Cropped Ears

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olivia416

Boxer Pal
I had my Boxers ears cropped because personally I think they look better cropped, but I notice a lot of the pics of dogs on these forums don't have them cropped. I hear alot of people say it's cruel or mean to crop them, yet their dogs have their tails docked. Is that NOT cruel or mean? When a dogs ears are done they are put on pain medication, with tail dockings, they don't even get local anesthetics, they just come in and get the things chopped off. I'm not trying to bash anyone by any means, I just think it's a double standard.
 

Sabrina Jay

Boxer Insane
Ear cropping is a personal choice, and like yourself, I prefer the cropped look........but I also can take care of the aftercare myself. (I don't need to take the pup to the vet for re-tapings, etc). From my personal experience (and I've had 6 cropped through the past 7 years), the first couple of days, there is SOME discomfort, but not alot. The worst part is shortly after cropping and if they bump their ears on something. That was the only time it seemed to bother them. (Besides the itching while healing) There are many vets that don't crop, many vets that crop, but they truly don't know how to crop properly (estimate the length & width they need to take off, etc). People must be very careful and really research to find a vet that knows how to crop properly.

As far as tails........that is why they are docked at 3-5 days of age. The bone in the tail has not hardened. They do squeal, but just for a few seconds then no more. Same with dewclaws being removed. You will NEVER convince me not to dock a tail. I have seen far too many other breeds with the overall same type of tail that a boxer has that has broken their tails because of banging them around. Broken tails are far more painful that the couple of seconds it takes to dock a boxer puppies tail. We have a few dogs at the clinic I work at, when the dog boards, we have to bandaged their tails before putting them into the runs. If we don't, they hit the sides of the runs so hard with their tails, they will bleed.
 
Ear cropping is a personal issue for each Boxer owner. Yes, some folks do believe it is cruel and that is their personal feelings. Yet others (like myself) believe otherwise. I prefer someone make up their mind based on facts rather than emotions.

I take my pups to a top ear cropping vet. He is quite popular and show breeders have flown their dogs in from other states to have them crop them. He has a full consultation with each client. He does a fabulous job. He is quite expensive, but this is a surgery and very deserving to have the most qualified vet you can get. I do my own aftercare and even help others in my area.

I have only had one Boxer pup actually feel some pain the next day. One little girlie was just very sensitive I found out. This vet does give you pain medication if you think you need it. She was much better after that :) All other pups I have cropped are playing and bouncing by that evening.

Aftercare is as crucial as the cropping itself.
 

daysha

Banned
Olivia,
Some people do say it is cruel but i certinaly disagree! I also love the look of the cropped ear and was at first going to get Zoes done but she is my first boxer and I hadnt done enough research and was just not comfortable getting it done without the knowledge that was needed. However my next boxer will definatly have its ears cropped. I also agree with the other comments about docked tails. DANGEROUS!!! I dont think I could handle Zoe if she had a natural tail!! :LOL: But I think they are gorgeous no matter what color, size, cropped, or docked. A boxer is a boxer and I love the personality. Wouldnt trade my Zoe for the world.
 

Eric J

Boxer Insane
Olivia,
I think the opinions relate more to the fact the owners have the choice on the ears, many of us had no choice on the tail. I am not sold on tail cropping, heck I wish Jedi had his, but my breeder did the whole litter 2 days after they where born.
The ears are totally my decision, since Jedi came home at week 8, and from here to sometime around week 12 I believe (Not an expert on when to do it, so if wrong I am sure some one will fix my statement) is when to do the ears.
To sum it up, peole on BW have the opinions of ears over tails, because it is one of the big decisions on their pet they personally make. I could be wrong, but hey, it is my opinion ;)
 

rumsgirl

Boxer Booster
I too like the look of cropped ears, in fact Madchen has an appointment for hers on the 26th of this month. Besides the look it is also beneficial for the ears to get that extra air in their ears. Being a dog groomer I have seen my share of ear infections in dogs that have natural ears.
Sabrina I always thought tail docking was to be done between 1 to 3 days of age, at least that's what my vet told me when I had a litter. Have they changed? It has been quite a few years since I had a litter.
 

Sabrina Jay

Boxer Insane
Most vet dock tails at 1-3 days of age, but the window is still their for up to 5 days. Depends upon the litter of puppies (how strong they are), and if it needs to be waited upon for a couple more days.

My last litter was a little over 3 years ago. Mom's milk never came in and we ended up with some critical puppies. On day 2, I started tube feeding for the next 36 hours, with the feedings (very small amounts) every hour during that 36 hour time. As they grew a little stronger, we then switched to bottles, while continually increasing the amounts per feeding. This litter of puppies was at the vets everyday to be checked. When they were 1 week old, the vet decided they had stablized enough for tail docking. Yes, normally, I would have had them docked at 3 days of age, if the problems had not developed with this particular litter.
 

Eric J

Boxer Insane
Originally posted by rumsgirl
Besides the look it is also beneficial for the ears to get that extra air in their ears. Being a dog groomer I have seen my share of ear infections in dogs that have natural ears.

"Ear cropping and tail docking in dogs for cosmetic reasons are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient."
--American Veterinary Medical Association, July 9, 1999

Ear cropping is not of any benefit to the dog, that is a myth.
 

rumsgirl

Boxer Booster
EricJ in alot of the books I have read about Boxers it says it benefits the ears and that it is not just cosmetic. Plus all the dogs I have seen in 11 years of grooming I have seen many dogs with ear infections and mites and can only remember 1 or 2 with cropped ears, but that's just MHO.
 

schipperj25

Boxer Booster
I do not have a problem with boxers with croped ears. I just prefer them with natural ears. Dukes ears seem to change with his personality. Just my opinion.
 
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