What is proper age to crop a dog's ears?

Question

I myself do not approve of cropping a dog's ears, nor do i have any dogs whose ears have been cropped. It wouldnt matter if I rescued one that had its ears cropped already, I just wouldnt be so cruel to do it myself.

I was having a disagreement with a friend, she says that dogs get their ears cropped between 12-16 weeks, but everything i have ever read/known about says within the first 1-2 weeks, so they arent as traumatized, and so it doesnt hurt as bad for them in the long run.

What is the proper age???

I would appreciate answers from people who have bred, are in the veterinary business, or know personally from their pet(s).

Answer 1

I'd say never too, since I don't approve of the procedure... but I've done them since I'd rather do them myself under anesthesia and sterile conditions than a random person w dirty scissors... Here are the guidelines:

For a short crop in a small breed dog (ie. toy schnauzers): a few hours or days after birth is ok

For a medium to long crop in a small breed dog or a short (aka "military crop") in a medium to large breed including dobies: 6-8 weeks and the ear needs to be taped in the upright position for a week to allow the cartilage to harden in the proper position.

For the long crop in medium breeds and all the larger breeds (ie great danes): 10-12 wks and the ears need to be taped for 2 weeks.

Any later than that, the cartilage is already hardened and they won't stand right no matter how much taping or how short the cropping. Earlier than that in the larger breeds, and the ear changes shape when they grow and the ears look lopsided or different.... and just wierd...

Even the most careful veterinarian can get a dog with stubborn ears and they won't stand right. Then the owners blame the vet for doing a lousy job, when in fact some ears just won't stand right regardless of vet skill.

The crop is usually done under anesthesia in older dogs (w/o in newborns) so the crop itself is not painful. What is painful are the visits to the vet and the retaping, and the dog having something in his head bugging his tender ears. The visits to the vet by a puppy are so painful that they tend to grow up and learn to hate vets even more than your typical dog, so they tend to be really hard to work with. Studies show that cropped ears do not make the dog more or less prone to ear infections at all, but if a cropped dog does get a really bad ear infection, the constant care may make the ear not stand correctly

Answer 2

as a long time breeder who now rescues, My Min Pins were done new younger than 16 weeks and no older than 24 weeks. Cropping a puppy usually ended up with a poor crop. Ears far to short or not done correctly at all. Many vets who do ear cropping on puppies, especially Min Pins when they are only 8 to 12 weeks old do not know what they are doing. Growth spurts and some indication of the size helps in determining length of cut. In addition, most vets have no concept of the bell at the base and cut through it in a straight line thus removing some stability at the base. You want the cartalidge to show some development so that it adds natural strength which helps ensure better chance the ears will stand correctly. I have seen many Pins whose ears were done when they were too young and now as adults the ears are far to short for their size leaving these abnormally tiny ears where they should be 2 to 3 times the length. A good vet knowledgeable in cropping knows this and waits til 4 to 6 months so has a better idea of what the dogs size will be when matures so that the crop will be in balance with the dog.

Answer 3

I had my dobermans ears cropped at 10 weeks. Most do it between 9-12 weeks, and many wont do it past 12. there is no point in doing it when they are 1-2 weeks old, because the cartilage is no where near strong enough, and you will have to keep taping them until they are about 6 months old. It doesnt traumatize the puppy at all. It is the same thing as getting you pet spayed/neutered. There is nothing wrong with it. It does increase their hearing and causes less ear infections. Hopes this answers your question

Answer 4

it depends on the breed of dog and style of ears

for instance...
miniature schnauzers can have thier ears done as early as 5 weeks and still look good, becuase they have short ears, the same for neo mastiffs and cane corse, the younger the better withing reason

boxers and doberman pinchers havce a longer style so they tend to have it done later around 8-10 weeks

great danes and giant schnauzers have long ears with alot of the work to be done is actually aftercare racking and posting the ears so they can be done from 10weeks-16 weeks

in my opinion, 16 weeks is the upper limit for cropping, and 5 is the lower limit, anything under that and the ear will change shape and grow out of the cut lines, and any later than 16 and the ear leather is too heavy and even with excellent after care the ear may never stand right

Answer 5

Drezzdogge gave you the best answer it depends on the breed. I have great danes, with natural floppy ears, I can't bring myself to cut off a perfectly good ear. and only 15% or fewer of veterinarians will crop ears. Most breeders unless they live near a vet that will do it have to travel a long ways to have it done, or leave the responsibility up to the purchaser. One person wondered why it was done. The only reason anymore is astetic value. But back when dogs actually worked it was to prevent them from getting ripped up or torn in thick, heavy or thorny brush. Or for dogs that were bred to fight, so they didn't get ripped off during fights.

Answer 6

I have Dobermans, and we get the puppy's ears cropped between 7 and 9 weeks of age. After that, the odds of them standing drop dramatically.

I think when you are saying 1 - 2 weeks, you are meaning having the dewclaws and tail done. They are done at 2-3 days of age.

Answer 7

When they are about 6 weeks when they are young so that the cartilidge dosent form before then. It is actually better for certain types to have thier ears cropped it seems mean but it actually will help prevent ear infections in the animal and will benefit them rather than torture them. My boyfriends deceased wife was a vetrinarian and he has passed on the information to me.

Answer 8

I depends on the breed of dog. But 10-14 weeks is the general guideline. The pups are stronger and can stand the anesthesia better at that age.

Tails & dew claws should be done at just a few days.

Answer 9

About 6 to 10 weeks so their ears are big enough to cut , if their to young you might crop them to short and have distorted ears

Answer 10

At the clinic I work at it's 12 weeks of age. After that time, the cartilage in the ears starts to form and the desired result may not be achieved. Only one out of our eight doctors will do the procedure.