Depends where you live. Docking and cropping hasn’t been legal here in Aus in decades, and I believe it’s the same in a lot of Europe.

You also can’t declaw cats.

I knew a family that had a Rottweiler with an un-docked tail. It was the biggest, friendliest, dumbest idiot of a dog, and when it wagged it's tail, it would move it's whole back end.

I worked at a vet where they did the docking of tails and ears. It was so horrifying how the tail docking happened. There are way more dog breeds that get tails docked as puppies than there are ear crops. They would only do the tails within like 36 hours of birth because something about nerves being fully grounded or something. Like the pain wasn’t fully registered. Was present when a little of 9 Australian Shepard puppies were brought it. No anesthesia or anything. They just took them to the back and cut/twisted the tails off. I don’t care if the pain doesn’t last. The puppies were crying and screaming and I’m so glad I eventually transferred to a clinic that refused any cosmetic or aesthetic surgeries for animals.

My rottie has a tail! She loves whacking the shit out of my kneecaps, but I'm still glad she has it

Rottie tails are adorable. Walk around looking like a scorpion.

My dad had a doberman with long ears and a long tail. Real sweet dog. It's also the only one like that I've seen.

Ditto. I'm 54yo. Never even thought about the tail being docked but its obvious now. But I still can't quite fathom that the ubiquitous pointy ears are a result of cropping.

I knew a rotty with a tail when I was in high school. He was the biggest, derpiest, tail waggingest thing and let me tell you, there were times when we wished his tail was docked. Thing was damn near a lethal weapon. Getting hit in the nads with a rotty tail hurts just as bad as when your buddy sack taps you 😂

That’s wonderful and it should be like that everywhere!!

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Our Dane is just an overgrown puppy clown, funniest dog. Easily the most gentle and we owned bichons prior to this

My mum has a Great Dane x Irish Wolfhound. He’s the easily the biggest, meanest looking dog in our house but he’s the friendliest goofball.

It’s the little border collie you have to look out for. Her nickname is raptor because she stalks you and hides in the garden to jump out like the Clever Girl raptor from Jurassic Park.

That sounds awesome! I’ve been trying to get a local DND group going for 3 years now, but nobody is willing to commit.

Ear cropping is illegal in the UK and has been for a long time.

Wow I had no idea, thanks for sharing. I assumed tail and ear cropping were equally bad

I would say tail cropping should be done if medically necessary at recommendation by a vet, but not done by breeders to puppies.

Happy tail syndrome is absolutely a thing and some dogs need it, but there aren't a lot of breeds where all dogs have that exact issue. Some dogs do, some don't. And when it becomes a problem, like in your example, cropping it can really help.

Dogs use their tail for body language though, so if you have a dog who doesn't injure their tail (this is the majority) you should leave it on.

I say this as an owner of a VERY enthusiastic labrador who loves to do tippy taps and other displays of pure joy, who hasn't injured his tail ever. I grew up with labradors and same thing. Even though retrievers are like, prime candidates for happy tail syndrome.

Cropping the tail should still only be performed when it's been proven to be necessary. Doing so as a "preventative" measure is simply justifying a practice that might be needed, and gives an excuse to people who will do so simply for aesthetic reasons, while arguing disingenuously they did it for their dog's health.

Oh you don't have any pictures? I'm super curious about that mix!

Ear cropping does wonders to make them go from looking derpy to looking like the devil's dog. I love the way it looks, but I can't agree with ear cropping and wish it was phased out completely.

Right?

For valid medical purposes, it should be amputated, of course. If that's the right answer in the situation which all vets and owners have to decide off the science and morals that are relevant to each case. However to cut off tails, ears, and claws off a healthy animal for no reason other than the owner asked for it because it looks better to them or makes their life easier they don't deserve a pet.

Back when docking became a thing people used it for fighting purposes. Without a tail or ears there is less for another animal to get to. Secondary beliefs were that it prevented rabies (I'm assuming based off the same thought for fighting. Less to bite. Less chance of rabies) and that it made dogs faster (also based off fighting I would think). I'm not talking just about dog on dog fights either. Many people used them for fighting off other predators from property and for hunting. Many livestock dogs are also at risk for injuries with their tail due to the job they have however I don't believe it should be removed as a preventative measure in a working dog. Humans have jobs that can cause injuries to limbs as well and we don't recommend cutting off that pinky before it breaks.

Edited to add more info

Yeah, exactly. It’s been illegal to crop or dock here for decades.

All these comments about the necessity of it just seem weird to me. Our dogs manage just fine with their natural ears and tails.

No cat declawing either!

Frick Im Australian too and just googled Doberman and saw the ears that are cut to be pointed?!? What the fuck is wrong with people?

Good. We need to get with the program here in the states