I could be wrong but I do think there is some 'theory'behind cropping of ears/docking of tails. Dobies, great danes, boxers etc have big floppy ears naturally. When not cropped they are most succeptable to banging them on furniature, trees, etc. Hematomo's happen and then other problems. Hematomas also happen when the dog is just shaking thier head. When one happens, the usual procedure is usually draining it (surgery), and often there is scare tissue that builds making the ear thicker, and more suseptable to ear infections.

Again, I could be wrong, but I think this is one of the reasons for cropping. Tail docking is simular. The tails on these dogs are going back and forth a LOT hwen wagging, excited etc and thier tails tend to be longer than labs. They wack thier tails on things and often split them open.

Not sure how I feel about either. Just know I wouldn't want the hassle of taping etc! I likely feel a bit different about tails. I dock my lambs all the time via a very tiny elastic. It is uncomfortable intially but not for long. Tail falls off 3 wks or so later. Some sheep breeders prefer cutting them off with one quick movment. (the instrument used cauterizes it at the same time).

I respecfully disagree- from a veterinary standpoint, there is no reason for cropping. Aural hematomas occur more often in the really heavy-eared breeds like cockers. The rose ears or "flying nun" ears of the uncropped boxer, etc, are no more prone to hematomas than natural prick ears. Cropping may have served a purpose in some of the fighting or livestock guardian breeds, but the most of the cropped dogs these days are cropped for purely cosmetic reasons. Docking in some breeds becomes a necessity due to tail injury, but if that were the real reason for docking by the breed standard, great danes and greyhounds would be docked breeds.
vickie

I think Vickie is mostly right, but still don't like the idea of the government deciding that the fact that it's cosmetic makes it inhumane and therefore, illegal.

However, I would point out, that most men who have lived with Great Danes would agree if asked, that a Great Dane without a wild, groin-level tail would be nice. I've lived with them and hit the floor a few times because when that tail gets going...

Also, I've only had two Great Danes, but of those two, one of them had a painful injury that resulted in a large malformation of the bone in the end of his tail. Docking it would have most likely been less painful.

I agree, Vickie, except that I doubt greyhounds would run with such speed and agility without their 'rudders' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Watch a greyhound chasing a hare and you'll see how much he uses it.

Ryan, if you are around G Danes a lot, it might be safer & less painful for both of you if you wear a 'cup' - only kidding, but my Mal's head is more painful <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />