Don't kick me off the board for this....

[MsMack]

Ok. Here's mt two cents worth....

When I first got my Lucy my exhusband wanted her ears done and I let it happen even though I objected and I have to say: Lucy didn't look to be in a whole bunch of pain or anything horrible... the ears healed without a problem.
HOWEVER: When I later on got my Max I told my ex I would cut his ears before I cut the dog's!!!!
I didn't think it needed to happen. I was not planning on showing the dog so why put him through anything unneccessary??
I guess I can see both sides. Because I saw Lucy recover without incident I don't think it's an extremely big deal but I wouldn't do it again unless I wanted to show the dog.

 

[Christine Stull]

I thought about cropping Matilda's ears, but did not do it. While she was young I left NO ONE play with or bother ehr ears. They hang on either side of her head perfectly! I would never let anyone crop them now.

 

[Jaelle]

Are you saying that playing or touching the ears may have an effect on the way they fall when adult? (I don't mean pulling on the ears or anything like that, never!)

 

[Lisa M]

Originally posted by ElizabethH
We were given Junior at age 2.5 and his ears were already cropped so he could be showed. I think that he looks so handsome however, I have seen so many poorly done ears (not just boxers) that it makes me sad. It is amazing the expressions that come from his ears. He flattens them when he is mad, turns and lifts them depending on sounds. It is almost like he is communicating via his ears!

------------------
Junior- 3 yr old Male Fawn, Cropped ears, Full black muzzle, loves to wiggle

Casper doesn't have cropped ears and they are very expressive too. I can see when he hears something and perks them up, plus when he is curious they perk up more too. He flattens them when he is upset about something. His ears are just as telling about his emotions as they would be if they were cropped - just like his tail, even though it is cropped, I can still see it gets wagged back and forth and in big cricles when he's really excited about something. One thing I love that wouldn't happen if they were cropped is how they flap in the wind when he's running and how they get folded over on top of his head when he's frolicking, he reminds me of a kid with a baseball cap on when that happens

Also, to the person with the big brain comment: yes, boxers are very smart but they are still dogs. Dogs really aren't vain, that is a trait common to people so let's not project our own desires on to them as an excuse for cropping. If you want to crop then fine, but don't try to justify it by saying that boxers would want to undergo plastic surgery to enhance their appearances cause it just ain't so. Living with dogs all of my life has demonstrated their wants quite clearly to me, they want to avoid pain, to eat, play, sleep, feel safe and be loved.

 

[Lisa M]

Re: I prefer Cropped ears

Originally posted by PawPrintBoxers
I repeat: Boxers are a man made breed.

[/b] [/B]

Every breed of dog (not just the boxer) is man made, dogs are domestic not wild animals. But you raise in intersiting point because I personally feel that if the breed should have pointy ears that stand up, then since they were bred by mankind to look and act a certain way, they should have been bred for it and not require surgery to get them that way. The reason cropping in boxers exists at all was from their function, not for looks as people argue the case for cropping today. Dogs used in bull and bear baiting had the ear completely removed not just cropped - this was to aviod the ear being injured in their work. No one today is using boxers for this purpose so I don't feel the ears should be cropped. It is for me a personal matter though and I understand those who say they perfer the look and want to have the ears cropped, it is a free country and ear cropping is not against the law here. I think it is a shame that boxers have to be cropped to show in confirmation though, it should be that those of us who prefer not to crop were allowed to have a natural show quality boxer for competition.

 

[Alisha Mobley]

Re: I prefer Cropped ears

Originally posted by PawPrintBoxers

I repeat: Boxers are a man made breed.

[/b] [/B]

I agree, that's why they have the square head and build, short wide snout, etc. The Boxer itself is not natural so if a person has an uncropped Boxer they still don't have a "natural" dog. I'm not saying I'm against uncropped dogs, just the people that are against me for cropping. It doesn't matter if your Boxer has a long tail and floppy ears, it's still man made and far from natural.

 

[RedBoxerK9]

I agree with Lisa M on the ear cropping. They no longer need their ears cropping.

However, with tail docking I was against it until I went to Discover Dogs and received some literature from the Council of Docked Breeds. Some of the end results from dogs that should have their tails docked are quite horrific and I'm now very glad my two babies have got their little stumps .

The CDB has a website: http://www.cdb.org

Sue

 

[Marq-n-Marta]

It's not for me

I have a 14 week old boexer and I struggled as to weather I should crop his ears or not. I decided I could not do that to him. I think it is a personal preference. I have read the posts and many speak of babies who are circumcised. Just a little food for thought. I am also a neonatal Nurse and have witnessed many of circumcisions. These babies often don't get numbing agents or if they do the doctor does not wait long enough for the agent to take effect. i have witnessed that these children cry and eventually shut down and sleep. It is a defense mechanism. I know this has nothing to do with the argument however if some have said that when the pups get their tails docked they squirm and cry and eventually fall asleep isn't that the same thing as the babies? I don't know but I know I will not have my children circumcised unless It is done properly.

Marta

 

[Marq-n-Marta]

Since no one has taken the time to address Lava Linda's original concern, allow me to take it up at this time:

Linda, you are officially kicked off the board!
(j/k)

Interesting posts, though. Carry on.

Marquee