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Ear cropping and tail docking are common today, but are these procedures necessary or purely cosmetic? Is it legal in your state? Learn the history of these practices and why they are still done today. Find out if it’s essential for your dog to have its ears cropped or its tail docked.
Article Overview
- Dog Ear Cropping (Why, Procedure, Healing, Risks & Breeds)
- Dog Tail Docking (Why, Procedure, Healing, Risks & Breeds)
- State Laws Regarding Ear Cropping & Tail Docking
- Should You Amputate Parts Of Your Dog?
What Is Dog Ear Cropping?
Cropping is removing all or part of the external ear flap on a dog. Many countries ban this practice due to the thought of it being purely cosmetic; thus it’s considered animal cruelty to perform unnecessary surgery on an animal.
Why Are Dog’s Ears Cropped?
Most often for perceived health benefits and cosmetic reasons. However, there is no data supporting the idea that cropping a dog’s ears improves its health. Some claims suggest that it can minimize ear infections and improve hearing.
Many breed standards (set by the AKC and other pedigree organizations) have cosmetic requirements, including cropped ears for certain breeds. But, unless you are competing in a dog show or other event that requires these appearance standards, this is not necessary.
Procedure
Ear cropping is typically performed when a dog is between 7 and 12 weeks old, when cropping is considered most effective. General anesthesia is typically used, and about two-thirds of the ear (the external ear flap) is removed as well as many nerve endings.1
Healing Process
Ears are stitched and bandaged for several weeks. The vet may need to check and replace these bandages periodically to ensure proper healing.
Risks
The surgery has risks including the use of general anesthesia and post-surgery complications. Additionally, the ears may become infected, experience bleeding or even need to be amputated (rare but possible with significant complications). The dog’s ears will be sensitive and painful for weeks after surgery. The dog may experience phantom pain, and there is no guarantee on the success of the operation.
21 Common Breeds With Cropped Ears
Below are some common breeds with cropped ears.
- Affenpinscher
- American Bully
- American Pitbull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Beauceron
- Boston Terrier
- Bouvier des Flandres
- Boxer
- Briard
- Brussels Griffon
- Cane Corso
- Caucasian Shepherd Dog
- Doberman Pinscher
- German Pinscher
- Giant Schnauzer
- Great Dane
- Manchester Terrier
- Miniature Pinscher
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Standard Schnauzer
What Is Dog Tail Docking?
Tail docking is the removal of part of a dog’s tail. The amount removed can vary depending on the breed standards.
Why Are Dog’s Tails Docked?
In the past, tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the dog’s back, increase its speed and prevent injuries from fighting.2
Today, dog’s tails may be docked to prevent the spread of infection (i.e., happy tail), to help heal from disease or for cosmetic reasons. They are also docked to avoid injuries for working dogs who could get their tails caught in something.
However, most tails are docked primarily for cosmetic purposes today, causing unnecessary pain to the dog.
Procedure
There are two ways to dock a tail. The first consists of constricting the blood flow to the tail with a rubber ligature until the tail falls off. This can take a few days. The second is severing the tail with scissors or a scalpel.
Healing Process
Make sure you keep your dog’s bedding clean and monitor the surgical site until it heals fully. The space your dog is in should be kept clean, dry and free of urine and feces.
Your vet will tell you when to remove the bandages, typically 2 to 3 days after surgery. This is generally done with scissors but check with your vet to learn the process they recommend.
Monitor the area for redness, swelling and discharge. If you see them, these are signs of infection. Your dog will probably need a follow-up visit about a week after surgery to have the stitches (if used) removed.
