Karl Louis Dobermann created the breed that took his name to be a personal body guard. As a tax collector, his was a dangerous job, and he often carried enough money to make thieves and robbers a real threat. Since the Doberman Pinscher was a guard dog, cropping its ears allowed for increased sound localization, important for an effective protection or watch dog. Cropping the ears also removed the majority of an appendage that could be grabbed and pulled,  causing far greater harm than cropping. This was also the reason the tail was docked. Doberman tails are very thin and sensitive, and more vulnerable to breakage than other breeds. Docking was a preventive measure.

Cropping and docking has been prohibited in several countries, and while some see the practice as cruel and unnecessary, others see it as a preventative measure, especially if they’ve experienced ear infections in their other dogs. Some also feel that the practice is “integral to defining and preserving breed character” in certain breeds. We leave the debate to others who own the breeds most impacted by a ban. Please know that this is a simple explanation for the history behind cropping and docking in this breed, and not an invitation to “vent.” We won’t be posting comments left below that support or oppose the issue because debate is not the point of this post, a brief explanation is.

Image: Doberman Original Mixed Media Dog Art Collage by Michel Keck – find it here.