dock or not??? For any new boxer buyers

[Arbiesmom]

I'm not against or for docking - I still think it's personal choice -my two don't seem bothered by the early experience of docking.
For new boxer buyers I'd just say natural ears and tails can be just as attractive. My Ella is a rescue pup and I believe her English owners went to Ireland and a bought a pup that was legally docked rather than buy an undocked pup here - big mistake - Ella's dock is a butcher job!! Arbie has a good dock

Having said this - Arbie has tons of health probems - Ella seems to be thriving. It's a lottery

In the Uk it is illegal to dock now so over the past two years I have come across many boxers who look just as regal with tails as without. I actually like a docked boxer - my Arbie is one and so is Ella - but I have seen both sides - Arbie has a very good dock - neat and just the right length. Ella on the other hand has been butchered! Her dock is far too long and her little nub is susceptible to srapes - my poor girl can hardly sit on a carpet let alone concrete. It has taken months for Arbie to accept he has to sit at the roadside while Ella's allowed to stay standing.

[Jenentonik]

I can see both sides of the spectrum on this one. I personally like the docked tail, I guess thats why I own breeds with them My min pin has a perfect little dock, Tanks is a bit long and like Ella can scrape it up from time to time.

[Super Heros]

From the animals stand point I am not a fan....I do agree the look is kinda what makes the boxer, the wiggle butt, the nub etc...I am not as anti dock as I am crop...Cropping ears is just plain cruel IMO....

[LynseeC]

I am not opposed nor for per se. I am attracted to both, now, and would love a dog that has either tail or no tail, but initially was attracted to boxers because of the docked tail. If done at 3 days old, no later, nerve-endings in extremities have not yet been formed, so if done properly, should not cause pain to or be a traumatic experience for the puppy.

It is, however, incredibly sad to see someone with an animal that has had a botch job, and is just too long making it difficult for them to sit. I've heard of puppies needing to get the procedure re-done, which at that point becomes very painful.

I'm not a real big fan of ear cropping, primarily because of all the unnecessary maintenance(and I will say I'm not the biggest fan of the look on the boxer- other breeds, like say the Dobermann, I prefer the look of cropped ears.). Yes, it is painful, no surgical procedure goes without pain, THOUGH, if done by a skilled surgeon, the animal will be up and playing by the next day.

You're absolutely right in saying that to elect for either one of these procedures is personal preference. And I have no issues when someone elects to have them done, I do, however, have an issue when people do not take the time to do proper research on all the procedure entails. Such as:
Who will be doing the procedure? How much experience do they have? Will I be happy with the results? Will the results long-term negatively effect my dog's life? Am I ready for the maintenance involved?

Obviously, some of these questions pertain more to cropping than docking, but proper research ought to be done on anything that pertain to your new puppy....

These are just my opinions, and more than likely vary from others.

[Super Heros]

Great points!


BTW storms tail is on that border line, when she sits she rubs that little nub raw, I vitamin E her numb from time to time. Poor mama someone did a terrible job on her nubber!! Rough start to life born deaf, got a bad nub job then dropped off at a shelter bc no one wanted her THATS why I love to spoil the living crap out of my dogs!

[Arbiesmom]

Originally Posted by LynseeC

I am not opposed nor for per se. I am attracted to both, now, and would love a dog that has either tail or no tail, but initially was attracted to boxers because of the docked tail. If done at 3 days old, no later, nerve-endings in extremities have not yet been formed, so if done properly, should not cause pain to or be a traumatic experience for the puppy.

It is, however, incredibly sad to see someone with an animal that has had a botch job, and is just too long making it difficult for them to sit. I've heard of puppies needing to get the procedure re-done, which at that point becomes very painful.

I'm not a real big fan of ear cropping, primarily because of all the unnecessary maintenance(and I will say I'm not the biggest fan of the look on the boxer- other breeds, like say the Dobermann, I prefer the look of cropped ears.). Yes, it is painful, no surgical procedure goes without pain, THOUGH, if done by a skilled surgeon, the animal will be up and playing by the next day.

You're absolutely right in saying that to elect for either one of these procedures is personal preference. And I have no issues when someone elects to have them done, I do, however, have an issue when people do not take the time to do proper research on all the procedure entails. Such as:
Who will be doing the procedure? How much experience do they have? Will I be happy with the results? Will the results long-term negatively effect my dog's life? Am I ready for the maintenance involved?

Obviously, some of these questions pertain more to cropping than docking, but proper research ought to be done on anything that pertain to your new puppy....

These are just my opinions, and more than likely vary from others.

Great points Linsee and thank you for adding this I originally posted because of my feelings of annoyance for someone incompetant buchering my dog - I thought Ella couldn't understand the sit command - then I realised it was because she physically can't do it - she used to look so sad and kept trying so hard to please. We've got around it - she doesn't have to sit any more - Arbie's learned sit means sit for him but it means stand and wait for Ella.

[MyBoxerGirl]

Ear cropping has always been illegal where we live so for me it is a bit strange seeing a Boxer with cropped ears. Tail docking ws banned in about 2004 so our sweet girl has her tail and I have to be honest and say that I wish it were docked. She gets so excited when we come home or get visitors and has wagged her tail soooomuch, hitting it against the wall or furniture and made it bleed, sometimes it hurts her so much that she will yelp. This has happened quite often since she turned 1 (I'd say once a month or so) and I recently noticed that there is no longer fur on the tip of her tail. It's really sad that showing happiness and excitement causes her pain. So I'm for docking but at the same time think that it would be good if there were some kind of regulations to ensure it is done by a vet to stop bad home jobs.