59 Common Breeds With Docked Tails
- Airedale Terrier
- American Cocker Spaniel
- Australian Silky
- Australian Shepherd
- Australian Terrier
- Bouvier des Flandres
- Boxer
- Bracco Italiano
- Brittany
- Cane Corsa
- Clumber Spaniel
- Cocker Spaniel
- Dobermann
- English Springer Spaniel
- Fell Terrier
- Field Spaniel
- German Short-Haired Pointer
- German Wire-Haired Pointer
- Giant Schnauzer
- Glen of Imaal Terrier
- Griffon Bruxellois
- Hungarian Vizsla
- Irish Terrier
- Italian Spinone
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- King Charles Spaniel
- Lakeland Terrier
- Large Munsterlander
- Lucas Terrier
- Miniature Pinscher
- Miniature Poodle
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Neopolitan Mastiff
- Norfolk Terrier
- Norwich Terrier
- Old English Sheepdog
- Patterdale Terrier
- Parson Jack Russell Terrier
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Pinscher
- Polish Lowland Sheepdog
- Rottweiler
- Russian Black Terrier
- Schipperke
- Schnauzer
- Sealyham Terrier
- Smooth Fox Terrier
- Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Spanish Water Dog
- Standard Poodle
- Sussex Spaniel
- Swedish Vallhund
- Toy Poodle
- Weimaraner
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Welsh Terrier
- Wire-Haired Fox Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier3
State Laws For Ear Cropping & Tail Docking
This information was taken from the AVMA (American Veterinarian Medical Association).
Ear Cropping Laws
- 9 states regulate ear cropping.
- It is illegal to crop a dog’s ears in Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania, unless done by a licensed vet while the dog is under anesthetic.
- Maryland law states that the ear cropping must be “appropriate on the animal.”
- Massachusetts forbids ear cropping except when performed by a licensed vet.
- It is illegal in Washington to perform ear cropping except when it is considered a customary management practice.
- “Animal torture” is illegal in Illinois (includes both ear cropping & tail docking), but has an exception for alteration of an animal done under the direction of a licensed vet.
- Maine bans mutilating an animal by irreversibly damaging body parts (includes ear cropping & tail docking) but makes an exception if performed by a licensed vet.
Tail Docking Laws
- 19 states regulate tail docking in some form.
- Maryland and Pennsylvania are the only states that have provisions restricting the tail docking of dogs.
- It is illegal in Pennsylvania to dock a dog’s tail if it is older than 5 days, unless it is medically necessary.
- In Maryland, only vets can perform tail docking and only if they use anesthesia and it’s considered appropriate.
- Alaska and Louisiana allow tail docking but only if it is done in a sanitary manner, minimizes the dog’s pain and distress, and is done in a timely fashion.
Think Twice Before You Amputate
This short video may make you think twice about cropping your dog’s ears or docking its tail.
Do you think these procedures are humane?
Sources: [1] PetHelpful, [2] Defra, [3] Council of Docked Breeds
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I’m conflicted about all of this. I have a poodle that has a beautiful natural tail and dew claws. He “talks” by wagging his tail, keeping it straight, etc. I can’t imagine him having no tail – its so curly and bushy! I also have a Yorkie that does have cropped ears, no dew claws, and tail docked. I purchased the Yorkie like this while the poodle was given to me. I think I would rather see a dog have a tail. I didn’t think too much of these procedures before until after people kept asking me “is that a poodle” and they would say they didn’t know because of the tail.
*Now on the topic of cropped ears, docked tails and removal of do claws, I have had these breeds for over 20 years. One of my dogs did not have his do claws removed and wow what a problem he had throughout his life. With that said, I do have an open mind and believe in the benefits for a healthier and happier life of these breeds, especially when my dogs veterinarian has expressed the pro’s and con’s of these procedures.
With all this said…These procedures are not “just for cosmetic purposes”.
***Note***
I am against breeders performing these procedures to save money. These procedures should always be performed by a veterinarian.
