Professional dog breeders have been practicing dog and ear cropping for a long time. We are already so accustomed to the image of dogs with such features that we cannot imagine them in their natural form. Therefore, when planning a mating of Dobermans or Rottweilers, the breeder, without hesitation, asks the veterinarian about when tails and ears stop puppies. Let's first understand if this procedure is needed.
We accept them as they are
Today, more and more often on the street you can see thoroughbred dogs in their natural form. The ears of the Dobermans and Great Danes no longer stand on their heads, trimmed in flame-shaped patterns. Being lop-eared, they do not have such a formidable look, but, getting used to, we can say that they are even nicer in this way. The long tails of some breeds also seem like an extra "detail", but this is more easily perceived.
For many inexperienced owners, this question is very relevant. When do tails stop for puppies and should it be done? Today, docking is officially prohibited for most breeds in the countries of the European Union. In Russia, for the time being, you can still cut off your ears and tails, or leave everything as it is. In any case, they will be accepted for breeding and allowed to compete at the pedigree show. But if you decide to follow traditional standards, then you need to find out when the tails stop puppies.
When does this happen
If the mating was registered at the club, then after the puppies are born, you should invite a specialist who will inspect. He examines the offspring and, if it is recognized as pedigree, then leaves puppy cards. Now you can invite the veterinarian. Usually the curator of the breed informs the owner when the tails stop the puppies. There is not much time for reflection. Depending on the breed, this is done on 2-7 days of life, while the vertebrae are still quite soft.
Is it possible to do it yourself
It is extremely undesirable, unless you are a breeder with extensive experience. The procedure is carried out without anesthesia, at this age it is contraindicated. Moreover, no special equipment is required for this. But doing the operation yourself is not worth it, unless you are a breeder with extensive experience. But the ears stop at the age of two to three months under general anesthesia.
Veterinarian work at home
Puppies do not need to be docked in the clinic. You can call a doctor home and provide him with a convenient desk for work. The whole operation takes a few minutes, after which the puppies will be returned to the mother. The doctor will have to lay out sharp scissors, cotton wool, an antiseptic, sterile wipes. Nothing more is needed. There is no stitching on the tail, which greatly speeds up the procedure.
So, usually the puppies are taken away from the mother, and she is sent for a walk. The owner takes out the first baby and passes it to the doctor. He quickly cuts off the tail and presses the wound with cotton wool with a disinfectant solution. Two minutes later, the baby goes to the basket, and the veterinarian takes the next one. Puppies with cropped tails fall asleep very quickly, as if they weren’t hurt. Therefore, when the mother returns, she will find her family completely calm.
Tail length
There are no clear standards. Some 3–3 caudal vertebrae are left to some breeds; to others, such as airedale, only one third of the tail is removed. There are breeds that do not have a single standard, that is, the breeder decides what to do with the tail. For example, wolfhounds. But all standards agree on at what age puppies stop their tails. While the vertebrae are still soft, this operation will be the least painful. Therefore, do not pull. If you decide to trim the tail, then do this until the pet reaches the age of ten days.
Cropping ears
In this case, a lot depends on the breed. For the Caucasian Shepherd, this is the third day of life. The operation is not too complicated. Puppies just cut off the tip of the auricle while it is very thin. It turns ears like a bear. Therefore, it is quite possible to stop the puppy's ears and tail at the same time.
If we are talking about Dobermans or Great Dane, then everything is more complicated. The owner needs to wait until the kids are three months old. During this time, the head and ear will reach the desired size. Before the procedure, the babies are not fed for eight hours, after which they are delivered to the veterinary clinic. There surgeons are already taking on their job:
- The first step is anesthesia. The puppy is laid on a special table, the legs are pulled out and firmly fixed. In addition, the jaw and body of the puppy are fixed.
- The auricle is treated with an antiseptic, and the place where stopping will be done is cleaned of wool.
- According to a special pattern, doctors cut out the desired shape. The operation lasts about an hour, so the owner needs to be patient.
- After the operation, the treatment is repeated and the patient is sent home. Usually after two weeks it is necessary to remove the stitches.
Postoperative Recovery
Even if we are talking about stopping the tail, it is still a surgical intervention. Therefore, the doctor must assess the risks and familiarize them with the breeder. If the puppy is weak, it is recommended to postpone this procedure and, at an older age, perform it already under general anesthesia or abandon it altogether.
After stopping the tail or ears, puppies need the most thorough care. The place where they sleep should be dry and clean so that there is no risk of infection. The wound must be examined twice a day. The slightest signs of suppuration are the reason for immediately visiting a doctor. Such an intervention in itself is an injury to the animal. Therefore, a decrease in appetite may occur, drowsiness may occur during the first two days after the procedure. But if the puppy completely refuses food, then you need to sound the alarm.
Breeds of dogs that require stopping
Stopping ears is a requirement of the standard of such breeds as a boxer, Doberman, Great Dane, American Terrier, Rottweiler, Schnauzer. This group does not include Caucasian Shepherd Dogs and Central Asians, as they carry out this procedure very early (a week old).
Tails are stopped according to the standard from the following breeds: American and English Cocker Spaniel, Bobtail, Doberman, boxer, Airedale, Yorkshire Terrier, Giant Schnauzer, etc.
Misconceptions and Facts
And today, most owners are confident that they do this in the interests of their dogs. In fact, she feels good the way nature has created her. We have already said on which day tails are stopped for puppies. Of course, they will quickly forget the pain, because they are too small. But they won’t get any benefit from the short tail. Let's look at the main misconceptions that justify stopping:
- The procedure reduces the susceptibility of the ears to diseases and inflammations. It has already been proven that the shape of the auricle does not affect this in any way. If you clean your ears on time and consult a doctor if necessary, then you will not need to do the relief.
- Many people believe that this procedure is painless. This conclusion is drawn from how quickly the puppies calm down. In fact, they hurt, like everyone. And the postoperative period is painful for all living things. Moreover, anesthesia itself is very harmful for dogs.
- It is believed that the dog will be better off without a tail and ears. A very strange conclusion, because these are the bodies that are responsible for communication. The movements of the ears and tail show the mood of the pet, helps to interact with other animals and humans. Therefore, leaving the dog without them and believing that you are doing better is at least strange.
Instead of a conclusion
As practice shows, at the last international exhibitions, animals with cut off ears and tails are appearing less and less. Many dog training centers began to struggle with such methods of guidance of "beauty". The fact is that with the help of body language animals express needs and emotions. Moreover, with the help of special signals, they can resolve conflict situations.
Second moment. The tail is an extension of the spine. Its removal leads to the fact that the load on the musculoskeletal system increases. That is, its absence does not allow a reasonable distribution of the load on the bones and muscles of the animal according to the mechanism originally laid down by nature.