do people cut pitbull and staffordshire ears ?

Question

i have been searching the internet for these dog and ave noticed some have long ears and some are pointed up. do people cut them in order to look like this or are they just a different breed

Answer 1

yes, often the owners do it with no anesthisia illegally. the shorter the ear - the more the dog will be a fighter. They cut them so an opposing dog can't grab hold of it in a fight.

Answer 2

Ear cropping or cutting was originally done to dogs so a person could not grab and hold on to a dog's ear. It's extremely difficult to hold onto a cropped ear. The cropped ear today is a matter of choice, but those who show breeds who's ears were cropped like the pitbull and staffordshire keep most often still crop the ears. In England and some other countries it is now illegal to crop a dog's ears.

If you do a search using the words "cropped ears" you will find several sites that explain how it is done.

Answer 3

If you are not planning on showing the dog, leave the ears alone. Clipping the ears is generally reserved for show dogs and thugs who want their dogs to look as mean as possible. But having a pit, you know they are the farthest thing from mean. To the common folk off the street, a pit with clipped ears will look truly intimidating and only propels the evil stereotype they already receive and do not deserve. How ever, if the dog is of show quality, the breeder should be able to help you find a good vet that does a good show quality crop. There is a difference between a show crop and a fight crop. A show crop is longer--like a boxer, dane, dobe crop. There are some potential negative effects of putting a dog under anesthesia for any length of time and should not be taken lightly. Please do your crop homework, and make an informed decision.

Answer 4

They are cropped by the vet, and then taped by you, to get them to stand erect like that. It is hard on the puppy to go thru the ear surgery, and I believe the entire taping process takes away at least a very little bit from the bond with your dog.. They don't like it, they are subject to ear infections and ears are not guaranteed to stand when they are cropped.. So if you are happy with the one up one down look, you might be okay. But if you would get them cropped and be bugged that one or both didn't stand, then don't even bother getting it done. Lots of people don't have the patience, time or the ability to stick with it.. Many people get sick of taping the ears after only a couple of weeks. Then the whole thing was a big waste of time, and too much stress and hardship on the puppy for nothing.

I find that natural eared dogs are far more approachable by people. I find that the dogs with natural ears are more confident and more outgoing at a younger age, because people aren't afraid of them. You imagine having your ears erect and that makes people stop and and look at you strange, or with fear, or turn and go the other way.. It makes dogs suspicious of people, wondering why they act so weird.

I suggest that you don't bother with the ears, Natural ears are so soft and pretty, and so nice to kiss!

Answer 5

Yes, people cut them to look like that. It is called ear cropping. They also dock the tails of some dogs. In some European countries, it is illegal. Americans are just behind the times. It is a cruel mutilation of an animal. The reasoning behind those changes in the beginning of some breeds was logical--to avoid pain during fights (not necessarily dog fights, but even as a guard dog). However, they are unnecessary now.

Answer 6

People cut them to look like this. The procedure is called ear cropping and is performed by a veterinarian. Personally I don't recommend it. It is a cosmetic surgery and I don't see why I would risk anesthesia for something that is not necessary. I think they look cuter with floppy ears anyway. Another reason I don't like ear cropping is so many of them turn out terrible. These dogs just end up with short ears that make them look silly.

Answer 7

I have a 6 year old male pit bull. we had his ears cropped when he was about 4 months old. Too me that look better cropped. But that is up to the owner. It cost us around $200.00 and it does take care on your part. My son has two pit puppies, and he hs decided not to crop their ears. They are still very cute the way they are!

Answer 8

As you're asking this on one of the 'UK and Ireland' boards, presumably that's where you're located (as am I).

Some Staffies do have naturally 'pricked' ears.

BUT.........

Ear-docking is illegal in the UK. Full stop.

If the ears you saw were really short and had apparently been 'cut', the photos you've seen must have been from animals abroad.

If they seem to originate from the UK, you should report them to the RSPCA for investigation.

Answer 9

yes people "crop" apbt's ears. it isnt necessary but it is done. if your going to do this to your apbt, just be careful on who you take it to. a lot of places, due to lack of education, will give apbts a fighting crop and cut almost the whole ear off. look into vets who do cut ears and ask for picture of other apbt they have cut.

Answer 10

not that i know of theres just different types, maybe in the past its happened then their pups were born with the same ears etc. 3 of my staffs have tall pointed ears and one has smally floppy ears.