Hi, earl here. My neighbor has this 2 year old doberman mix name tito. He's an older feller and dosn't really know much about dogs. His wife passed away 2 years ago (age 67) and thats why he purchased tito, for company. My neighbor retired but went back to work, so he never really had the opportunity to take tito to the vet for ear and tail croppings.

Ive researched a plethora of methods about ear and tail croppings, done by owners/breeders. For ears, just inject a numbing formula, then proceed with very sharp device to crop. After that, place blue liquid band-aid formula over cut area, and allow to heal. Same thing goes for tail. Mounting rubber-bands around tail/ and wait till it falls of is a very effective method also. But its not very popular and leaves the tail prone to infections.

I started this thread just to see if I can get any last minute suggestions. This is my first time doing this I already have the green light, and I feel very confident in performing the procedures. I just want to due the favor for him, because a vet bill would be extremely high. And he can save his money in this situation.

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 4:12 PM. Reason : .]

10/7/2006 3:58:30 PM

If the dog is over a year old, you should not crop his ears. The cartilage has already hardened at this point and they will not stand up. This is why the cropping should be done around 8-9 weeks of age and then taped/braced so that the cartilage will set in an up-right position. All you would be doing at this point is mutilating the dogs ears for no reason, not even cosmetic benefit to fit a breed standard.

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 4:12 PM. Reason : sp.]

10/7/2006 4:12:18 PM

Quote :

"Mounting rubber-bands around tail/ and wait till it falls of is a very effective method also. But its not very popular and leaves the tail prone to infections."

how about I wrap a wire around your neck and wait for your head to fall off.

10/7/2006 4:24:36 PM

I think if the dog wanted his tail shortened, he would chew it off and eat it LIKE MY CAT DID!!


Then again, my cat is pretty hardcore.

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 4:33 PM. Reason : ]

10/7/2006 4:29:27 PM

Banding a dog's tail is really uncomfortable for the dog. My uncle used this method on one of his rabbit dogs whose tail hadn't been docked and he never did it again. It basically drove the dog crazy as the tail died and he essentially tried to chew his own tail off.

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 4:31 PM. Reason : ^haha. you got to it first.]

Oh! And if you do band the dog's tail, don't be an idiot and use rubber bands like you put around your news paper. I believe that they sell special bands to do this because the band my uncle used looked nothing like a household rubber band.

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 4:32 PM. Reason : more.]

10/7/2006 4:30:08 PM

what is the point fo docking a dogs tail or ears??

(i'm not being a bitch-serious question, i don't know)

10/7/2006 4:35:53 PM

When dogs are used for some kind of working purpose like hunting, the ears and tail are docked to prevent injury to them. It is supposedly less painful and more humane to simply remove the floopy part of the ear than to deal with torn, maimed ears from an encounter with some sort of wild animal. The tail is docked for similar reasons.

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 4:42 PM. Reason : With certain breeds, the docked look as become the breed standard without any practical purpose.]

10/7/2006 4:39:23 PM

ahhhhhh

gotcha, i had no clue


i figured there was some sort of purpose to it


thanks

10/7/2006 4:39:56 PM

Hi Lucky1 here.

Im gonna start using that.

10/7/2006 4:46:19 PM

if he's just a companion dog why would you want to do this in the first place? it sounds like it's purely cosmetic.

10/7/2006 4:53:30 PM

It helps keep thorn problems down as well, but if it as a coon dog-imagine what a raccoon backed into a corner would do to a dog with hanging ears or tail. Raccoons will go after whatever they can--among other animals dogs are used to hunt for. It's better to have a short tail and standing ears for less of a chance to lose your game due to a lash out, or when they run through a thicket after a rabbit, etc...

10/7/2006 5:06:21 PM

Leave the poor dog alone.

10/7/2006 5:07:55 PM

for this dog's sake, i really really hope you're kidding.

10/7/2006 5:22:28 PM

^I know you!!

Your daddy is my doctor!

10/7/2006 5:23:54 PM

oh, Jesus, Earl thinks he is a vet now.

10/7/2006 5:26:47 PM

Hi, Lucky1 here. So why does your neighbor think that you are more suited for the job than himself?

