Ear Cropping and Tail Docking set to go the way of the Dodo Bird
For years the subjects of ear cropping and tail docking have caused controversy and moral anguish among veterinarians. Many vets have lost sleep worrying about the ethics of the procedures, but that appears to be changing.
When I was studying to be a veterinarian, I made a conscious decision not to learn how to crop ears or dock tails. I thought it was a very original way to sidestep the controversy. I don’t know how to perform the procedures, so I can’t be placed in awkward positions by clients who want them.
My plan has worked, but it turns out that it wasn’t original at all. DVM Newsmagazine reports in its January, 2009 issue that it may eventually be impossible to find a vet who can crop ears or dock tails.
Many veterinary colleges no longer teach the procedures, which shows they are becoming less popular, according to [Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association consultant Barbara] Hodges.
“There is a resistance by the new generation of students,” she says. “They are speaking up and saying as they enter the profession that they don’t want to perform these procedures, that they don’t think the medical and health risks to the animal are necessary.”
I do not know any vets under the age of 60 who crop ears (tail docking is more common). In fact, I am aware of only one vet in the San Francisco Bay Area who performs the procedure.
As ear cropping and tail docking die out, so will the controversy.
To read previous posts on this subject, click here or here.
Photo: This could soon be the breed standard for Boxers.
You have questions. 
I have 2 shelter dogs, one has his tail docked the other not. The one thing I love about tails is that it’s their form of communicating with us. I can’t tell you how heart warming it is to hear that thump thump thump when I come home. And also, when he’s playing or being ornery, it moves in different ways. My little JRT has a docked tail and although it definetly wiggles, I would still have rather have had the whole tail left on, but I had no choice.
My vote is against it.
Finally!!!! I can’t believe it finally a real breakthrough. It seems like such a dumb thing to do. I think there will be a lot of “tail wagging” in support!
I so agree with Dr Barchas and his creative way of not having to perform tail and ear dockings on dogs. I happen to belive that this is not so different than declawing in cats. Why subject an animal to a possibly painful procedure that may have unwanted side effects to the animal merely for the convenience or “aesthetic” beliefs of a pet parent.
I understand why ear cropping is so bad, it’s done when the dog is much older and it takes a long time to heal, causing more pain. However I do not agree with those that think tail docking is bad. It should be done when the puppies are just a couple of days old…it’s just like circumsition (sp?) and it heals quickly. If vets stop docking tails then people are just going to do it the old fashion way…ie: cutting it off themselves or the way my evil aunt used to to it…rubberbands. I think it will be a bigger problem because thats when things go wrong. (Infections and such.) So I dont think that vets should stop docking tails.
Finally I think this is great. I hope this carries over to cat declawing. Our local vet does not do this anymore either including declawing cats. Hurray for all who put a stop to this.
Ear cropping and tail docking going the way of the Dodo bird http://tinyurl.com/cbr8gq
This is great news!!! I also agree with Max, maybe this will carry over to not declawing cats anymore. To me, all these procedures are unnecessary and painful to the pet.
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I agree completely with Jack.
This is awesome! It’s great to see so much support for not docking or cropping dogs, and I agree with some of the other comments that hope this will also carry over to declawing. There’s no medical reason to do any of these things. They are all done for the owner’s convenience or wishes, and it doesn’t benefit the animal at all.
For those who aren’t against tail docking, I ask this question: Why? What is your reason for wanting to dock dogs’ tails? Why is it any better to do it on a puppy? I remember seeing little puppies only a few days old wagging their tails as they nursed, and I was horrified by the thought that so many puppies that age were getting their tails cut off! A dog wags its tail to communicate, so why would anyone want to deprive it of that? Besides, if dogs are normally born with tails, doesn’t that mean they’re supposed to have them?
As for the argument that people will dock tails in a cruel way if vets won’t do it–that argument doesn’t work for me. Yes, it’s true that some people will do that. But if people can’t dock tails legitimately, a lot of people just won’t do it. And those who do it illegally or in a more cruel way than they are doing it now can be prosecuted. Keeping a cruel thing legal doesn’t make the situation better.
“Why? What is your reason for wanting to dock dogs’ tails?”
I’m not for doing it for looks, but there are some dogs, such as hunting–and possbibly some herding dogs, depending on exactly where and how they herd–dogs, which I would would want docked for safety reasons.
For hunting dogs, such as English Springer Spaniels, having a long tail get caught in a bush when hunting would hurt it and interupt the hunt.
“Why is it any better to do it on a puppy?”
They are less likely to remember it when they are older and they don’t have as many nerve endings.
“A dog wags its tail to communicate, so why would anyone want to deprive it of that?”
I’ve known plenty of dogs without tails, or with short ones, and I’ve never witnessed any such dog having any trouble communicating at all. The tail is only part of the communication process.
“Besides, if dogs are normally born with tails, doesn’t that mean they’re supposed to have them?”
People are born with the part that is circumcised, yet studies show that it is healthier to circumcise.
Now, I realize that that is a bit different from dogs, as a dog’s tail helps it not hinders it, in most cases.
Well I am an old english sheepdog ,and if you had a tail with as much hair as an old english grows you would be happy to be tailess .As far as a tail expressing the feelings of the dog believe me no one has any problem understanding me as the whole butt goes . As far as my friend the english springer spaniel and like breeds ,they can have an issue called brush beaten (or something like that ) but as a sporting dog and the excitement of the hunt or supper they can actually beat the tail into medical mess or even break the tail . A broken tail not cared for is not a pretty site ,once while operating on a dog I had the job of holding the tail ……which the fur covering actual slid off the still attached bone ,in other words it was rotting away . Tails and dew claws born on pups in the first few days of life are not a problem , the breeder could sit in the whelping box clip the dew claws ,cut the tail put a bit of glue on everything and hook the babe back on to mum . The screaming of pups occurs when the pups are kept from mum . As far as a vet who says he didn’t learn how to dock tails ,I really think if you can cut a leg off you can cut a tiny little tail off. Now declaws are painful and I have seen cats freak out and end up a bloody mess . But I understand this is a nessary evil as people don’t want things destroyed and going outside is not really safe for cats in the city or country …to many dangers from cars to foxes . N.B. vets are not really doing any favours to the animals by refusing /by law to carry out these procedures . I have been told that they can refuse to treat animals who have been docked by owners /or others . So now they are going to have the right to refuse treatment to animals with out tails or cropped ears ,and then it may carry through you can be charged with cruelty. The nbspca will love that one.
Our JRT just had a pup, yep just one, and we opted for Not docking the pup, both parents are docked but I had nothing to do with it, I have caught a little flak about it, my comment to them was “stick out your thumb” while holding my buck knife, after a moment they agree its pretty cruel, most working dogs,herding etc. have the gene for no tail at birth, lets just let it go at that.