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Originally Posted by Rescuemomma  First I must say I'm very impressed with people here - I've seen these debates in many places and this is the FIRST time I've seen it go on this long without people getting really ugly!I think cosmetic surgery is wrong. That said - ear cropping and tail docking in some breeds I completely understand. I had an English Springer - even though her tail was docked when I got her we had to dock it even shorter because it was still long enough she kept hitting it on things! Such an active, happy tailed breed I can see a medical reasoning. That said, I've known many Dobies, Danes, schnauzers, etc with natural ears and no problems.
As for dewclaws - rear I absolutely agree need to be removed. It's almost always a problem! Front tend to be more attached to ligament and bone, and even when I was more active in the show ring I refused to take them off - I see them use then for grip, maneuvering toys and bones, they're not useless as long as they're not loose and dangling. Benjamin has his back ones - and I wish when the shelter neutered him they'd removed them! I'm not going to put him under just for that and with no teeth there's little reason for him to go under - but if there's ever a reason he needs surgery I will have his back dewclaws removed, they just dangle and I do worry they'll catch and tear!
As for show standards - I think any good breeder should be more worried about health then looks, show or not. I know many show breeders that don't health test. I know some who don't show that do. Ethics are more of a guideline to me then showing or not. Look at breeds ruined by looks - bulldogs can't breed or give birth naturally, German Shepards can hardly walk, this is why I seldom show AKC anymore with my IGs - they're getting so extreme they look like giraffes and as a result, wobblers, disk disease such as IVDD, and luxating patellas are becoming HUGE issues. Not to mention how many refuse to acknowledge the growing rate of epilepsy and auto-immune diseases. It's truly tragic to watch a breed I love so much getting ruined by extreme looks the show people like - an IG should still be able to do lure coursing, jump off the couch, and be the athletes they're ment to be without breaking a leg or throwing a disk! |
Yes, it's wonderful that we can debate and actually learn things from each other! Great post and I totally agree with you that some breeds, I think around 5 or 6 are in serious trouble because of the written standard and changing it so frivolously. This is where the YTCA must hold strong, I hope they don't ever over shorten the nose or change in other ways, until we know what type of health impact it will have.