What is the big deal about cropping a dog's ears?

Question

So many people are against ear cropping. I have Doberman Pinschers, and yes every one of them have cropped ears. Animal Activist Groups say "how do you know that's what the dog wants?" Many states have banned cropping, does this mean we will no long be able to pierce our 2-3 month old baby's ears either? I'm sure that child didn't ask for it!!!!

If I wanted a hound I'd get one. (jmo)

Answer 1

The Doberman Pincher breed was invented by, "Louis Doberman,of Germany" He was very selective through the years, creating the Perfect Dog, The Doberman! The Doberman was NEVER meant to have long ears. On a Doberman, ears can easily become infected, like some Beagles and hounds do! That is why the Doberman is in the "Working Class" of dogs, not the "Hound Class!" If you don't want a Doberman with "Cropped" ears, then go with the Hound/Coon Dog Class. Not "Cropping" takes away the beauty of the Doberman! Sort of like an uncircumcised male! It's OK, but not sanitary! As an owner of Dobermans for almost 30 years, all my Dobermans have cropped ears! Oh yeah, my parents had my ears pierced when I was 3 weeks old, Thanks Mom and Dad, I love it!

Answer 2

I don't think it should be banned. It's not a cruel procedure.. I have several Dobermans who are cropped. I find that the cropped ears aren't as likely to have problems as the closed natural ear. I also believe that if we allow them to take our rights away slowly, one morning we will wake up and have absolutely no rights at all.. I am a Pro Choice Person.. Unless it is serious and dangerous then I want to be able to decide on my own whether I want to have it done. The people who are set against it have no idea what the whole thing entails. People tend to jump on the bandwagon and are Anti everything, whether they even know what it is they are against this week. They banned the pit bull here.. But you know what.. SOmeone got caught with a 9 month old pit bull just last week.. I have also met people who are breeding pit bulls.. The ban did nothing, except people to breed underground, and make it impossible to be able to provide proper vet care for their dogs. If laws should be put in place, it should be against people who leave their dogs outside to fend for themselves, people who allow their 6 month old mutt to get pregnant. People who neglect their pet and refuse them vet care cause they have no money. The people who let their dogs roam and wander impregnanting every dog on the street.. People who buy pets and then dump them at the shelter cause they didn't come fully trained.. People feeding garbage dog foods cause they are too cheap to feed their pets well, then dumping them when they get sick and need care.. There are FAR more things wrong in the world than a vet properly cropping ears. Stop the people who abuse and neglect their pets first.. Once you get that done.. Maybe you can work on the smaller things..

Answer 3

I have a dobie as well, however I didn't have her ears done for the simple fact that she's my first one and I didn't want it to go bad. I wasn't sure who to go to and I would rather have an uncropped than a bad cropped. I see nothing wrong with ear cropping as long as it is done humanely by a vet with the dog under anesthesia. All you people out there saying it's a painful cosmetic surgery...get over it. It's a dog. Lambs have their tails cut off so the don't crap on themselves, are you up in arms about that? Please. My dog is like my daughter, but I am the one who makes the decisions, and I'm the one that provides for her. If I want her to look more alert by getting her ears cropped, that is my perrogative. Also dobie ear cropping didn't originate from dog fighting. They were cropped to give the dog a more alert look while also making it less easy for the ears to be grabbed by intruders/trespassers, same thing for docking their tail. A floppy ear/long tail is much easier for someone to grab and throw the dog around than a docked tail and cropped ears. And just because you aren't going to be using your dog for that work doesn't mean that the ears should remain natural either. It is a personal choice. The dog isn't moping around after the surgery wanting it's ears back to how they were. If you know anything about dobies, they have VERY HIGH pain tolerance as well as being able to easily forget what happened to them 10 minutes ago. It's all personal choice. And I personally chose not to get it done for the dobie I have now, but the next one I probably will have done, and it is my right to choose. If you don't like it, then don't get it done, but don't prevent me from making my own decision.

Answer 4

In view of your other answers,I prefer the ear cropping,as it is done to bring out the noted features of the pet,and is very safe if done by a Vet.,as several of my pets have had the ear cropping done,and I have never experienced any problems with any of them.It is the responsibility of the owner to keep the incision clean after the cropping is completed,or the pet could get an infection.I also feel this is an owners right if they prefer the ear cropping on their pets.

Answer 5

I would never crop my dogs ears or dock my dogs tail,or pierce my baby's ears either,but they are your dogs so I'm sure you can do what you want as long as a professional does it for you so you don't some how hurt the dog!This is America after all and as long as what you do to your pets does not fall into animal cruelty then you should be able to do it!And you don't know if it is what the dog wants,but some things are done for the better of them,,,,,like amputating a leg or something!!well.....i guess that's all Ive got to say then.....
Good luck

Answer 6

There is nothing wrong with cropping. Yes it is more of an aesthetic procedure done for looks an appearances.
There are certain things that an owner is to do in proper aftercare of a cropping. Cleaning of course but popping hte cartilage is another that is VERY important. Many owners wont do that.

Answer 7

I think piercing a baby's ears is totally weird (like that child beauty pagent thing). Well.... the reason I'm not really into the cropping is getting ear surgery is painful. It's cartilage and it heals slowly. I have seen many dogs have their ears get infected and then the ears are messed up anyway. I think that if the animal isn't being shown or bred for showing quality then it isn't really necessary. It's a really bloody surgery too in addition to it being really painful. So it kinda depends. I think it's silly when people bring in backyard bred animals that are way too old to get ears or tails done and they want the doctor to do it. Normally they end up getting it done by some old doc who hasn't kept current with new surgical techniques... so maybe that's why I have seen complications. It's really just people's obsession with the way things look that make them get ears and tails done. But if it's your animal it's up to you.

Answer 8

I agree. I want a Doberman Pinscher so bad. The ear cropping really gives the dog it's look. If it isn't cropped it looks like a hound dog or a damn lab.

Answer 9

My thought is that you shouldn't do any unneccesary medical procedures that have lasting effects to any human or animal. What's the purpose?

Is it really kind to cut up your dog's ears so they can "look right" according to society? If you don't want a hound - then get some kind of dog that looks exactly the way you want it to look - without having to cut on it.

And you're right - the babies DON'T ask for their ears to be pierced - so why don't parents just wait until their children are old enough to make the decision themselves as to whether or not they want a holes in their earlobes?

I believe that people who crop their dogs ears, or cut off their tails, or pierce their baby's ears think that the looks of other beings are all about them and not the being they are making changes to. They do it without considering the other beings choices or comfort. Is that really right? I don't think so.

Answer 10

Personally if you do it just for cosmetic purposes, I see no point. I do understand if you do it for the purpose of preventing ear infections. I had a Beagle who had ear infections all the time and eventually died from ear cancer. He had long ears and the vet said they got infected so much because his ears couldn't get enough air circulation to dry them out a little. Something along those lines, I completely understand.