10/7/2006 5:31:39 PM

I'm pretty sure that Earl is just trolling because he can be charged with animal cruelty if he does do what he claims he is going to do.

There have been a number of people charged with animal cruelty because they tried to trim the ears with scissors and dock the tail with an everyday rubberband instead of an elastrator.

10/7/2006 5:34:30 PM

you have got to be kidding me!!! That is very inhumane and illegal to do it yourself. If you do it, I hope animal control comes and fines your ass! First of all the dog is a mix, so it doesn't need to be "breed standard", second the dog is 2 years old and way too old to do it. If the dog is just a companion then docking and clipping is soley cosmetic and there is no need to do it. damn idiot!

10/7/2006 5:36:38 PM

yeahhhhhh. if he's just a companion dog, why would you dock them now. i can see the point if he was a hunting dog... but not in this situation. if you/your neighbor is really set on this idea, then go to the vet, too bad if it's too expensive. dogs are expensive, should've known that going in.

10/7/2006 6:04:02 PM

Quote :

"you have got to be kidding me!!! That is very inhumane and illegal to do it yourself. If you do it, I hope animal control comes and fines your ass puts a rubber-band around your nuts!"

10/7/2006 6:06:46 PM

If you do this, I will report you to the proper authorities.

There is no need to mutilate this dog. As someone without a DVM you have absolutely no idea what you're doing when it comes to cutting apart live animals.

Leave surgery to an actual vet.

10/7/2006 6:10:15 PM

Quote :

"Earl: Hi, earl here."

LOL

10/7/2006 6:17:09 PM

Quote :

"how about I wrap a wire around your neck and wait for your head to fall off."

Please don't be so angry at me, where did I err?

Quote :

"if he's just a companion dog why would you want to do this in the first place?"

Good question. Well, its basically for cosmetic reasons. He always wanted the dog to look like a doberman. Now he has rather large ears, he looks like he's part blood hound. If I crop them,he'll look like a doberman. And on top of that, he has a really serious issue combating flies and wasp off of them.

Quote :

"So why does your neighbor think that you are more suited for the job than himself?"

I heard him talking about it one day. And I know what kind of financial situation that would cause if he did go to the vet. After I told him about those sky-rocket bills they hit you with he considerd alternatives. And its a very simple procedure. So...

Quote :

"I'm pretty sure that Earl is just trolling because he can be charged with animal cruelty if he does do what he claims he is going to do."

I don't troll people. But how can you be charged with animal cruelty when private owners and breeders do it all the time?

Quote :

"you have got to be kidding me!!! That is very inhumane and illegal to do it yourself. If you do it, I hope animal control comes and fines your ass!"

Why do you have to be so dad-gom negative? I simply asked for suggestions not a jinkx of some sort that would land me in the big house. The last thing I want to do is ruin that dogs image and end up in an orange suit. I have faith in myself, If I can just focus and take a kindler more gentler approach.

Ive already preped the towels, sterilzing equipment and aprehension devices that will get me through this. In all honesty, im a bit nervous. And thats a fact.

10/7/2006 6:28:10 PM

its not your dog dumbass

when you work on someone else's dog its called practicing veterinary medicine w/o a license

10/7/2006 6:39:44 PM

Quote :

"If the dog is over a year old, you should not crop his ears. The cartilage has already hardened at this point and they will not stand up. This is why the cropping should be done around 8-9 weeks of age and then taped/braced so that the cartilage will set in an up-right position."

If you crop the dogs ears, it won't look like a doberman. Veternarians won't even do it after they're a year old and this dog is two years old. Not to mention the amount of bleeding that this could cause because of the number of developed blood vessels in a dog's ears.

You'll be charged with animal cruelty because you do not have the tools, the training, or a legitimate reason. You cannot give pain medication or antibiotics. The procedures that you are looking to do are generally only done to older dogs for medical reasons. The wounds caused by the procedure alone with only worsen the insect problem and they will surely become infected.

Yes, breeders and some private owners do it all the time to puppies and they usually have proper tools, the training, and often a veternarian's advice. Private owners who do this to older dogs usually end up in jail because the dogs end up mutilated, infected, with nerve damage, or in unnessarily pain. If this dog ends up having to go to the vet because of something that you have done (and it likely will), the vet will feel obligated to report you and the dog's owner.