Cropping and docking is ABSOLUTELY BARBARIC and putrid. Who thinks it’s OK to make a dog look a certain way? Who decided this was OK? What kind of person decided this is how a breed is “supposed to look”? And at the animal’s expense and pain? Even “under anesthesia”, who thinks this is OK? This isn’t an ‘ear piercing’, to the idiots who think it’s comparable. First off do you need anesthesia to have an ear piercing? NO. Is it quick? YEP. Is cropping? NOPE. It’s a CUTTING OF THE EAR and docking is a CUTTING of the tail. Also, dogs don’t CHOOSE to have this done, do they? Someone makes the decision for them and decides it looks “good”, “cool”, “fits the breed”, etc. It IS cruel. Pissed In Portland, get a clue. Let’s crop your ears under anesthesia and tell you it’s “what’s best” or it “looks better”. I am holding back from using profanity here.
Be decent, good human beings for God’s sake. Why is this even up for debate or a discussion????
I am not sure how I feel about circumcision, because I only have a daughter. No one, I mean no one can tell me they know how the dog feels and if this is cruel! Everyone seems to put their own spin on it, and they come to those conclusions with their personal feelings, etc… I have had 2 boxers both with docked tails and floppy ears. One had its ear gashed open by our cat and bled something horrible. The other got a hematoma from shaking her floppy ears. They wanted to do surgery. I refused! It took some weeks, but it went away on it’s own. That Vet would had done an unneccessary surgery on my dog, so they don’t know best.
The people that think it is cruel; can you explain why? Just like humans piercing our bodies on a regular basis with piercings on children not even months old, or having excessive tattoos done to express ourselves.
Maybe the dogs like it! Maybe they like their ears to be standing! Maybe it gives them more self esteem, maybe they feel beautiful.
How about the tribes that have certain rituals that mar their bodies? Is this cruel, because you say so? They have done it for many many years before you put your opinionated spin on it.
I think if you took your personal feelings out of it and weren’t so judgemental, and open your mind. We would not be here on this site; having this conversation.
I would like to know how people can even do research on the psychological affects on the dog? I saw a site that claimed it bothers the dog its whole life.
Do we really care about the right things here? As long as that dog has a safe and loving home, they are not fighting or being used for bait. Not being abandoned and unloved. Who really gives a shit if they crop or dock/circumcise or not!!!!!!!
Go donate to a shelter or a rescue and save a dog, because I am betting most dogs that get this done are not there!
This is just my opinion.
Make it a great day
I was researching local rescue dogs to bring into our home the other day and one had a condition called happy tail that caused it to need its tail docked. I had never heard of this before but it seems to be a bigger risk for large, short-haired dogs. It seems that infection would be the primary reason for this to become a problem. Only a dog would get an issue that literally comes from it being too happy! 🙂
Yes I have heard of this condition from a close friend of mine. He has had to wrap his dogs tail because of the powerful wagging of her tail. Plus she does get infections too, which he expresses the frustration when her tail is sore and bleeding.☹
I definitely don’t think dogs ears should be cropped. I think it just is to make them look tough and scary. I had two pit bull puppies show up at my house one time, and checked all the vets in the area and no one claimed these dogs. They both had these procedures done and I think they were done and bread for fighting. Now as far as do claws, I think they should be removed in the first 3 days of the puppies life. When I was young in the 60s we had a lot of poodles with docked tails, now I just adopted a poodle with out a docked tail, and I see no reason for it. I like her long tail and am letting her hair grow out on it. I don’t really see a purpose for it.
So No I do not think tails or ears should be docked, and Yes on do claws.
Well- im against ears and tail chop off. But there is a fact why there is benefit to chop ears and tail. Only benefit to livestock guardian dogs for protecting livestocks. Wolves, coyotes, and other will torn their long ears off to cause it bleeding a lot. Same goes for tail. If there’s no tail or long ears, which mean guardian dog won’t getting tired or lost lot of blood, more chance to defeat wild animal.
Just like amputation of healthy body parts off of babies (circumcision) is wrong!! It’s only done for tradition here in America, and not recommended by any medical organizations worldwide!! Boys and dogs are born perfect!!!
