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Ear cropping or ear trimming describes a surgical procedure which
involves cutting the ear pinna of a dog and shaping it so that
the ears stand erect. The pinna is the floppy part of the dog's
ear. This is a cosmetic surgical procedure done to get a
particular appearance which goes with the image desired in
specific dog breeds.
Skilled procedure
The ear cropping procedure is a skilled one and needs precision
from the surgeon. The ears must appear to stand up after the part
gets completely healed. The dog must be put under general
anesthesia before undergoing this procedure. Puppies aged between
eight weeks to 12 weeks are put under the scalpel. Post surgery,
the ears get propped and bandaged, and they heal in an erect
position. This is termed "posting". A few veterinarians prefer to
wait for the incisions to heal before they post the ears. The
bandages are generally changed once every week. The ears continue
to remain taped until they could stand by their own. This
recovery process takes anytime between four weeks to eight weeks
Any breed of dog can be subjected to this procedure. A few dog
breeds get the ear trimmed as per breed standards. The Doberman
breed is one of the more popular breeds of dogs to get their ear
cropped. Other breeds subjected to this procedure include
Schnauzers, Pinschers, and Great Danes. These breed standards
were developed on the basis of the historical use of such breeds.
Canines with cropped ears were one time used only as working
dogs. The ears were trimmed to prevent issues which could result
from possessing a floppy ear and improve hearing. Only in rare
cases did ear trimming were deemed necessary medical procedures
due to health conditions. The breeder or the dog owner generally
make the decision to cut ears.
Debate on the procedure
When it comes to whether you would crop your dogs' ears or not,
the subject remains a controversial one, and many think this
action to be excessive if not cruel. Others regard the procedure
as a harmless one. Most veterinarians will decline to do the
procedure solely for aesthetic reasons. However, many medical
professionals hold the view that ear cropping in certain select
breeds could be an acceptable procedure to define the breed
character and preserve it. Good health is also enhanced. It is to
be remembered that dogs both with natural ears and cropped ones
can participate in dog shows. Many European countries forbid ear
cropping. Animal rights activists want the ear cropping procedure
to deemed illegal in North America. Crop your dog's ears only for
medical reasons and not aesthetic. The ear cropping affects the
dog's quality of life too.
The Benefits of Docking a Doberman Pinscher's Ears
Louis Dobermann, a tax collector in Germany at the turn of the
20th century, developed a breed of dog to accompany him on his
rounds. Dobermann needed a strong dog with an intimidating
presence that could protect him from thieves and wild animals on
his travels. The Doberman Pinscher,
as the breed came to be called, is known for its strength,
protection ability, and noble appearance. The dog's smooth
features, docked tail, and cropped ears contribute to the breed's
striking appearance.
History and Tradition
As early as the late 1600s, ears were cropped on dogs used
for protection, fighting and hunting large game, primarily
for safety reasons. Ears are a ready target for attackers to
grab, or for other animals to bite. The thin ear flap, or
leather, is easily cut or torn, and injured ears can be
difficult to heal. Running through brush and bramble can also
cause injury to small, floppy ears. Although today's ear
crops leave more of the ear intact than those done 400 years
ago, the cropped look has become a recognized characteristic
of many breeds.
Sound Detection
The cropped ear more closely resembles the shape of a natural
canine ear. Floppy ears are a deviation from nature; research
on foxes shows that the dropped ear is a side-effect of
domestication. Some cropped breed fanciers theorize that dogs
with erect ears can hear better than dogs with floppy ears,
not as a result of a larger ear opening, but rather because
of a better ability to detect and localize sounds.
Hygiene and Health
Dogs with thick, long dropped ears are prone to ear infections,
because the heavy ear leather traps moisture. Doberman ears
aren't long or heavy, so infections are less of a problem;
however, cropped ears do generally stay cleaner than
uncropped ears do. Additionally, a cropped ear is less likely
to develop a hematoma (a blood-filled pocket on the ear
leather), which typically requires surgery to repair. In some
cases, especially in dogs with
allergies or ear infections, constant shaking of the
head can cause the tips of the ears to split and bleed. These
injuries are very difficult to heal, since every shake of the
dog's head can re-open the split tips. In extreme cases,
cropping is the only option to alleviate the problem.
The Cropping Process
Ear cropping is a surgical procedure, performed by a
veterinarian when a puppy is between 7 and 16 weeks old. The
surgery is carried out under general anesthesia, and puppies
go home that afternoon or the next morning. The ears are
trimmed and the edges stitched; most vets will then tape the
ears to a foam block or cup to keep them erect while the
edges heal. After the stitches are removed, the ears must be
taped to train them to stand upright. Taping may last for few
weeks, or, in some cases, up to a year. Succeeding in getting
the ear's to stand is strongly related to the owner's
dedication to keeping them properly taped.
Considerations
While the AKC Doberman breed standard calls for a cropped
ear, an uncropped ear is merely a deviation from the
standard, rather than a disqualification. If you aren't
showing your dog in conformation, cropping is a personal
decision. If you decide to crop, find a
veterinarian experienced and skilled in the
procedure. Most puppies do not show signs of lingering pain
from an ear crop, but an unskilled vet and a poorly performed
crop can be traumatic. Ask for a recommendation from your
puppy's breeder, or breeders in your area; generally one or
two vets perform most of the crops in a state or region.
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