In most states, cropping a dog's ears yourself is considered a felony.

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 7:17 PM. Reason : .]

10/7/2006 6:48:39 PM

Earl is a good guy. I'm sure he'll make the right choice.

10/7/2006 6:50:50 PM

don't do it.

http://www.aruff.com/DobeFAQ.html

Quote :

"Why are the ears cropped and the tail docked? Cosmetic surgery in dogs has become a topic of debate over the past few years. Although the American Kennel Club still requires dogs to be within breed standards in order to compete, many pet owners have elected not to have cosmetic procedures performed on their pets. The purpose of this article is to inform you about two common cosmetic procedures so that you can make an informed decision regarding whether or not to have them performed on your dog. Tail docking Tail docking is almost always done when puppies are three to five days old. At this age, the procedure does not require anesthesia and it has been reported that minimal pain is felt. If you get a puppy with a tail that according to breed standard should have been docked, then you have a decision to make. When the animals reach six days of age, their pain sensors and nerves begin to function fully. Thus, general anesthesia is needed for procedures after this time. Although as a general rule anesthesia is safe, there is always the risk of a complication occurring. Tail docking is also considered to become significantly more painful as the animal ages. So if you are not planning on entering your dog in shows, then consider if the procedure is worth the risk of anesthesia, pain for the dog and the financial investment. Ear cropping Trimming of the ear flap for cosmetic purposes in the dog is usually referred to as "ear cropping." There is no medical reason for the procedure, but is included here because it is a commonly performed procedure by some veterinarians. The optimal age for ear cropping is 2-3 months of age. The main purpose of ear cropping is to alter the shape of the ear flap to make the flap stand erect. is much more controversial than tail docking. This is a procedure that reshapes the ear of a dog from being long and droopy to short and erect. It must be done under general anesthesia and thus is usually performed between four and six months of age. It is considered to be painful after surgery and complications do occur. Many people that have no plans on showing their dog elect not to have this procedure performed. If you do choose to have your dog’s ears cropped, it is important to find a veterinarian that has experience with this procedure. The post-operative complications are significantly lower for those veterinarians that have had training in this procedure and have performed the operation in the past. Remember that just because a breed standard calls for a docked tail or cropped ears does not mean you are required to have them performed. Weigh your options carefully, and if you choose to have one of the above procedures performed on your pet, be sure to select a veterinarian with experience in cosmetic surgery. "

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 7:44 PM. Reason : bold for easy skimming]

10/7/2006 7:42:36 PM

Hi, Lucky1 here. Thewolfweb is about to do some earl cropping and docking!!!

10/7/2006 9:01:01 PM

I think I changed my mind. Its just too many consequences. I diddnt know that the ears were more tender and an early age. Thats makes perfect sense now. I kinda compared it to the ear lobe of humans, in that it dosnt matter the age because you can always pierce it. Oh well, thanks guys.

10/7/2006 9:48:51 PM

If this is not a joke it is reallly really disturbing. Earl- you have to be a really sick person to want to hurt an animal like that. Please say this is a joke. I am tempted to have an animal control officer come out and check on the dog. You need to say this is some kind of sick joke. Poor poor dog. Mixed breeds are the best. If he wanted a dobie so bad why didn't he just get one. Poor dog- who would think to mutilate a mixed breed just to make him look more like the breed standard. I personally do not agree with cropping or docking in general. This story is really frightening if it is true.

10/8/2006 11:38:31 AM

Earl is officially dumber than hcnguyen

10/8/2006 12:28:01 PM

^

If you value the life and wellbeing of that dog at all DO NOT CROP HIS EARS AND TAIL. You know there is a reason many vets refuse to do this even. I have seen a lot of dogs with owner cropped ears and they look like crap and are always infected, as for the tail, it is part of the spine, it is no telling how much you will fuck up that dog. It is very CRUEL to cosmetically crop a dog's tail after a few weeks of age. Just because the dog is a doberman does not mean it needs to be cropped. I've seen your posts in other threads and I seriously do not think you deserve to own animals.

10/8/2006 2:43:28 PM