Yes, the Romans used to dock dogs in the belief that prevented them getting rabies, person guard dogs like Dobermanns to stop tackers grabbing the dogs ears & tails, Rottweilers (butchers dogs) to prevent the tail contaminating the meat & also against thieves, the OES to avoid paying the dog tax-which only applued to dogs with tails, the list goes on &, on

That's really interesting and I suppose as abhorrent as we find these practices it does go back to when most breeds had a real purpose .
Not say some dont now but often our dogs are companions first
Its just awful that it has become in many cases a fashion. 
Forgotten the film could be men in black  but the one with with two doberman with altered ears must encourage people to want this look

I had someone in my puppy class enrol with a pit bull type pup (they called it an American Staff on the application form) who was then going to take it to Spain to have its ears cropped there when it was 12 weeks old. He told me because he wanted to let me know they wouldn't be able to attend puppy class for a few weeks

Of course I tried to dissuade him but he just said that he 'likes the look' and he wants the dog to look like these dogs he likes which have been cropped... and he showed me this website for the vet who would do the cropping in Spain. It was like some kind of magazine where you browse through all these different 'cuts' of the ears and choose the one you like most He couldn't be persuaded on welfare grounds. He was Spanish himself and had family there who were helping to organise it and got their own dogs cropped by this vet.

The only thing that finally worked was telling him that if he cropped the dog's ears it was going to look 'of type' much more and attract attention and may end up having to be on leash and muzzled for life - not to mention having to come back into the country via Customs with a pup that has ears cropped is going to look like he's importing a pit bull.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the guy already had the boat booked to go to Spain so decided to take his family for a holiday abroad anyway - with the puppy. He didn't get the ears cropped but when he tried to re-enter the country, as predicted, customs seized the dog as being of type and it was then held forever in kennels - like till it was about 11 months old - whilst various legal stuff went on and people debated whether it was of type and what should happen to it.

In the end it was released but had to be muzzled and kept on lead for life.

Total freaking nightmare. The pup was really shy of the other dogs in my puppy play sessions too, so I was a bit worried to hear it was then in kennels for months. Not a good breed to get less than adequate socialisation.

What  a sad story

> So was there a working / protective reason in other breeds as well ?

In pits bulls it's because the ears bleed so much if caught in a fight, so removing them allows the dog to fight longer

Not really a working, reason, as dog fighting is illegal in most countries & non fighting show line Pitbulls are usually cropped

Hi, I have a 2 year old bitch, she is on day 14 of her cycle. It’s my 1st time trying to breed. Myself and the lady with ‘stud’ dog have been meeting up since day 10 for big walks. In hope dogs will mate? The make dog is now showing a lot of interest! But my female dog is having none of it! Snapping at him? It looks as though she’s ‘Flagging?’ Although I could be wrong? This is both our 1st time breeding our dogs. Just looking for as much help, tips and advice as possible?

> Hi, I have a 2 year old bitch, she is on day 14 of her cycle. It’s my 1st time trying to breed. Myself and the lady with ‘stud’ dog have been meeting up since day 10 for big walks. In hope dogs will mate? The make dog is now showing a lot of interest! But my female dog is having none of it! Snapping at him? It looks as though she’s ‘Flagging?’ Although I could be wrong? This is both our 1st time breeding our dogs. Just looking for as much help, tips and advice as possible?

Normally you would go to the studs home for the maiting rather than out on a walk. It could be she isn't ready yet. You could see if there is a vet willing to progesterone test to find out where she is.
Have both dogs have the breed recommend health testing? Hip scoring, eye testing including gonioscopy and DNA tests?

Not a good idea to try to breed from 2 maiden dogs as neither will know what exactly to do.

Strange as may seem most responsible breeders use an experienced proven stud on a maiden bitch & vica versa.

Are you experienced in handling stud dogs & matings ?

It is not just a case of putting an season bitch with an entire dog & simply wait for "it" to happen. Have you tested your bitch to check to see if she is ovulating or near to ovulating? If your bitch isn't ready then her behaviour is natural.

Is the "stud" owner an experienced breeder/stud handler?  Some dogs need a lot of help especially with maiden bitches, a Champion BC a friend had refused to ever mate a maiden bitch, despite being a very successful stud dog.

Obviously your bitch & the dog are fully health tested, hips & elbows, eyes plus the whole gambit of DNA tests & you are not mating carrier to carrier of any of the genetic conditions.

Welcome to the forum Nelson23. You may find this post of some interest: HERE