I don’t believe your ER nurse claim because if you truly graduated nursing school you would know that circumcision reduces the risk of most penile cancers. Not to mention the hygiene benefits of the procedure. Comparing a proven beneficial procedure to a purely cosmetic procedure like ear cropping is quite ignorant for an “ER nurse”
If it were true that circumcision lowers the risk of penile cancers, why doesn’t the rest of the world has vastly higher rates of penile cancer? Circumcision is rare outside of the US (and of course Israel) – yet rates of penile cancer amongst other first world countries is not significantly different than the US. Perhaps “ER” was trained outside the US? Your comment shows you have a limited scope of knowledge and research on the topic. Coming from a country where the practice is so ingrained perhaps adds to your bias.
Theoretically we could remove any part of our bodies to prevent cancer in said body part… but I think I prefer to take the risk!! And to be honest, I’m pretty damn glad my husband’s parents felt the same
Back to the topic of dogs – I can’t imagine my poodle without his very expressive, natural tail. Altering any parts of their bodies for cosmetic purposes is cruel and ignorant.
Circumcision is not proven beneficial. One study noted a lowered risk in penile cancer for circumcised men, however this type of cancer is extremely rare. It would be like cutting off a girl’s outer labia as an infant to prevent vulvar cancer. Also the hygiene argument is ridiculous as well. It’s 10x harder to brush teeth then to clean under some skin. Maybe I should remove my teeth so I won’t have to worry about cleaning them.
Wolves,coyotes,foxes,jackals,dingoes,african prairie dogs. And,oh, while were at it – lions,tigers,bears,racoons,wolverines,badgers,skunks,hyenas…wait a second, every mammal on earth has naturally erect ears, including us humans…hmmm, it seems long floppy ears don’t seem to occur in nature, but they do with domestic dogs. Perhaps long floppy, pendulous ears in dogs is a man-made byproduct of years of interference with natural selection and evolution and it came to be mostly on the basis that it’s a structural defect which is tolerated by saps like you because it looks “cute” even though it goes against the way nature intended. Notice how when a dog stands up after sleeping the first thing it does is shake it’s head and/or scratches behind the ear? That’s general discomfort a dog has to live with everyday due to trapped moisture and heat from an ear that doesn’t get enough air flow into the ear canal…assuming it’s not mites which is just as common. And just like circumcision, cropped ears have health benefits too, not mentioning helping working dogs perform a function more safely. Purely cosmetic…I think not.
A dog shakes for many reasons, including:
1) Shaking occurs after waking up, getting out of water, etc. to relax.
2) The dog shakes their entire body to ease tension.
3) Shaking also helps a dog relieve stress.
4) Shaking is a way for a dog to “re-set” and change activities or positions too.
Shaking is not necessarily something dogs are aware of, it’s something they do subconsciously. It’s like blinking or breathing, it’s automatic for them.
My dog Sally shakes after we’ve worked on training, when she gets excited for a walk and needs to calm herself down, after she wakes from a nap, when she changes positions, after she meets someone, after a bath, etc.
Personally, I don’t buy into the idea that dogs need their ears cropped because of built up moisture and heat and lack of airflow. However, I would need to research that hypothesis further before definitively saying it’s not true.
Love this answer and couldn’t have said it better myself.
After listening to how many infections my cousin has had throughout his life from not being circumcised, I never forgot him telling me to have my son circumcised. *This is proof circumcision has benefits.
Hello,
Where did you get the information that they may experience phantom pain? Curious to know of any studies. Thanks.
-Mark
Hi Mark, if you check our sources at the bottom of the article you’ll see PetHelpful linked. That’s where we got that information.
I read through the referenced articles, but they dont seem to have any studies with them. I found many references about risks and concerns, but nothing about phantom pains. Could you please direct me to one with the studies on it? Thank you!
Our #1 and #2 sources at the bottom of the article mention phantom pain. That is where we got that information from.