Chains?

Because t hey are idiots!

Some do it for looks and some do it to strengthen the dogs neck They hav weighted collars for that.

Well actually my red nose had a spiked collar and I liked it. Not because I wanted her to look mean or tough it just looked cute to me. The vet didn't like it but he didn't pay for it either. I didn't like it on our male but I did like it on Moka in the end I took it off both because it kind of aided to negative stigma.

You know what is cute and tough at the same time......
PINK STUDDED COLLERS!!!!! hahahaha I wanna grab one for Pantera, But if she aint carefull, she'll be on her way out mighty fast...

lol Im not talking about spiked collars, cause heck chopper wears one, so does bones. I'm talking about those big old log chains, something that you would use to tie out your dogs....lol I just find it so ridculous!! Pink spiked collars are cute, im trying to find one for Medusa but so far have only found them for smaller dogs......

AmericanPitbull wrote:

lol Im not talking about spiked collars, cause heck chopper wears one, so does bones. I'm talking about those big old log chains, something that you would use to tie out your dogs....lol I just find it so ridculous!! Pink spiked collars are cute, im trying to find one for Medusa but so far have only found them for smaller dogs......

OHHHH I don't do those. I don't chain any of my dogs at all. I've wanted to chain a few but I've had bad experiences from chains and refuse to use them. I'll throw up a 20ft fence before using a chain but I don't knock anyone that does use them because it is by ordinance for some. In the city limits of the city I was in in NC I had to chain my dogs when ever they were outside and I hated it.

They put chains around a dogs neck to boost thier OWN EGOS. As far as the spike collars go, at one time way back my dog Rocky had one too but like Redsky said all it does it increase the publics fear factor on the dogs so I took them off. For this very reason, and BSL, I dont think I will be cropping anymore ears. The less aggressive they look the better IMO.

Oldfort wrote:

They put chains around a dogs neck to boost thier OWN EGOS. As far as the spike collars go, at one time way back my dog Rocky had one too but like Redsky said all it does it increase the publics fear factor on the dogs so I took them off. For this very reason, and BSL, I dont think I will be cropping anymore ears. The less aggressive they look the better IMO.

Man i just started cropping lol but i do it cause the judges always pick a cropped dog over an uncropped one. Not to mention most don't look good natural!

Tina I had someone argue that point with me before. Your right though, if a dog has cropped ears it is less likely to get an infection in the ear. Ears that flap over tend to hold more bacteria and end up nasty if not cleaned regularly.

Actually a cropped ear gets dirtier than a natural ear. Also in this next upcoming year the ADBA judges are being urged to pick dogs with natural ears. They are wanting to get back to the natural look. I dont know the UKC's stand on this but I do know that the ADBA is going to favor now the uncropped ear.

True oldfort....I was meaning more when a dog gets a bath, with water that gets down inside the ear. When we give a dog a bath(when I say we-meaning anyone) and then when we dry the dogs ears...we can only get so far down inside the ear. But with dirt in the ears, they are more likely to get ear mites. I've had bones get an ear infection in the summer time because there was standing water inside the ear canal that didnt drain.

Who argued with you about ear infections Michelle?? So they wont ever pick a dog with cropped ears....I guess by saying EVER Im taken it a little far.

Oldfort wrote:

Actually a cropped ear gets dirtier than a natural ear. Also in this next upcoming year the ADBA judges are being urged to pick dogs with natural ears. They are wanting to get back to the natural look. I dont know the UKC's stand on this but I do know that the ADBA is going to favor now the uncropped ear.

I can tell ya that won't fly with the UKC lol. The judges and breeders love the cropped look vs uncropped. Some dogs just don't look right with and uncropped ears:



I can also say i have had more problems with ear infections with dogs that still have natural ears then not. Triton kept an ear infection, he was of course natural! I am personally gonna continue to crop my dogs ears if I feel they look better with a crop then natural and believe me I had to push myself to ever get one cropped! Luna and Chaka were the first two dogs I ever cropped.

Oldfort wrote:

They put chains around a dogs neck to boost thier OWN EGOS. As far as the spike collars go, at one time way back my dog Rocky had one too but like Redsky said all it does it increase the publics fear factor on the dogs so I took them off. For this very reason, and BSL, I dont think I will be cropping anymore ears. The less aggressive they look the better IMO.

DUDE!!!! That is awesome!!!! I think that is a great idea!!!!

I have always thought that those chains were used on fighting pits to keep their neck beefed up. I have seen some that were half staved to death on those chains and still had a big beefy neck. (I DON"T CONDONE)
Old fort does have a point though, It seems that a cropped ear would get dirtier than a natural, true though that natural ears do require more attention due to bacteria. Me and my dad used to raise Springer Spaniels and their ears are big and lay right on their head holding moisture and don't get any air...Zues and Rocky both have natural ears (I prefer them)
and I clean them with rubbing alcohol and then condition them with baby oil... The oil does attract dirt but I clean them often so It does not matter...

I say to each it's own we all have our own preferences!

Hows that catch phrase go...Different strokes for different folks

OH dont get me wrong I love the cropped look or I wouldnt have done it to Rebel and Bailey. We just havent made up our mind about Switch yet!

Switch has great ears tho..... Maybe if they looked odd, I would but i love the way that they sit.... He is so cute....

The ears that sit on top of the head but fold over, are they a fault?

MidwestBully wrote:

The ears that sit on top of the head but fold over, are they a fault?

Nope thats a perfect ear from how you explained it. Long as the fall perfectly they aren't faulted for it. If it's a nice dog with a bad ear stands it can still win! Not saying the judges will put a piece of crap dog with a crop over a good one with natural but if your going up against several nice dogs adn the judge sees the rest have nice crops and yours doesn't it takes away from yours they will most likely give it to one of the other dogs unless your dog just has some nice movement and the other dogs don't.

I think that it is a fault... I think that they want half prick or something like that... It looks sorta like this....

Well, Hars one ears in folded kinda, But it usually looks like the other one...

http://apbtconformation.com/NEECF.htm
Acceptable natural ears.





UKC-Ears are high set and may be natural or cropped without preference. If natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred. Prick or flat, wide ears are not desired.
ADBA-no preference should be given to cropped or uncropped ears, except to enhance the overall attractiveness of the individual dog.
AKC-Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held rose or half prick. Full drop to be penalized.