What breeds do you aesthetically prefer "altered"?

[Paviche]

I'd just like to point out once again that preferring one aesthetic doesn't mean someone "hates" the other.

^ So much this. And even strongly disliking crops (both the aesthetic and the procedure itself) doesn't mean you hate the dogs themselves. They're dogs. I love dogs. Unless the dog is a jerk, but that has nothing to do with any surgical procedures.

 

[Upendi&Mina]

I'm pretty sure I have a thing against tails. 99% of the breeds I really love aesthetically are traditionally docked.

 

[Elrohwen]

Watson's breeder has docked Welshies for the 40 years she's been in the breed, but she's going to leave tails on his litter. So excited to get a Welshie with a tail! :banana:

 

[Paviche]

Watson's breeder has docked Welshies for the 40 years she's been in the breed, but she's going to leave tails on his litter. So excited to get a Welshie with a tail! :banana:

Tailed baby Welshie? When one goes mysteriously missing, it wasn't me, I promise.

 

[Picklepaige]

Watson's breeder has docked Welshies for the 40 years she's been in the breed, but she's going to leave tails on his litter. So excited to get a Welshie with a tail! :banana:

Just curious, but are tails allowed in the breed standard? Or does she not have plans for showing conformation with this litter? Either way I've never seen a Welshie with a tail, so that will be neat to see!

 

[Landshark!]

I like the sharp look and outline of a nice cropped and docked dog. Boxers and Danes especially look goofy to me when they have natural ears. So if the breed standard has the option to be cropped and docked, that's what I prefer 100% of the time.

 

[StillandSilent]

My last job had a tailed Welsh. It was kind of odd. The owner raised a docked puppy, then went back to the same breeder and bought an older dog who had been left natural for some reason.

The tail was glorious. So flowing and pretty.

 

[Elrohwen]

Just curious, but are tails allowed in the breed standard? Or does she not have plans for showing conformation with this litter? Either way I've never seen a Welshie with a tail, so that will be neat to see!

The standard allows either (just says "tails are generally docked") and tailed dogs are becoming more popular. I think part of it is breeders in the US seeing lots of British and Scandanavian dogs with tails (at least on FB) and getting used to it. I think the other part is that vets aren't doing it much anymore and it's harder to find someone to do it well. Watson's sister has a super short dock, and the next litter was long, so I think it's just easier to keep them now. The standard doesn't state exactly how long they should be, but you want it to look balanced and that's not super easy.

But anyway, they are glorious flowing tails and so pretty! Sort of like a golden.

People who still hunt prefer the dock, but for pet/sport owners the tail isnt a big deal either way. I'm glad the standard allows either.

 

[Elrohwen]

Tailed baby Welshie? When one goes mysteriously missing, it wasn't me, I promise.

I will send one!

 

[SpringerLover]

Watson's breeder has docked Welshies for the 40 years she's been in the breed, but she's going to leave tails on his litter. So excited to get a Welshie with a tail! :banana:

That is so awesome! We need pictures! I follow a breeder of ESS on FB that now leaves tails and oh my dog they are so effing cute!

 

[Laurelin]

I saw a full tailed westie the other day. I also know a couple tailed schnauzers and a tailed aussie. Seems like it is more common than it used to be even just a few years ago to leave the tails.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I saw a full tailed westie the other day. I also know a couple tailed schnauzers and a tailed aussie. Seems like it is more common than it used to be even just a few years ago to leave the tails.

Westies don't have docked tails? lol

 

[Ozfozz]

Westies don't have docked tails? lol

I was just trying to think of the Westies I know and if they had docked tails lol.

But yeah, breed standard says not to do it.

 

[Laurelin]

I swore they got the end docked off? Lol Like JRTs?

Obviously I have no idea what I am talking about.

 

[Paviche]

I swore they got the end docked off? Lol Like JRTs?

Obviously I have no idea what I am talking about.

I thought so, too, but upon further investigation, they're just breed to have short, rounded tails. Huh.

 

[Ozfozz]

I swore they got the end docked off? Lol Like JRTs?

Obviously I have no idea what I am talking about.

They definitely look like they get like a 3/4 dock! I was actually pretty surprised looking at the standard.

 

[Kyllobernese]

I did not get Kris cropped and of course, she came with her tail docked. I like certain crops on a Dobe but have seen more that I did not like and saw no reason to do Kris as I love her ears.

 

[pinkspore]

About half the cockers at work have their tails, and I adore them. So gorgeous and silky! We also see at least one boxer with a tail, and a couple of rotties. So far I think I love all the natural looks.

 

[Bruschnazzy]

I did not get Kris cropped and of course, she came with her tail docked. I like certain crops on a Dobe but have seen more that I did not like and saw no reason to do Kris as I love her ears.

Beautiful! I don't get the "hound" look on them like others when they have ears. I get the "oh look, it's a real dog that actually looks real and I don't have to peer down their ear canal" look. Which I've gotten from recent pictures of them I've seen, cropped.

Amstaffs crops were actually the first thing that came to mind when I saw this thread, and commented on 'Bully Breeds'. I always think their ears look too small on them, and I can't even compliment the dog.

 

[SizzleDog]

Beautiful! I don't get the "hound" look on them like others when they have ears. I get the "oh look, it's a real dog that actually looks real and I don't have to peer down their ear canal" look. Which I've gotten from recent pictures of them I've seen, cropped.

I don't think drop-eared Dobermans look like hounds. Granted, I've been in the breed long enough to know that a houndy-looking Doberman has got a lot more going wrong to make it look houndy than just ears!

You wouldn't believe the number of people that tell me how nice it is that I didn't crop my Dobes' ears. I always chuckle at that.