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purpledragonclaw wrote:
I personally don’t like docking, cropping, or de-clawing, but I wouldn’t begrudge anyone else the ability to do it. Everyone is different; what works for one may not work for the other. I would not want something I enjoy taken away from me because enough people disagree with it and it became banned. As long as it is professionally done, if people want to crop, dock, or de-claw their pets, I’m okay with that.
To prevent miscommunication. This is closer to what I think. I won’t do it (to me it’s the same as if someone tried to cut off my fingers) but I’m fine if someone else would do it.
I don’t support declawing cats or debarking. Training and meeting their needs i.e. for scratching surface) is better. However, if it’s a choice between losing what may be otherwise a fine home and getting dumped at a shelter… 🙄 there are too many vying for too few homes to begin with. I don’t support ear cropping also, it’s done when the dogs are older and it causes them real distress. Even more than docking tails, it’s just a cosmetic procedure. It can help a fighting dog 😯 or maybe a dog with big heavy ears that are prone to infections, but otherwise what good is it? I have a docked breed, and if done properly and at the proper age by a vet, it doesn’t bother them or me- but only then. It can be of some advantage in a working ranch dog, but not hugely so- and obviously that isn’t most dogs so it is almost always cosmetic. I would be happy if leaving tails on was an option in my breed (it’s required in Europe, so people there don’t want the natural bobtails found in my breed). I do, however, think dewclaws should ALWAYS be removed, even in breeds where they’re a hallmark. I saw too many dogs at the shelter whose owners wouldn’t trim nails, and the dews would not rarely grow around and back into the dog’s leg.
Well, the pups are 9 weeks old today! The breeder chose Chili and Starlight for her picks (Fudge was top pick but she didn’t want a boy), so I lost those two, but she sent me back with another two of hers. 😯 They are younger than my guys, and didn’t have their tails docked since she culled tehm essentially at birth and didn’t want to spend the extra on them :shrug:. Miss Pandemonium is a little hellion! She gives my bigger/older pups whatfor, and looks so funny with her natural bobtail sticking straight up “yes I AM all that! Want me to prove it?”
Shadow is a week younger, and is a rather soft guy. He spends a lot of time being cuddled because he rally doesn’t like having to deal with the other hoydens.
Otherwise, Dennis went home last weekend, and his family called me today saying they thought they’d want Sparkle as well. They were very happy with him, and Mom wants her own to love. She was supposed to be going to a therapy dog home, but they had a family emergency, so she could be happy as a snugglebun. She is quiet and loves to cuddle. Everyone else is still waiting for their forever home (might be awhile for Oreo and Pandemonium, they’re rather dominant and a lot of dog that need to go to experienced, ‘doing’ homes, but they’re ones that will be High in Trial performers if guided). Beauty and Fudge have been trying VERY hard (Beauty especilly) to say they reallylove me, so they need to go soon lol.
I view all of them the same, they are done for our convience, this includes spaying and neutering. I do not agree with removing dewclaws from dogs that have actual bones attached to their dewclaws, such as the Great Pyr. Cropping is less invasive than a spay or a neuter and after having a dog with huge floppy ears I can tell you without a doubt that my Bouv, when I get her, will be cropped, and docked.
As I said before I am only really against de-clawing cats, and that is only for their protection. But I dont feel that I have the right to tell others that they can not do it, that is a little to PeTA for my liking (freaking nutjobs).
Aww, man! I really want another Aussie! 🙁 I’d *love* one of the more quiet snugglebunnies.
I have a Great Pyr, and the thought of removing her rear dewclaws just about gives me the shudders–she’s got bones and regular pads on those suckers. Not to mention it’s verboten as far as the breed folks go.
As for the debarking, well, it’s illegal here in NJ thanks to the idiots that would routinely debark their fighting and drug den dogs. They were considered to be “weapons” to be used against the cops when they visit, and debarking them, while it doesn’t render the dog totally silent, it does make them darned difficult to hear in a noisy situation.
In the Pyr rescues, we see a LOT of debarked Pyrs, and it’s generally done when the dog is a total habitual continuous barker. Homes for these guys can be very difficult to find for dogs that DON’T bark non-stop, so you can imagine what it’s like for the barkers. The breed is *known* to be very vocal. It’s what they DO especially when out with a flock. That’s their way of telling the world there’s a Great Pyrenees on duty; look elsewhere for dinner. Training them to not bark all the time can be very, VERY challenging, and damned near impossible in some cases. I don’t care for the idea; wouldn’t do unless it was a literal life-or-death situation as in if we don’t find the dog a home, it dies.I got lucky with Flurry since she was trained by me from puppyhood that SOME barking is allowed, and even encouraged but if I say “Enough!” it’s to end. And I’m lucky she listens. 😉
As for the cropping/docking issue, I wouldn’t turn down an uncropped/docked dog if it’s a breed I wanted. I don’t do the bench shows, preferring agility and obedience, so it’s kind of moot. I kind of prefer the cropped ears in a couple of breeds, like the Dobies and Boxers, but mostly because that’s the look I grew up with as a kid. You just didn’t see the natural ears much. :shrug:
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