cropping - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

dazzasdoberman · 01-23-2013, 02:10 PM

hi all just wandered whats the legal/moral stants was on cropping dobermans ears and tails??

Abby · 01-23-2013, 02:14 PM

This is a controversial topic, just to warn you.

If you are in the market for a puppy, and considering cropping, remember that the vast majority of ETHICAL breeders will crop each and every puppy. There are many very sound reasons for this. Please do not support a breeder who leaves such a decision up to the owner.

avianantics · 01-23-2013, 02:35 PM

It is a matter of personal opinion. I like my dogs cropped and purchase from, as Abby said, a reputable breeder that has puppies cropped before they go home, in addition to health testing and titling the parents.

Welcome to DT. There is a lot of information here, stick around and learn what you are in for with a Dobe pup!

**Fitzmar Dobermans** · 01-23-2013, 02:51 PM

I guess the legal slant depends on where you are from. In Pennsylvania, tails must be done by 5 days of age if they are not done by a vet. After 5 days of age, they must be done by a vet. Pennsylvania also requires a certificate of cropping by a veterinarian - which my cropping vet provides and it goes right into the 3 ring folder that goes home with each puppy.

The moral slant is a whole nuther dealie.

BrunoNBuggers · 01-24-2013, 07:03 AM

Personally I feel that cropping and docking is something that should be done by the breeder. Both of mine have natural ears, one is docked and the other has a natural tail. (Both are rescues.)

If I were to buy a pup from a breeder, I would insist on careful breeding, genetics testing, and docking/cropping.

ZeldaRules · 01-24-2013, 07:16 AM

It's currently legal in the US. The morality of it depends on you who talk to. Educate yourself on the procedures and form your own opinion. It's not a crime to have a preference one way or the other. You will face adversity with either choice. With a floppy eared and curly tailed Doberman, you get the "not a real Doberman/hound dog/ew" comments. With a c/d Doberman you run into the "zomg you effing animal abuser/wtf would you do that/how could someone do that/I can't believe you put your dog through a painful and traumatic procedure."

So just make an informed decision and do what you want. At the end of the day it's your dog that you have to look at for 10 or so years. Be happy.

**greenkouki** · 01-24-2013, 09:59 AM

As stated, reputable breeders generally crop every puppy in the litter as this is a cropped and docked breed. If you want a cropped puppy I would encourage you to only purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder with the pups already cropped because so few veterinarians can crop doberman ears well that it's certainly not fair to lay the burden on the new owner.