Dog ears: Cropped or not?

Question

many people don't like ear cropping, frankly i dont think its wrong, espeicily with hunting dogs.

personaly i prefer dobermanns and dogos with cropped ears, pits and danes i can take or leave, and i prefer boxers natraul.
any opinions?

Answer 1

I am torn, I love the look of the cropped ears, but I love the look of natural ears.. So soft and pretty...

I do find that the natural eared dogs are far more approachable by strangers, so they tend to be more social.
Cropped ears scare people, they tend to cross the street, or grab their kids and run to their car. It gives the cropped eared dogs the idea that people are either scary or there is a problem.

Edit : To the person who said that the puppies aren't put out for surgery... You are sooo wrong.. They absolutely have to be put under. Vets know exactly what and how much to use to put a 8+ week old puppy out for surgery. To think that they don't is just nuts.. And YES they are given a shot for pain, and a shot of antibiotic... Where do you get your misinformation?? Every single time our puppies go to get their ears cropped, I am RIGHT THERE. I help weigh, hold them while they get a shot to put them to sleep...I stand watching the entire surgery.. I am there waiting when they wake up. At no time are they suffering in pain.. You should watch surgery before you make such statements.. Shouldn't make statements if you don't know the truth.. This is how rumours start..

Now I am against breeders or people that aren't vets, or don't have access to surgery rooms to be doing surgery on a dog's ears.. I don't care how much they watch and learn, I think surgery is best left to the vet.

Answer 2

I have had my males ears cropped and I was in the room during the procedure. The person that said that a puppy is awake during it is completely wrong. The puppy is put under and then given pain meds to go home with. When my male had his ears done he did not act like they bother him too much because he was up a playing that evening

Cropping is a personal choice and something that a person should think long and hard about. I have seen many failed crops because the owner most likely did not realize what they were getting into when they had it done. Depending on the length of the crop and the dogs ear leather you could be posting the dogs ears until they are 1 or older. You also need to make sure that you go to a vet that has experience with the breed, because all crops are different.

Answer 3

I think that it's your choice with your own dog. However, I choose not to crop my dogs. I feel that it is uneccessary and therefore, causing pain and discomfort for no good reason. Why put them through a surgical procedure for cosmetic reasons? If it served a purpose, such as the docking of tails can prevent very painful tail injuries later on, (I've had a dog with a tail injury and it bothered her for years) then I wouldn't feel bad about cropping the ears. I just wouldn't want someone to put me through pain just so I look better in their eyes!! Also, it's sad when owners crop their dogs ears not knowing how much upkeep it can be, then let it get infected, and not keeping them taped so they don't stand up anyway. I have no problem with responsible owners cropping their dogs, but I never will!

Answer 4

I don't think cropping is a good idea, I have a boxer and every boxer owner I talked to that did crop their pets ears said, if given the chance they would never ever do it to their dog again. I worked at a pet kennel and we had a doberman pup that got his ears cropped and he just whined all the time it was sad and I felt very sorry for him. You also have to take care of the ears which is also painful for the dog because they are sore. I say no please don't do it.

Answer 5

Personal choice.
I have dobermans and their ears are natural. The one I have now I got when he was 4 and he had never been done so natural they will stay.
It makes little difference to me if they are cropped or not. My vet does not crop ears and I would have to find a clinic that does in my area. I love the look on dobes.

Answer 6

well my BF has a boxer with docked tail an natural ears an it looks perfect, i dont think cropping the ears wouldve looked right on him, i seen a dobie once with narual ears an he looked like a weirdo. an pits its give or take, alot of people leave natural ears on the females an crop the males, an it looks nice that way because ones femanine

Answer 7

I have 5 Dobermans, all cropped and docked. Althought it is in the standard, natural ears are in the standard also. Just if they are cropped, they must be erect.

I have Dobermans, not hounds. Hunting dogs are not typically cropped.

GOTHRASHER: the pups are under anesthesia during a crop and yes, I have been present during several!

Answer 8

Personal choice!!!! I have Dobermans & all are cropped but one. Only because I wanted to keep one natural. I do prefer the cropped look. Edit: to the person that said the pups are not put to sleep to do the surgery, If you seen this happen, I would NEVER go the the vet that done that!!!! All my dogs were under antestesia!!!! As for all the dogs I had done, I never seen one cry out in pain. Yes, they did whine when the wrapping was changed, but doesn't it hurt a little if you ever experienced bandage changes on yourself!!!!! I mean a serious bandage after a surgery, not a little bandage!!!

Answer 9

I know that it is painful for them so I will not have any dogs ears cropped. Not because it does not look cool. But because I do not want to put them through the pain of it. My boxer does not have hers done and she is still just as cute and sweet.

Answer 10

I think cropping a dogs ears does wonders for their looks. Getting an animals tail docked that is suppose to have a stub look better too. My neighbor has a Rottweiler and it doesn't have it's tail docked and it looks weird. I think if you want to get your dogs ears cropped go for it. Don't worry what other people think or say. There is always someone around to spoil the fun.