Land of Granola

[karonadams]

With all apologies to the left coast folks here, i CANNOT believe how nuts California can be!!

Tonight i hear that in CA, you cannot have your dog's tails docked or ears clipped. i heard this because there is a small municipality that is trying to outlaw it individually as well. The animal rights folks out there are calling it Cruelty to Animals to do this.

Now, i understnad that some people prefer natural ears to cropped. I have one of each. Bo was too ill when she was a pup to ahve her ears done. Sam came to us as a rescue who had already had her ears clipped. I think they both look good, but i personlly prefer the clipped look. it SHOULD be personal preference.

As for the tail, can you IMAGINE our little nub wigglers with a long tail? some oen would be severaly injured! I see the rapidity of that little nub and i can just imagine how dangerous these girls would be with a long rope to whip around at that speed and with that strength!

So, is it just me or is it truly that CA is the land of Granols? What ain't fruits and nuts is flakes!!

karon

 

[Muggsysmommy]

I love the nub.....it would in no way be as cute with a full tail. Nothing wrong with tails but I love calling out wag the nub and look at the nubber and watching them shake their whole butt to make the nub wag faster. I can kind of see the ear thing but I still think it should be your preference. Having thier tails docked does not hurt them and actually prevents them from doing serious damage to anything in your house at tail level

 

[Ciscobxr]

I heard about this, and do not agree. While I love the floppy look, I also love the nubby on my boy!

 

[Layla's Mum]

Actually in the province I live in its illegal to crop a dogs ears, but you can still dock the tails. I too can't imagine our little butt wigglers with long tails! Look out! I love Layla's little nub. Almost looks mechanical when it moves.

 

[schipman]

I am by no means an expert, but have read that the tails are docked for the safety of the dog. Their tails (if not docked) can actually get broken due to the force at which the "wag". So for the safety of the boxer and everyone around them I beleive in docking. As for the ears I love the natural ones but that is just my opinion. I don't think there is an actual reason for changing the ears except for looks. It definately makes them look scarier (again my opinion only - please don't be offended)

 

[boxer]

I am by no means an expert, but have read that the tails are docked for the safety of the dog. Their tails (if not docked) can actually get broken due to the force at which the "wag".

Mmm. And some people say that is just supposition or an old wives tale invented by people who've never had an undocked dog. Kind of equals the people who say cropping is cruel but have never been anywhere near a cropping procedure. Before "believing in it for the dog's own safety", perhaps you should take a look at boxers and tail injuries (or lack of them) in countries where they have banned tail docking and see whether or not you think there's any actual truth to that theory?

Actually, there are quite a few members with tailed boxers here, from many countries not just those where docking is illegal. And there's quite a few threads on tails and whether or not it's a problem. Invariably, those with tailed boxers report happy, healthy pets free of any problems. Unless you count the occassional coffee cup swiped off the coffee table as a major "problem" that is

 

[BeckyNC]

As for the tail, can you IMAGINE our little nub wigglers with a long tail? some oen would be severaly injured! I see the rapidity of that little nub and i can just imagine how dangerous these girls would be with a long rope to whip around at that speed and with that strength!

karon

OUCH! Yes, I can imagine a long tail, as Tae has her natural tail. I LOVE it.

Here's a pic: http://community.webshots.com/photo/119645610/216932165vIrjkg

I agree with Boxer's comments (Debbie). Tae has never injured her tail and I'm not sure how that would occur (having watcher her wag it plenty!). I think the stories about hurting someone with a wagging tail are exaggerated and could happen with almost any medium-large sized breed. Tae's tail does not hurt when it hits me while waging, nor has it ever hit and broken anything.

While I am not morally opposed to docking (and would certainly get a Boxer with a docked tail), there are distinct advantages to having a natural tail. Dogs use their tails to "communicate" with other dogs. Someone who is educated in this can look at the dog tail and know what the dog is thinking. Sometimes the tail is held straight, sometimes up, sometimes curled over the back. Additionally, a wagging tail does not necessarily indicate friendliness--police dogs often wag when/before they attack (not sure if it's when or before).

 

[Elyse]

Personally, I love Nestle's & Porter's nubs and their natural ears. I think that the key here is "personally" and I do believe it should be a personal decision with age limitations of course to protect the pups.

I also think All boxers are beautiful. Nubs, tails, floppy, cropped.

 

[BoxerRock]

The proposed ban is in West Hollywood only...not all of California. Not too long ago, West Hollywood also banned the practice of de-clawing cats. The officials in W. H. are calling their most recent action a "ban on cosmetic surgery for animals." When my husband and I heard about this on the news, we shook our heads in disbelief. I'm all for animals and we are crazy in love with our Carley (natural ears, docked tail) but I think they're going too far with this one. Apparenty, the veterinarians in W.H. think so too. The last I heard, they're filing a lawsuit to block the ban.
The Rocks and Carley

 

[TracyandSam]

I have a full tailed boxer too, that is how she came to us from the rescue. The only way I can tell that she could be injured from having a long tail is when she crashes into the wall while she is chasing it! I love her tail, but when the time is right for us to get another boxer I would prefer one with the little nub! As for the ears, I love the floppy ones!