The general perception of a cropped Doberman thanks to movies and television is that theyre more aggressive and potentially dangerous than if they have floppy ears. In fact, one study on the perception of various dogs by 392 study participants published in 2016 determined that modified dogs (those with cropped ears and docked tails) were seen as more aggressive towards other people and other dogs, and more dominant. Australia banned ear cropping and tail docking (on horses as well) in the early 2000s. They can do this so repetitively at times, that the tips of the ear can begin to bleed and have difficulty healing. If you want to go with something that is more natural that nature would have intended, that would be a cropped ear. Like a previous person stated, would you decide to put your son through the pain of having him circumcised?? When to get doberman ears cropped? [Research] Unneutered dogs account for many dog deaths as they run away to try to mate and get hit by cars or otherwise killed. Essentially with the cropped Doberman, the aim is to comply with show standards or are cropped because the owners like the way it makes the dog look. Where can you get a Dobermans ears cropped? Being able to be quickly identified as a Doberman can make it less likely for someone to challenge the dog due to the Dobermans reputation for fearlessness, loyalty, and protectiveness over their owners. After all, most call it ear cropping or refer to the dogs ears as cropped. Tell us your thoughts on Doberman ear cropping in the comments below. Look at the English bulldog for example, not being able to mate or birth without human assistance. These problems can also be the result of a poor ear crop. But there is certainly some level of pain and discomfort afterward. And there are several different approaches to this surgical procedure. I dont share those concerns as my intent is for my dog to appear vicious, When they pop out or after the amount of Rather, go after those who just think having an untrained pet is a ok. No crop it is. Many still question the ethics of this procedure. Below are some of the most common arguments made by those who are for the ear cropping of Dobermans as to the potential benefits of the procedure. Female Dobermans will reach their first heat around eight months, so seven months is definitely time to face this procedure. In the United States, the majority of veterinarians will not crop a puppys ears. The ear carries a decent amount of blood there and when torn she was bleeding out a lot. The lycoan pictus, also known as the African wild dog, also has erect ears. The Doberman Pinscher breed standard in the United States is set by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Doberman ear cropping is typically performed when a puppy is between 7 and 9 weeks old but sometimes as late as 12 weeks old. But it is a harsh reality and it is confirmed by shelters/rescues/breeders everywhere - a (properly) cropped and docked Doberman will have more interest and prospective new homes and get adopted faster, simply because they look better and are more appealing. Not afraid to come to me asking for love and attention . This look is hardly achieved with un-cropped ears. You dont get a dog just for its looks, its about character traits as well. How often its not successful is almost impossible to determine as every veterinarian has a different definition of what a successful crop is. Your email address will not be published. I later read, the dogs tail is indeed used for balance. Circumcision has scientific evidence in favor of reducing bacteria. In this day, we can never be too careful. The vet will have a pre-surgery consultation where they discuss the style of cropping desired and verify the VWD status. It also allows the dog to be more quickly identified as a Doberman (as per the previous point) and gives them a more alert appearance. WebEar Cropping in History: The practice of ear cropping can be traced back to the early days of the Doberman Pinscher breed. This is accurate to my experience but since it may vary, its important that you contact a reputable veterinarian experienced in this procedure and ask them how to proceed. Doberman Would I do it again, probably not. Remove any dirt, wax, or debris inside the ear The medium crop is the final option of the three Doberman ear cropping styles. Is ear cropping painful for a Doberman? Like tail docking, clipping dogs ears is standard practice in some breeds in the USA. In addition, the long healing process in the weeks that follow surgery, can be more painful for the dog than the actual surgery itself. Some vets will post and tape up the ears immediately, while others will wait until the wounds heal. People hoping to find out how to make doberman ears stand up without cropping are usually going to be disappointed because taping Doberman ears without cropping them, is very unlikely to work. In general, Dobermans and Great Danes are cropped between 8 and 10 weeks of age. (You may chose to let go of your pinky, since it is of not much use anyway, and you dont have a tail to let go of) . She had no infection or complications. Many argue that putting your dog through a surgery that they dont medically need is immoral. WebEar cropping is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the dogs ear is removed, producing a sharper and less heavy ear. Both loving, very smart, well trained. A dog with fixed upright ears has no control over this positioning and therefore would theoretically be less accurate at locating the source of sounds (accurate in finding direction, but not range.) Its not a opinions if they are reasons as to it. The ears can be grabbed, bitten, or torn and if they are it is very painful and they bleed a lot. Doberman Puppy Ears. Ear cropping is usually done at the age of 8-12 weeks, after which the ears are slowly