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Ear crop question

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
If I am wanting to crop what should I do to prepare or expect?

Of course finding a vet to do it for one, do I need pictures? What were your experiences?


I know this is a controverial subject to some but I belive we are mature adults here.
 

bonesnsasha

Well-Known Member
I know some vets do it and some don't if you know anyone else who shows GD (assuming that's the type of dog your talking about) they should be able to tell you someone good! The breeder you get the puppy from may also know. I'd just look up GDs show cropped and try to find a picture of how you'd like yours done and you should be able to give it to the vet doing the cropping and if they're good they should have pictures to show crops they've done before to pick from!

I've heard great danes ears are very difficult when cropped to get to stay standing and can take a lot of work but I've never had one or had a dog cropped before that's just what I've heard. Also if it isn't done well or cared for properly their ears will lay down instead of standing up and that just looks odd to me!

Hopefully someone else can help out more than I am!
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
If the breeder is local ask them, if not have a talk with the vet, but if you aren't 100% then don't go with them. The breed club ought to be able to help you with recomendations too. Other than that I can't help, I'm not personally a big fan of having it done and one of my requirements when looking at breeds was no ear cropping or tail docking :/
 

BlackShadowCaneCorso

Super Moderator
Staff member
If possible find a vet familiar with your breed and has hopefully cropped some before. Sometimes taking pics can help to make sure they are going to do it the way you prefer. If you breeder is willing/able to have it done sometimes getting them to have it done is easiest.
 

Aplatitsin

Well-Known Member
Gets some pics of the crops that you like you can't give Thor water or food the night before the surgery go to your local and get some vitamin E oil with the highest btu1
 

Oak Hill Farm

Well-Known Member
I would find a vet that has done dane crops before, maybe try a breed club and get referrals in your area. Also be willing to drive a ways for the ear crop if necessary. I would have pics ready of ears that you like, so that you and the vet are on the same page. I had my last dog done with laser and I love the results, but I don't know about how well it works on long crops.
 

Aplatitsin

Well-Known Member
Ops pressed send to early Btu's like 56,000 find a vet that has experience with Danes where are you located if its not a secret to do some research
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
If the breeder is local ask them, if not have a talk with the vet, but if you aren't 100% then don't go with them. The breed club ought to be able to help you with recomendations too. Other than that I can't help, I'm not personally a big fan of having it done and one of my requirements when looking at breeds was no ear cropping or tail docking :/

That was the first thing I did but few were less than helpful.... Others were no lead. Browsed on another breed forum for some information and found something.

Gets some pics of the crops that you like you can't give Thor water or food the night before the surgery go to your local and get some vitamin E oil with the highest btu1

LOL, Thor is not being cropped:D he's and "old" boy at 6 years old. I'm still looking for GM puppy but I would like my next one to be cropped. This will be the first time I've done something like this and while I am not 100% sure I will follow through I still would like to "be prepared" so to speak.


I spoke to a vet that says they specialize in Dobes, but had done danes before. She couldn't give me any more information until I set an appointment. The guy apparently has 20yrs of experience.


Just wondering what anyone's experience was who had cropped a dog before.
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
That would be nice but it is illegal in most places overseas. So most breeders there won't do it. I did find one breeder that would but a new law went into effect banning it, this year.
 

Aplatitsin

Well-Known Member
Oh I was thinking kinda late for thor oka but my first corso that I had I had to crop his ears so I have experience just ask the questions
 

Jadotha

Well-Known Member
@ Blackshadow...I think your Corso's crop is beautiful, but you can't really do such a short crop on a GM/GD. With GD's you really have to post and tape.
@ DD
My GDs were all cropped by the breeders, so I don't have any really good suggestions for locating a good vet, other then looking at pictures of Danes whose crops you admire; then locating someone who does ears and asking if s/he can do the crop. The Doberman vet may be a good resource if s/hes done Dane Ears as well -- as Dobermans have three different lengths of crops as well (working, medium and long show). You could try asking some Dane showing breeders (who tend to be very particular about their crops) in your area for a vet reference. They may be a bit reluctant, since you are not buying the puppy from them, but it's worth a try.

I've personally always preferred a longer show crop, but it depends a lot on what length will best complement your pup's head (which is probably why the Dobe vet wouldn't offer more info/advice until she saw your pup). A disadvantage of the longer crop is that it usually takes a lot longer to stand.The best age to do a Dane's crop is between 7 and 10 weeks; but I have known people who had success with pups up to 14 weeks.

In terms of prep, find out which method of taping the vet will use (the most common for Danes are with pipe foam, ear inserts (Dr. Scholls soles cut to size) and tongue depressor bracing, or taping to a styrofoam cup placed upside down between the ears. There are several other approaches, as well. So when you know the vet's preferred method, get lots of supplies. In terms of the pup, preparing him/her will be as with any surgical procedure -- no food or water within a specified time frame before the cropping. We also used hydrogen peroxide for cleaning and bacitracin for the ear edges. Your vet will give you lots of instructions on ear care and re-taping. Generally stitches can out within 8 days. Until this happens (and sometimes up to a month after) the vet may use foam posts or methods that don't irritated the cut edges. When the final taping is done, you only have to re-tape the ears about once a week, unless there is a sign of problems (bad odor, shaking the head).

With the long crops I had done with my GDs, it took between 14 and 18 months for the ears to stand (and stay up). It does take commitment, but I never found it too onerous or difficult and I loved the outcome!
 
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Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
Thanks Jadotha,

I've seen some danes with a "military crop" or sometimes shorter, It didn't look too bad but it takes away from that regal appearance we've come to know about the dane.

Thank you for your experience with the cropping procedure. I found a tutorial for ear posting that was used by Dr Bill ( who is "renouned" as the best ear crop specialist) that seem quite useful. It seems like it would definitely take some getting used to if I decide to do it.

I didn't realize it would take that long to stand. When I adopted Duke the lady said it only took about a week???? In either case like you said it depends on what the vet thinks would fit. I've already started printing some pictures of dogs that I really liked to give the vet an idea of what I'd like.

How did your pups fair after the surgery? Did you stay with them all day? I have work and wonder if I would need to take the day off for this?
 

Jadotha

Well-Known Member
Well, again, my Danes all had long show crops. The shorter the crop the less time it takes for the ears to stand. I just checked with a friend of mine who prefers shorter 'pet crops' on her Danes and she says they are finished in 4 to 6 months. I personally have never seen a crop on a Dane that is anywhere near as short as the Corso or Neo crops (which I LOVE on those breeds!)Even the Dobe 'working/military crops are considerably longer and require some taping and posting. But, an ear is an ear, and there is no reason the crop couldn't be done anyway you would prefer. :)

We only had one puppy who came home with freshly done ears. We did stay home with him the first day. Probably it would be good to take the one day off to make sure all is going well. But after that my pups were fine -- very resilient and bouncing around.
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
I understood I was just wondering the "average" time it took. I saw two but it was because the vet botched the crop ( or so I was told) so they just cropped it shorter.

That's good I always wonder how they feel after the surgery. If it effects them at all.