Medical / cosmetic debate
Behold, the almighty debate of the ear cropping and tail docking or opposition to it – the dew-claw removal is a fairly uncontroversial practice. Whoever you are – future owner, current owner or breeder – once you become aware of the subject, you are unlikely to be left without an opinion, which can range from vigorously advocating for it, to against it, and anywhere in-between.
You will no doubt notice that advocates on both sides sometimes use the same arguments against each other. In some cases, the argument is subjective, debatable or even unfounded: yet it is still used. Individuals can make up their own mind based on the research they perform, the credibility of the material they read and the people they discuss the matter with.
Among other organizations offering information on those matters is the K9 Alliance.
Ear cropping
The practice of ear cropping in the Doberman breed – also performed in many other breeds in North America and around the world – consists in shaving the thin-skin back part of the ear, to make the ear weight light enough for the ear muscles & cartilages to hold upward – which would not be possible with the full weight of the natural ear.
Notice here that there is no definite mention of whether it is a small, medium or large skin part, and much less refers to a sizeable measurement. The reason is that every ear crop is different, depending on what the breeder or future owner desires.
The longer the crop style – usually called “show crop” – the smaller the cropped skin part. The shorter the crop style – commonly called “military crop” – the larger the cropped skin part. A show crop – longer ears – will also require more time and maintenance to stand erect than a military crop will – shorter ears. This is due to the ear weight as well as the amount of ear muscles and cartilages that must be reinforced – over a period that can vary from one to several months – before it stands on its own.
Arguments in favor of ear cropping:
- Preserving the breed standard since its conception (tradition)
- Legal in most countries around the world
- Avoid inner-ear infections (natural floppy ears cause moisture & humidity in the ear)
- Better auditory capacity (with ears being unblocked)
- Procedure is painless for the puppy
- Looks better
Arguments against ear cropping:
- Inhumane treatment of animals (unnecessary cosmetic surgery)
- Banned in some countries around the world (mostly Europe)
- Possible outer-ear infections (if not cared for properly)
- Procedure is painful for the puppy
- Looks better
* Please note that some breeders will only sell their Doberman puppies with docked tail and cropped ears. If you wish to have a Doberman with natural tail and ears, make sure to mention it in your first conversation with the breeders while you do your research.
* Should you ask for uncropped ears, while some breeders will not adjust their price, many will agree to offer a slight discount, as they may not have to incur the expense.
* Some veterinarians charge a fixed price per litter for ear cropping – as every puppy in the litter will get its ears cropped on the same visit – in which case the breeder may not be able to offer such a discount.
Tail docking
The practice of tail docking in the Doberman breed – also performed in many other breeds in North America – consists in cutting the tail after the first, second, third or fourth caudal vertebrae, or tail bone. The majority of show dogs will have the tail docked after the second vertebrae, and a minority after the third. Though a subjective matter, a tail docked after the first and fourth is generally considered by most breeders to be too short or too long.
The procedure is usually performed within a week after birth, most commonly on the second or third day, unless the puppy is visibly weaker than it should and/or has health issues. Whether you purchase a puppy with docked tail or not, the price of the puppy will not be affected.
Arguments in favor of tail docking:
- Preserving the breed standard since its conception (tradition)
- Avoid kids & small children injuries (tail-wagging)
- Avoid breaking objects indoor (tail-wagging)
- Procedure is painless for the puppy
- Looks better
Arguments against tail docking:
- Inhumane treatment of animals (unnecessary cosmetic surgery)
- Banned in some countries around the world (mostly Europe)
- Possible tail infections (if not cared for properly)
- Procedure is painful for the puppy
- Looks better
Dew-claw removal
The practice of dew-claw removal in the Doberman breed – also performed in most other breeds in North America – consists in removing the dew-claws, which are inside the dog’s paw, up high. Because of the way dogs move on their paws, it is never in contact with the ground and is useless. It can, however, get stuck and torn on bushes, trunks or rocks, among other random objects.
Tear can cause mild to excruciating pain depending on how severe it is. Think of tree bark getting peeled off a tree. Now think how you would feel if your nail was pulled up and peeled back along with the skin. Yes, that painful.
Some few breeders – and owners – do decide not to have it removed, in which case it is possible that the Doberman never suffers from a dew-claw injury. Nevertheless, be informed that the procedure may save your dog a lot of pain & bleeding as well as a few visits at the emergency veterinary clinic. Similarly to tail docking, whether you purchase a puppy with dew-claws removed or not, the price of the puppy will not be affected.
Arguments in favor of dew-claw removal:
- Avoiding unnecessary gruesome injuries
- Preserving the breed standard since its conception (tradition)
- Procedure is painless for the puppy
- Looks better
Arguments against dew-claw removal:
- Inhumane treatment of animals (unnecessary cosmetic surgery)
- Banned in some countries around the world (mostly Europe)
- Procedure is painful for the puppy