I was just expressing my opinion on it... I don't like us chopping off bits of animals 'just in case'. I do, however, see neutering as being different, since a ridiculous number of dogs are dying every day in kennels... Just mentioning neutering coz some people see that as being 'chopping bits off' too... I do agree, but see the reasons behind it making it a different issue.

Do you think people who neuter are responsible?

I did mention about the spaying of females for health reasons, and I didn't mention anything about the neutering of males for any health benefits... I would always, 100% spay a female. I have neutered Jake because I had to. I would have neutered him eventually anyway though.

I dont like the look of cropped ears and i'm glad it's banned in this country. However, having said that, we dont have the kind of game or current law that allows UK dogs to need ears cropped. Maybe if I lived in a country where dogs hunted big, dangerous game and i'd had experience of how the ears can be damaged then maybe i'd think differently.

I liken it to tail docking - many people who are against tail docking do not understand the true role the dog plays in it's field and have probably never witnessed tails damaged from the dog doing it's job. They see it merely as unnecessary mutilation whereas I see it as a completely viable alteration to the dog. The same goes for dewclaws - I am for the removal of them in working dogs.

As previously said, in my opinion, if a dog needs to be surgically altered to carry out a job, it shouldn't be doing that job

to compare would be wrong,i agree,im just throwing a curvball,so to speek,we alter animals for our needs,cropping, docking is one of them. sorry but im tring to look a bigger picture of how ,we,humans,alter animals for our needs,happens eveyday..im injoying all of the coments as well,its all good info and i like the respect we are showing to one another.i was expecting a blow out of b/s

heres an other idea,iv never had a dog with cropped ears,ever ,get an ear infection,many with dogs who have full ears...any thoughts?

I personally do not like ear cropping even if it's done by a vet. I like dogs the way they are supposed to look. I'm so very glad it's illegal here. I don't believe in operating on a dog for any other reason than for medical purposes or neutering. I think it's cruel and unnecessary.

Yes my idea is that people who own dogs with "flat ears" check them and wipe them out when needed. And although you may not have experienced it I am pretty certain that cropped dogs get ear infections.

My lot have never had ear infections either, Rio is an obsessive ear cleaner.
No offence but I really dislike cropped ears.

I love the look of cropped ears.

I have dogs whose dewclaws have been removed, one whose haven't. I am pro removal as the pain associated with ripped dewclaws is longer lasting than the pain associated with removal. She has caught her dewclaws on a number of occassions. She's also cracked them. On each occassion she would feel sorry for herself for days.

I also prefer the look of docked and cropped dogs, but would have never had either done to my dogs.