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Boxer dogs with tails11/21/2023 ![]() Historically, approximately one third of recognized dog breeds have their tails docked, but to our knowledge there are no reliable estimates of the extent to which both of these procedures are performed today. Despite this lack of evidence, ear cropping and tail docking have become defining features of many dog breeds. However, there is very little research assessing the validity of these assertions. Today the reasons given for these surgical alterations include prevention of tail injury, decreased ear infections, breed conformity and a breeder’s right to choose. In Roman times, dogs had their tails docked as a means to decrease the spread of rabies, while ear cropping was practiced to prevent ear damage during fighting and hunting. Along with this focused approach to genetic selection, some breed standards include specifics regarding the length of the tail or position of the ears which in some breeds can only be achieved through surgical removal or alteration (e.g. see specific breed standards set out by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Canadian Kennel Clubs (CKC)). Breed standards outline specific physical characteristics, such as color, height, and body conformation (e.g. This shift resulted in the formal recognition of ‘breed standards’, some of which were introduced in the 1800s. This preference for varied aesthetics in dog breeds is seemingly due to a shift in attitudes to less emphasis on utility of the animal to more of an aesthetic appeal. For instance, potential owners may prefer short-haired dogs to long haired or light coloured fur to dark. Although personality may be an important reason for relinquishment, aesthetics seem to be a key factor in choosing a dog breed resulting in a dog breed industry that is largely appearance driven. While personality is certainly an important factor, popular dog breeds do not display more desirable behaviour, live longer or have fewer health problems than their less popular counterparts. Interestingly, there is little correlation between breed popularity and trait desirability. Stephen and Ledger (2007) report that certain personality and behavioural traits are associated with a higher risk of relinquishment to shelters some of which include chewing furniture, aggression, anxiety, fear and excessive barking. When looking for a potential dog, there are many factors to consider, one of which is personality. It is estimated that 37–47% of households in the United States own a dog, equating to ~70–80 million owned dogs. Since then intensive artificial selection has resulted in 152 officially recognized dog breeds which vary drastically both morphologically and behaviourally. From pottery and other artefacts, a pattern of genetic selection can be observed beginning as late as 7500 years ago. ‘Man’s best friend’, the dog, was domesticated by humans over 15,000 years ago and since that time they have remained an important part of society in many cultures around the world. Taken together, these results suggest that although a significant proportion of subjects appear unaware of the practices of tail docking and ear cropping in dogs, these procedures have significant impacts on how modified dogs and their owners are perceived by others. ![]() Experiment 3 (n = 410) is the first evidence that owners of modified dogs are perceived as being more aggressive, more narcissistic, less playful, less talkative and less warm compared to owners of natural dogs. Modified dogs were perceived as being more aggressive, more dominant, less playful and less attractive than natural dogs. The results obtained in Experiment 2 (n = 392) provide evidence that ear cropped and tail docked dogs are perceived differently than an identical dog in its ‘natural’ state. Similarly, an implicit measure of awareness (‘nature vs nurture task’), found that the majority of participants believed short tails and erect ears were a consequence of genetics rather than something the owner or breeder had done. We found that 42% of participants (n = 810) were unable to correctly explain the reason why tail docked and ear cropped dogs had short ears and tails. In Experiment 1 awareness was measured using a combination of both explicit and implicit measures. The aim of this project was to: 1) assess public awareness of tail docking and ear cropping, 2) determine whether physical alteration of a dog affects how the dog, and 3) owner are perceived. Available attitude research surrounding these controversial practices has been limited to surveys of veterinarians and dog breeders familiar with both practices. These procedures are classified as medically unnecessary surgeries whose purpose is primarily cosmetic. Tail docking and ear cropping are two surgical procedures commonly performed on many dog breeds.
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