Cropped Ears

27477 Views 200 Replies 54 Participants Last post by cshellenberger, Jun 28, 2009

no1daddythepitbullfan

Discussion Starter · Mar 11, 2009

How do dogs gets cropped ears? People don't cut the ears to make them look like that, right?

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Xeph

· #2 · Mar 11, 2009

They're taken to a vet at a young age (12 to 16 weeks I believe), and a vet surgically removes part of the ear.

The ears are then posted (held upright) through various methods...tampons in the ears to help support combined with light surgical tape is what I usually see.

In Great Danes the ears are usually propped with popsicle sticks and taped to a styrofoam cup! LOL!

Spicy1_VV

· #3 · Mar 12, 2009

Wrong. 0f course they are cut. That'd be why they are missing part of their ear.

I've never had to tape or post a dogs ears however. But Xeph is right I know certain breeds always get the tape/post and it can take weeks and weeks of it. Maybe months for some to actually stand.

Mine just get stitched and those come out in 10 days. All done.

Binkalette

· #4 · Mar 12, 2009

Poor puppers

KenyiGirl

· #5 · Mar 12, 2009

Personally I don't think its right to crop ears, but that's jmo. Why put your dog through unnessary surgery and pain?

Inga

· #6 · Mar 12, 2009

I think if you ARE going to crop your dogs ears it needs to be done by an experienced vet and the person responsible for doing it MUST take proper care of the ears and sets. It is a huge commitment and a lot of work for people. Many people get a puppies ears cropped and set and then do not take proper care. This results in an adult dog with poor ear set anyway. I am thinking mostly of Dobermans. Very few that I have seen have nice set ears. Many are what the rescues call "cropped and flopped" they are cut but still do not stand erect. Also I was told from several people in Doberman rescue that the dogs WITH cropped ears have a better chance of being adopted. More people want a dog that looks like it's breed is supposed to. Doberman Pinschers generally have ears cropped. I like the look of a cropped Doberman but not sure I would have it done to one. Then again, I mostly rescue so... I would just have to get one that is already cropped if I wanted that.

Dobermaniac

· #7 · Mar 12, 2009

3

Ears are best to be cropped around 7-9 weeks. Reputable breeders crop all their pups and very rarely can you get a un cropped Dobe from a reputable breeder, unless that person knows you really well. One of the reasons is that most breeders do not finish grading their pups until after the ear cropping. Also, if they get a pup returned to them it is much easier to rehome a cropped dog. I know my breeder had a 8 month old male for over a year because nobody wanted an uncropped Dog. Rescues also have an easier time adopting out cropped Dobes. When I picked out my girl she was already cropped.

Here are some pics

This is when I first got her. Her ears are glued to the foam, it allows the ears to breath and heal before the posting.

Here are her ears posted. I wrapped popsicle sticks in a very strechy tape and used duct tape for a brace. This lasted me about three months.

Ears all done

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upendi'smommy

· #8 · Mar 12, 2009

I would prefer a dog with uncropped ears myself. But I'm of the opinion that if a dogs ears are meant to go up they will and if they aren't they won't. I prefer the natural look.

GearGirl

· #9 · Mar 12, 2009

I think it is horribly abusive, and absolutely ridiculous. Other countries have laws against show dogs having this done, but the United States is way behind in that. Poor dogs.

cshellenberger

· #10 · Mar 12, 2009 (Edited)

In some. Countries it's illegal to do ANY surgical alterAtion of a dog INCLUDING spay/nueter. In the US we are allowed to make the medical decisions for our dogs, I'll keep that right thank you very much.

Xeph

· #11 · Mar 12, 2009

Indeed...these days I'd honestly crop/dock before I'd speuter...but I'm strange and one of those rare responsible people that doesn't allow their dog to procreate willy nilly.

Westhighlander

· #12 · Mar 12, 2009

Just curious, but is there any reasoning behind cropping?

MissMutt

· #13 · Mar 12, 2009

Not the worst thing in the world... IMO I could think of so many worse things that people do to their dogs, issues that people should worry about tackling before they proclaim how inhumane cropping is.

