I am old school. Well, let's face it, I'm just old! lol I grew up knowing that all breeds had a
standard. That's what differentiated one from another. You recognized a breed at a glance
from its standard. That, and only that, is why I am Pro crop/dock.
It's not because a long tail wipes a table. Really? You cut off a tail because it wipes a table? No. In my book, crop/dock is a STANDARD. Put a period after that!
When you pick a dog breed you not only look at its inner qualities, but its outer. Do I like the look of this dog? Do I prefer long or short hair? Do I like a dog with this height or smaller? You take them ALL in. But most of all, it cannot be denied, that we all are drawn to a particular breed, first, by its looks. It should not be the ONLY thing though because what the dog has been
bred for should also come into play. And
that is also a Standard!
I knew the size dog I was looking for and I knew the type of coat on them that I was looking for. I also LOVED the
Standard look of a Doberman! Made my heart swell just looking at them!
Then my sister sealed it for me by telling me they are a loyal, family orientated dog! Yup. A Doberman it was!
I joined DCF in Mar of 2009. THAT is when I heard,
for the first time, all the ruckus about crop/dock. I was shocked. Honestly. I must have been living under a rock! Because I couldn't believe that standards (ANY standard) are suddenly being challenged, changed, and fought about! Really? To me, its all that political correctness trailing down to our pets!
The 'people in charge' are weak and buckling to the public. All my years of growing up it was never a problem! Never. Why now?
You want an uncropped/undocked Doberman......go for it. I don't have a problem with that!
I really don't!! But don't beat me over the head for my crop/dock Doberman! Leave the Standard, the STANDARD. If you have a dog with ears and tails, have fun with them! It's
YOUR dog and beautiful!! But leave the 'rules' alone. So I can also have the Doberman I love!
It seems to me, that people in this day and age are so concerned about 'the other person'. When you've lived as long as I have with a Standard that have never changed, you could understand my frustration. It's not about what 'you do or what I do'. Do what you want. Do what you love. Just don't push it on anyone else by changing the
Standard.