trained to stand up straight by wrapping them in a certain manner. Ear cropping is not a straightforward or quick procedure. SMH. Having an unobstructed path for sound to travel the ears can increase hearing and even the ability of the dog to locate the source of a sound. Clearly a cosmetic decision. After the surgery is completed, the ear cartilage needs to heal and the ear will need to be posted in position so that when the ear cartilage hardens naturally with age, the ears will stay in the correct position. From a historical perspective, ear cropping among Doberman dogs has been explained by the roots from the past ages. Where Ive noticed the most pain from my Doberman pups is when the stitches are removed or the first bandage change occurs after surgery. Every single one of these breeds has the unnatural floppy ear trait. Ear Many of those same countries have exceptions to allow cropping and docking on dogs meant to do working sport/competition such as Schutzhund. The Three Types of Doberman Ear Cropping Styles They will be healed and ready for posting before they go to their new home. The ironic thing is that they call it a natural look, but is it really natural? This being the argument to neuter. We ask that our clients send us pictures with the exact crop they desire for their european doberman, so that she may have a clearer understanding of the exact crop that is desired. The canis lupus, which is also known as the wolf, has erect ears. The duration of healing time is dependent on how well they were cropped, sutured, and kept clean. The Doberman tail is particularly thinner and susceptible to painful breaking or damage just from every day wear/use. We believe she is the best european doberman ear cropping veterinarian in the united states. With this popularity, companies like Amazon and Ebay both sell them This involves wrapping, or posting, the ears into position until the dogs ear cartilage naturally firms up causing them to stay erect. Hygienic. Its an expensive procedure that causes the dog a lot of pain. This is something thats worth considering as ear cropping, and its aftercare, is not always straightforward. There is no requirement stating owners have to crop their Dobermans ears. Un-cropped ears are often referred to as "natural" but that does not mean it is actually natural. I have had 4 great danes so far, no one cropped. Doberman Puppy Ear Cropping: History, Reasons and Risks Humans have higher thinking abilities and can weigh the choices and make them on their own. The medium crop is between military and show length. Read on to find out is the appropriate age to crop a Doberman's ears. We shouldnt be able to cause pain and risk to an animal simply to change its look.. WebThe use of pain relief with a healthy diet lets the wounds heal at a fast pace. When you reduce or eliminate the ability for them to use their ears to communicate how theyre feeling, it can lead to misunderstandings of behaviors. After they are cropped, we keep them for another 14 days to provide after care and remove the stitches. There are three different lengths of ear crops: Ear cropping of the Doberman Pinscher is usually done at approximately 7 to 8 weeks of age. The very first thing your puppy will want to do after being cropped is eat - which shows you how much the whole procedure actually bothers a young puppy!! There is scientific reason to neuter dogs. Owners will often do this more frequently if the ears get wet or dirty, or less frequently if they stay fairly clean. She did not seem to be in any undue pain. Sorry- my dog my choice. Ear cropping surgery prices range from 150 dollars up to 1,500 dollars in some practices. Even though the facts are not certain, the European doberman bloodline is said to consist of the Beauceron, German Pinscher, Rottweiler, Weimaraner, Greyhound, and Manchester Terrier. The ears, are left natural and of an appropriate size; they are set on either side at the highest point of the skull and are ideally lying close to the cheeks.. It is thought that the purpose of this procedure was A: This will vary significantly from vet to vet. You can get Dobermans ears cropped at a veterinarian who specializes in the procedure if permitted by your local laws. most dogs rely on sight or smell, not hearing, when locating prey. ), ask for advice about who did the cropping, and learn about the amount of time and commitment it takes to train the ears to stand properly. The surgery itself is very brief, they wake up quickly, and when they do they are hungry and playing like usual. Keep the ears dry. If the ears get wet, rewrap them with dry tape. She is capable of copying any style crop and does it to perfection. If you have NOT purchased your Doberman from a knowledgeable breeder, or are thinking of purchasing a Doberman, please inquire at your local kennel club for the name of an educated Doberman breeder/handler/vet in your area. Although ear cropping has been a common custom for this breed, especially in the US, there is much controversy regarding this practice. This answer is one that most people are completely unaware of. If you choose the long crop, you could be looking at many months of after-care. By the time a dog reaches 8 months of age, the process that transforms floppy ears into pointy, upright ears should be well underway if not totally completed. She is capable of copying any style of crop and does it to perfection. Pit bulls need special care after this procedure. Cropping is done within the first few months of a puppys life. At about 8-10 weeks age (give or take depending on their genetics and quality of nutrition) the ear cartilage begins Again, for 7 to 10 days the pup will remain in his cup with the ears taped erect until all the cut edges are healed. Also, when a Doberman has any type of ear irritation, theyll often violently shake their head