Just a question(no opinion, either way)...why and when did this practice(ear/tail cropping) start?
History of Tail Docking & Ear Cropping
Tail docking and ear cropping date to the early Romans, who believed that the practices prevented rabies. During the European Middle Ages, through the end of the 18th century, Lamarck's theory of acquired characteristics was widely accepted. As such, people believed that by docking the tails of the parents, "the new born puppies would look like their parents" and also exhibit short tails. In addition, long-tailed or floppy-eared dogs used for hunting, fighting, or watching flocks were at a greater risk of injury associated with those activities. As such, tails were docked and ears cropped to reduce the number of places another dog or other animal could grab. The owners of working dogs often believed that tail docking reduced a dog's maneuverability, thereby discouraging the dog from chasing game, while the other dog owners often believed that tail docking resulted in a stronger back and increased speed.
Finally, various tax schemes may have accounted for the proliferation of tail docking. In some areas, dogs used for work were not taxed, so the owners of such dogs would dock the tails to indicate that the dog was used for work and not subject to tax. In other areas, farmers were taxed according to the length of their dogs' tails, so docking was used to reduce the tax liability. Moreover, sport hunting was considered to be reserved for the wealthy nobility, and it was believed that only long-tailed dogs were suitable for hunting. As such, the owners of long-tailed dogs were required to pay a high tax and tail docking became a practice of the commoners.
