Hopefully, you have a good breed club who studies these things and truly loves the breed. Some breed clubs haven't been protective and bad things are happening the the breed because the way standard is written, but so far the Yorkshire Terrier is not suffer from problems because of the written standard. The breeders I've talked to who belong to the YTCA really do seem to love the breed, and I can't imagine them doing anything that they know would hurt the puppies. We have to remember that there are good people breeding and they love these dogs, just as much as we pet owners.

I don't know much about ear cropping, but from my understanding, its major surgery, I didn't even know it was legal for a breeder to do it, but I haven’t read much about it. There are some breeds who suffer more ear problems if they don't have their ears cropped, especially those dogs who are in the water a lot. I would hope if it's only done only for cosmetic reasons, they would stop this, I think people would get use to the uncropped ear very fast. I don’t think a pet owner can properly evaluate these things until it's too late. Your dog is suffering because you made a decision based on some information that dog advocates and pet owners know more than the breed than the mother club concerning this breed. I hope you use the information you have to educate the others about your experience with uncropped ears. I mean they are thinking about outlawing this and I know in other countries they have. In nature, if a dog was having reoccurring ear infections it would die out before it could reproduce, so the dog with naturally pointy ears would have a better chance at survival, or one with floppy ears and not prone to ear infections. I know proneness to ear infections is an inherited trait! When man steps in, we have to account for every attribute the dog processes and surgically modify it if it will cause problems. I think some people think the surgical alteration came first, and that breeders are designing some “perfect looking” dog because most of the show traits relate to physical attributes. I think surgical alteration came after, when loving breeders realized these traits would later cause the dogs major problems.

Concerning the other things you mention dewclaws, I’ve read many accounts on YT were the dewclaw was torn, and the dog had to have it cut off later in life, which is much more painful on the dog. To me, you should always go with the rule safety first, what’s safest and healthiest for the dog long term and causes the least pain and trauma? Hopefully, a good breed club studies a matter before any changes in standard are made.

Such a beautiful heart and soul to do what you are doing, thank you so much!


On the the debarking post... horrible... just horrible.

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!

Do you mean that people are having claws removed from dogs? Or having dew claws removed? It's pretty common to have dew claws removed. Working dogs or dogs that are outside playing many times catch that extra useless claw on something and it rips partly off. It's much better to have them removed when they puppy is just a few days old before the connective tissue starts to get harder.

I hope no one is having their dogs claws removed! It's bad enough when people do it to cats.

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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.

I think it should e last resort however if it comes to an owner having to get rid of a dog ir getting it done than iM in support of the owner doing what they have to do to keep their dog

I absolutely agree! I have actually seen very few health problems in Yorks that can be attributed to their look - in fact none come to mind, and most good Yorkie breeders I meet clearly care about the breed! It's to be commended!

As for declawing - I've never heard of a dog being declawed - I hope that was a misunderstanding! My 19 y/o Ragdoll is declawed on front - and she bites. My nearly blind Sphynx has no claws, they where removed from all 4 feet - makes me furious, someone spent the money to mutilate her, but never took care of her eye problems or health, absolutely disturbs me! Poor Athena doesn't even walk like a normal cat :(

I meant all claws, sometimes only front & the statement that shocked me 'was it would be mean to take their back leg claws they use them to itch themselves.
This is separate from dew claw removal. It tends to be let me say this indirectly & nicely 'a very uppe-rclass trend in California' specifically. I was suggested this because of the issues with Scoobers and having his nails trimmed and him being so anxious it really is horrific. Scoobers was on prozac for his anxiety it helps to make the training easier to set behavior patterns. After the realization of the procedure I could never do it for justify it being done.

I beleive in dew claw removal Scoobers came with dew claws we had a tear it bled forever and was horrid he had it removed...guess what-it grew back! I'm terrified he will injury it again. I know one girl here with a SUPER active dog who has both dew claws never a single issue-I've known 4 or 5 dogs with dew claw injuries 2 of my own.

Miniature Schnauzer should have ears cropped to see the inside of the ring. I've known many with uncropped beautiful floppy ears that never had an issue. Cropping ears as they are a pup -by a vet not a breeder always-is an in and out procedure with little risks. Unfortunately most of the dogs with ear issues from them being uncropped develop these as the ear grows to maturity and over time it only becomes worse and more often cropping at a later age-even when done by a vet in a proper fully capable medical setting-is problematic, takes a much longer recovery and has not only an undesirable look but affect on the ear itself and overall health risk during & after the procedure are exponentially multiplied.

I also beleive in tail docking-if done by a vet sorry that's my unequivocal opinion on it-I've seen too many tail injuries & like ear cropping doing it later is worse.

I'm still torn on debarkig I see where it should be only a last resort after ample time and effort is put in place and only in specific situations-like you will loose your dog and they may loose their life.

I however can't say I will always support these procedures, my opinions of them have already changed three times in the last 6 years based on new information and experiences with my own dogs.

Wow, that horrifies me - with cats that have a retractable claw it's bad enough - but a dog? How can they even walk properly if you amputate the ends of their toes?!!! I'm sorry - any vet that'd do such a cruel procedure should loose their license! I can see the argument with cats - especially with elderly that a cat scratch could be a major problem, but a dog? Never seen it or heard if it, but that totally disgusts me! Dewclaws I get - but never fully declawing a dog!

Holly Toledo, I can't believe this, I've never heard of such a thing, is this legal?

I got a 9 month old Yorkie that had been de-barked, but she didn't sound like that. Her bark just sounded muted, maybe about 30% as loud as a regular bark, and sort of raspy. I was really annoyed that someone had done that to her. My vet was really surprised, and said he didn't know any vets that would do that procedure anymore.

It's done by vets so why wouldn't it be?

It's done in their office as a medical procedure so I'd assume so.

I'm guessing the vets are few and far between, but let's be real you can have anything done if you pay enough for it, even and especially if it's regulated or outlawed.

I don't think it's common enough to have hit the radar yet for regulation.

Until there is regulation on it-to be honest I'm not going to condemn anyone I seriously thought about it with Scoobers considering however it is far too expensive, and the recovery and what they'd do to him-we'll find another way. I made a thread about it later to see what others thought about it too.

On another note, I'd share more about my endorcement of or experience and why I now see why ear cropping can be needed or justified here-WOW!

The (mini and all) schnauzer forums I'm on are based in Australian and Europe-if you so much as mention ear cropping or tail docking they call you names that end in American but the first part isn't very polite.

Totally OT-some people think ppl are rude on YT, they should try a schnauzer forum!:eek::(

Good point, I'm just so shocked.

Rude? I'm actually very impressed that everyone seems to be getting along and listening to others views and opinions! You want mean and ride? I'll give you the link to the Italian Greyhound forum! Some of the IG people I've me are by far the meanest, rudest people I've ever known! Heaven forbid I dare suggest auto-immune, eye problems, neurological and disk problems, and epilepsy are growing, obviously watching so many of my rescues and 1 of my own suffer with these things means nothing and I have no clue LOL.

I had a dog that it took a good dose of Ace to trim her nails - it wasn't easy, but I'd rather have to sedate a dog that hates it then mutilate them. But I can see the temptation there......

We should take a poll, which breed's dog forum has the rudest posters? :D