitely the breed I see most really bad crops on. Well... crops that I notice because they're so bad. I think it must be because they're generally longer. Seems easier to mess up badly.

 

[release the hounds]

I really do prefer a natural dog in almost all instances. My friend has some nice Rotties and when I don't see tails, they look odd now.

I'd say Dobermans just don't look the same without being cropped and docked. I'm not a fan of cropping and docking, not really against it either, just not something I'd ever choose, but an cropped Dobe with a tail doesn't look right and an uncropped and un docked dobe doesn't look right either.

I like how they look natural, it's just the other looks much more intimidating and fits how I'd picture a Doberman being cropped and docked.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I do prefer naturally pricked ears I think now. I used to like floppy ears better. But I don't know. To me the one thing that I wish Border Terriers had was pricked ears! Then they'd be PERFECT lol. but I can deal with that. And even with the docked tails, it's not something I sit and dwell on but I still would prefer natural. Though certain terrier breeds, I do think the dock looks nice, like Rat Terriers.

 

[Beanie]

I much prefer natural ears on shelties. Do not like the folded over look even though that's what Trey had.

Auggie's ears are naturally folded over LOL.

One of Payton's ears is natural, I kept trying to set it to break lower but NOPE it was gonna do what it was gonna do. Every serious confo person is always like "Boy it's a shame about that ear."

 

[Dogdragoness]

I prefer a docked aussie / MAS, a cropped / docked doberman, and cropped bully breeds like AM bullies and APBTs.

I dont like a natural doberman or an aussie with a tail, I just cant get used to it.

 

[Laurelin]

Nikki had one tipped and one prick. Naturally I adore mismatched ears now.

Hank would look weird with a tail. I've thought about that quite a bit because I don't really like docking.

I have decided I like docking more on dogs like Hank that have short hair and thin tails. Fluffy tails like Aussies should stay. I do not like the bunny butt look and the tailed Aussies I see are glorious. So are rotties. They are so handsome with their thick tails.

 

[Dogdragoness]

Not me, I am in love with tailess wiggle butt LOL, I couldnt imagine him with one it would be ... weird LOL. Though I was a bit worried that his lack of a tail would affect his agility, but it doesnt, not at all.

But I do wish he had his dewclaws, still, though . I understand why breeders cut them, but I still wish he had them.

 

[Equinox]

To everyone who says they don't like cropped ears on Beaucerons - you all are crazy!!! I love a nicely cropped Beauceron, Beaucerons and Doberman Pinschers are two breeds I would only take cropped.

Natural Beauceron ears look way too ridiculous IMO (cute, but ridiculous), and natural Dobermans look too houndy. Can I easily tell the difference between an actual hound and an uncropped/undocked Doberman? Yes, of course. But do they still look houndy to me? Yes! Aesthetically Dobermans are one of my favorite breeds but only when cropped.

I quite like cropped guardian breeds like COs/CASs etc. and on bully breeds, but like them equally without. Same goes for most other breeds.

I don't have as much of an opinion on docking. I don't think I even notice if a dog is from a traditionally docked breed but undocked. I'm used to seeing Rottweilers with tails now and actually think I prefer them that way, as long as their tail set isn't wild. I also love fabulous Aussie tails.

 

[crazedACD]

Ethically I don't mind either way.

I generally prefer docked breeds docked. I prefer docked Rotties, Dobes, etc. Please don't dock breeds that don't historically have it done!

I don't really care for cropped Boxers. Cropped or natural Dobermans are OK with me. Schnauzers should be cropped. Beacerons cropped. AmStaffs cropped yes absolutely. Some APBT.

 

[Kat09Tails]

I've never seen a crop I thought looked like anything but unnatural. I can't say I care for them in any breed. I think they especially look off on wide hairy dogs that typically get a really short battle crop like a CAS.

Docks I don't typically think twice about unless they're bizarrely long like some of the standard poodle docks or one of the odd ones where it looks like half a tail.

 

[Upendi&Mina]

I love a nice crop on a dobe but otherwise I'm not picky about ears, although I don't like prick ears on Aussies.

Traditionally docked breeds I prefer to be docked.

 

[crazedACD]

I just thought of another...Pyr sheps...must be properly cropped. I don't like their natural ears .

 

[LostAndConfused]

I think the only breed I really like the looks of better with both a dock and a crop is a Doberman. They look too hound-y to me without.

I feel this way too. maybe it's because a lot of the cropped breeds are left uncropped so often that I have grown accustom to seeing them with natural ears.

I usually would prefer to have natural on most breeds though. Like one of my turnoffs for Aussies and MAS are their docked tail.

Repeat after me, NBT ES.


I like a lot of breeds with docked tails, dobes, boxers, most terriers, etc. I like Rotties with long tails. Aussies with or without tails, I love them both ways.