side-to-side. How much pain is hotly debated by both sides of this issue. Many argue that there are no examples of dogs in the wild who have floppy ears due to natural selection. At seven months old male Dobermans weigh between 55 and 70 pounds or more. copyright. Not much of a personal choice for the circumsized baby, I have had 5 Doberman all with their ears cropped. There are three different types of ear crops for Dobermans. Both the American Veterinary Association (AVMA) and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association oppose surgical alterations that are not for the benefit of the dog and merely for cosmetic purposes. Women choose that for themselves. Since the age for docking (and dewclaw removal) is between 3-5 days old, and puppies are not picked out until 8+ weeks old, all our puppies will have tails docked and dewclaws removed. Ear cropping should never be attempted at home or without anesthesia. Doberman ear cropping is a surgical procedure that makes a Dobermans ears stand upright. Although we often laugh at the prospect of seeing our Doberman Pups with cups on their heads, it really is the easiest way to keep the ears upright while they heal. The amount of blood alone could be a danger, but usually the wounds to an ear are not fatal. The Doberman military crop (or working crop) is the shortest and easiest for training the ears to stand upright. Due to the differences of perception of ear cropping of Dobermans and dogs in general between various countries and societies, its no surprise that there are very different laws on this subject depending on where you live. One of the greatest security measures is JUST the appearance of the Doberman. It is not the same. A opinion is cake is better than ice cream if you believe their is not a single thing wrong with this, get help. 2. Doberman Planet editors pick the products and services we write about. There are also newer techniques being used such as laser ear cropping that drastically reduces the healing time. Secondly, they state that when the ears are erect theyre able to locate the source of sound more accurately than a dog with a dropped ear. Now youre embarrassed and sticking to your dumb*ss excuses for animal cruelty. The ethical method of cropping is an art done by a licensed, skilled, and experienced veterinarian. We believe in cropping and docking for the Doberman Pinscher. I had her treated and she lived to be 15! People have a opinion and try to force their opinion on you. There is no regulation or law anywhere that I am aware of (certainly not in the U.S.) requiring you to crop your Dobermans ears. We have our boys circumcised should we outlaw that practice as well. Many pups bleeds to death because people want a different appearance than how they were born like. I have an 8 Year old male had his ears done so pitiful and painful made a quick recovery all is well.. Got A companion she is two , I vowed to never do that again to a dog. Veterinarians and other animal experts have concluded that there is little benefit to ear cropping and this has to be weighed against the downsides. Do not expect a beautiful crop without lots of support, work and commitment. WebThe Doberman breed was created in the 1890s by a German tax collector, night watchman, and local dog catcher named Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. I dont believe you bring up anything scientific to say it is ok to do. WebThe ears are sutured after cropping and taped over the head by the vet and then covered with gauze or glued to a piece of Styrofoam between them. Fences and kennels do the same without the pain for the dog. If you want to remove anything from your dog, testicles, ear cropping, tail) think about doing it on yourself first. Shes going on three years old . So, the question arises: how did we end up with floppy ears on our canines? Are you implying that ear cropping should be used to prevent cancer in dogs? Both of which can deter a potential attacker. Then the posts and bandages will need to be replaced so the ears are positioned correctly. Other countries follow a different breed standard such as the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) which has no such requirements. The banning of ear cropping on any dogs in the USA has not taken place. If the puppies have not already been cropped you may be able to choose to leave your puppy with natural ears. We use the Backer Rod method to post our European doberman puppies. The look for the breed is meant to be regal, also described as "the look of eagles." The posts remain in the puppys ears until the ears will stand erect on their own. Theres always risk with it. Females will be between 50 and 60 pounds. But not everyone agrees with the practice, and it definitely does have some downsides. If youve ever seen a fierce-looking Doberman standing guard to protect their family, chances are they had this ear style. WebThe ideal age for a Doberman is 7-9 weeks of age, before the ear cartilage begins hardening. The vet would need to repair them in surgery and give antibiotics to prevent infection. We don't like to think about it but emergencies can happen, certain events or circumstances in our lives may absolutely require us to rehome our dog. Ear Crop & Tail Dock Areas with a lot of humidity or moisture are more prone. Its obvious you dont understand DOGS. It sounds way more like you know doing an elective surgery on an animal is your vanity and needless. My first Dobie had a show crop. This repetitive process is what brought about the 344 different dog breeds recognized today by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The AVMA opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes. Knowing that the European Doberman, along with all the other different dog breeds, were created by inbreeding, we can explain the cause of the unnaturally floppy ears.