Cropping and Docking Non-working Dogs
Emily Carel
ITT Technical Institute

Cropping and Docking Non-working Dogs
What is the purpose of cropping and docking non-working dogs? Cropping and docking dogs is a practice that aids working dogs or keeps working dogs safe. Cropping is when a part of a dog’s ears are cut off and then stretched and bound so they stand straight. Docking is when a large portion of a dog’s tail is cut off. I understand that it is done to working dogs for various reasons. Such as working terriers need their tails docked so that they are not injured in the field when they are pulled out of holes, such as foxholes, by their tails. But over the years, it has become the norm for certain breeds of dogs, just because. I believe that cropping and docking non-working dogs should be banned.
It is painful or inhumane to put any dog through a cropping or docking procedure. The basics of the cropping procedure are first the dog is sedated, because what comes next is painful. Then part of the ears are cut off, which includes cutting through the many nerves in the ears. The edges of the ears are stitched to stop the bleeding. The ears are then stretched straight and bound to keep them in the position that is desired. The dog is then sent home with pain meds, as this will hurt them for a while. After about two weeks the stitches are removed. Finally, after around 7 weeks the ears are unbound. So I don’t see why anyone would put a dog through that without a valid reason. I can’t find any humane reason for pet owners to crop or dock their non-working dogs.
There is too much medical risk involved in cropping and docking to justify putting a dog through the procedure. There is a great risk of infection, or if, for example, the ear is bound too tight after the procedure, the ear could lose circulation and have to be completely amputated. If the tail gets infected