It continues because guardians of breeds which are docked claim that the procedure prevents injuries to the tail. Similarly, ear crops were originally performed because the human handlers believed that the dog would be incapacitated less in either 'sport' fights or in hunts if their long ear flaps were removed and could not be used by the opponent as a body part upon which to purchase a grip. The present rationalization is that ear crops prevent ear infections, and thus have a preventative health benefit. It is done with no anesthesia on puppies who usually are 2 to 5 days old. The pups shriek in pain as the tails are cut off.
Ear crops are much more traumatic and inhumane for the developing dog.
The optimal age for this procedure is determined by the degree of maturity of the ear cartilage and varies between 9 to 12 weeks depending on the preference of the practitioner. Although anesthesia is used, it is very stressful for several reasons. The puppy is separated from her or his littermates or new home and exposed to the frightening sights, sounds, and smells of a veterinary hospital. He or she awakens from anesthesia to throbbing, painful ears affixed by tape to some form of rack, usually metal or plastic. Furthermore, the detrimental effects of the procedure are magnified by the fact that the ideal cropping age coincides with a period of development in which traumatic experiences can have a permanent effect on the pup's developing psyche.