Sometimes we can see that some dogs’ tails or ears have been cut. Maybe there are many parents who, like me, didn’t understand why their dogs’ tails were cut off at first. This is too cruel, but people do it for dogs. Dogs' tails are cut off for aesthetic reasons and for competitions, but this is not necessary for pet dogs raised at home. I believe parents will not cut off their dogs' tails just because of their appearance. We should love and care for dogs.

The tails of some purebred dogs were first trimmed to prevent the dogs from getting entangled in some low trees when hunting. Today, the tails of dogs are trimmed purely for appearance. If you are just keeping a pet and not participating in dog shows, there is no need to dock the tail. Currently, breeds that require tail docking include Boxer dogs, Mini Pinscher dogs, etc.

Docking a dog's tail should be done before the puppy's eyes open, which can reduce the dog's pain. The length of the docked tail depends on the breed. Usually, only 1/3 of the tail is cut off for the Whistler; for the Rottweiler, only one tail section is left, almost to the root of the tail; for the Miniature Pinscher, it is cut to the third tail section, It is better to stand upright; for Doberman dogs, it should be cut at the first or second tail joint, and it should appear to be connected to the spine. It should not be too droopy or too long.

When docking the tail of an older dog, it should also be done within 1-2 months of age. The method is: the surgical site is trimmed and disinfected, local infiltration anesthesia is applied, and a tourniquet is used to ligate 3-4 cm above the surgical site to stop bleeding. The assistant secures the tail and keeps it in a horizontal position. The surgeon uses a surgical knife to make a circular incision in the skin, then pushes it upward 1-2 cm under the skin and cuts it off at the joint. Ligate the blood vessels and after sufficient hemostasis, sprinkle anti-inflammatory powder, suture the skin flap, and then disinfect with iodine. Surgery is best performed by a veterinarian.

Ear cropping is only performed on some fighting dogs or big-eared dogs for appearance or convenience when walking. For example, after the ears of the American Boxer dog are cropped, the neck will be long, the bones will be well-proportioned, not bulky, the gait will be hearty, light, and imposing, and the mouth will be wide and drooping, so that the body lines will match the ear shape. In the UK, ear cropping is not allowed, so the same Boxer dog looks rough and bold, with a thick frame but a short neck. Ear cropping should generally be performed within 2-3 months after birth. When trimming the ears, put a mask on the dog, and the assistant will hold the head in place. First, trim the hair at the surgical site, then perform routine disinfection and local infiltration anesthesia. Use a scalpel to incise the skin at the predetermined location, bluntly separate the skin and cartilage, and separate toward the root of the ear. 2 cm, remove the cartilage at the site, and the remaining skin will naturally form a sleeve to fully stop bleeding. Spread anti-inflammatory powder or penicillin powder, sew the skin, wrap it with gauze and absorbent cotton, and wrap the outside with a bandage to fix it to prevent scratching.

Ear cropping must be performed according to the "ear mold". If it is not cropped properly, it may become droopy ears in the future, which is not only unsightly, but also hinders the hygiene of the ear canal. Therefore, domestic pets do not need to have their ears cropped.