A person willing to pay the money for a good crop at a young age and take care of the crop as it heals and grows in has a good chance of being a responsible owner. I don't like a crop on most dogs but as long as there is a historical purpose I have no problem with it. I do NOT think mixes should be cropped ever.

cshellenberger

· #14 · Mar 12, 2009

Westhighlander said:
Just curious, but is there any reasoning behind cropping?

Cropping was developed to protect working dogs in the feild, much like removal of the dew claw and tail docking. In this case, many of the breeds are hunting, fighting or gaurdian breeds. The ears were cropped to keep the prey item from tearing the ears (in Great danes they were hunting boars) or keep humans from grabbing the ears. The original crops were VERY short for this purpose, at times nearly all the ear leather was removed.

There is the added benefit if increased air flow into the ears which can reduce ear infections and better hearing due to the upright position of the ear.

KaseyT

· #15 · Mar 12, 2009

Westhighlander said:
Just curious, but is there any reasoning behind cropping?

To make a dog look hideous.

cshellenberger

· #16 · Mar 12, 2009

That would depend on the crop Kasey. I happen to think certain breeds look best cropped. Of course, I own a Dobe that's cropped.

I'd hardly call this hidious

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BoxMeIn21

· #17 · Mar 12, 2009

Oh goodness, Kasey...this IS hideous.

Whatever...to each their own...I didn't crop Disco's ears, but they are certainly apart of her breeds history. I love a nicely cropped dog.

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PitBully

· #18 · Mar 12, 2009

Some breeds have their ears cropped for a purpose. Whether one desires it or not does not justify spreading propaganda that it's a cruel procedure.

The Doberman has its ears cropped for looks. The breed appears more menacing, thus likely to alarm intruders (visually) than not. Dobermans with their natural look do not appear to look intimating at all. The Doberman is actually not the most "sturdy" breed of dog for guarding and protection purposes. That is why so much emphasis went into the appearance of the dog rather physical capabilities. If you want to keep intruders off your property, a cropped Doberman is a great step. Then again, more advanced individuals could be aware that the Doberman is somewhat "fragile" (not literally) compared to Mastiff guardian breeds.

Before the Great Dane was watered down into a lovable family dog and successful show dog, their ears were either natural or cropped so far toward the head, it was impossible for a boar to rip it to shreds with its tusks. Great Danes are gladiator dogs because their descendants were mastiffs. Mastiff breeds are called "Moloss Dogs." Even the Pitbull is a Moloss breed because the English bulldog was developed from Mastiffs. (The Pitbull has far more "Bulldog" influence than their "Terrier" influence.)

Gladiator dogs usually had their ears cropped down to their skulls. It's history. The modern Great Dane ear crop suits its noble head well, and the reputable veterinarians who preform those operations aren't preforming a cruel procedure. Great Danes seem to be retired from their hunting past. (Although there are some hog hunters out there who love to use Great Danes as foundation dogs to their bandog breeding programs.)

Whether one thinks the crop jobs are unnecessary or ugly, they must education themselves before stating the procedure is "cruel."

PB

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KenyiGirl

· #19 · Mar 12, 2009

Whether one thinks the crop jobs are unnecessary or ugly, they must education themselves before stating the procedure is "cruel."

I don't necessarily think it's ugly, but it is unnecessary. There used to be reasons owners would crop their dog's ears. But now those reasons are extinct. So now its apparently just so your dog can look "menacing".

PitBully

· #20 · Mar 12, 2009

KenyiGirl said:
I don't necessarily think it's ugly, but it is unnecessary. There used to be reasons owners would crop their dog's ears. But now those reasons are extinct. So now its apparently just so your dog can look "menacing".

What you find unnecessary another person will not. If someone desired a Doberman with the natural look and STILL wanted to utilize that individual as a guard dog, so be it. If someone desired a Doberman for no other purpose other than the role of a family pet and STILL wanted the cropped ears, there would be nothing wrong with it as long as the procedure was preformed property. It's a common operation amongst particular dog breeds. Just because other countries banned the procedure does not translate into cruelty. Laws in other countries don't necessarily mean they have to be universal.

PB

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