James, I don't think it hinders their communication but I do think it is painful. My friend who breeds danes only crops the show prospects, or really the ones that are sold to show homes. The ones sold to pet homes go uncropped.

Asthetically, I like it much more to see cropped breeds cropped. I think they look more attractive. I would think Rotties with long tails would look, well, not like a good rottie.

I can see both sides on the issue. Tail docking isn't near the ordeal that ear cropping is.

Dogs communicate with more than ears and tails, they communicate with body language. How they are holding their mouths, the breathing, the posture, the eyes. It is all pretty easy to see what they are saying.

There are animal RIGHTS activists and animal WELFARE people. The rights people want to take your right to own an animal at all away. The welfare people are the ones who will take them in and rehome them.