CraigSykora, plastic surgery is for humans, who have the option to choose it or not to. Dogs have no choice, and unlike humans are not obsessed with looking s certain way. Unless there is a leg image health reason for removing a body part, then these poor animals deserve to left alone and kept well away from people like you. If you want to go have some surgeon cut your ears to a point, be my guest, but just don't let him/her have a go at your dog.

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The tails are docked because they are prone to cancer in Dobermans. The ears are cropped to help with hearing (like a cats ears) as they are able to pinpoint sounds to within 5 degrees. Cropping is not allowed in some countries but most American breeds are done this way.

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Outlawed? What country do you live in? What do you think about outlawing plastic surgery? Shame on you for wanting to control what other people do.

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So glad you live in the UK and that I don't.

Actually, no. Because that's weird as well. In the UK we generally don't go in for mutilating other people without consent or disfiguring our pets.

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And are probably "pro choice"...

It does have an awesome life. But in an article that is trying to portray how nice these dogs are, there is a point to be made about why someone would want to make it look fierce and nasty. It's a lovely dog. It would be more lovely if it hadn't had bits cut off it.

please

Dear Craig, obviously you felt personally attacked by some of these comments. Surely nobody intended to attack you in person. From all I understand, there's different opinions about what is considered reasonable changes in another creature, which is completely in our hands. You seemed to support, or be O.K. with the fashion to surgically change some features in certain breeds. I can't help but wonder what the good (for the dog or owner) there is in changing the length of the tail and deforming the ears? Maybe you would like to explain.