Ear Cropping-good? Bad?

[Duke]

Can someone give me some insight on this practice? Vet is gonna charge $400 but I'm not sure that I want to put Duke through that kinda pain....and how late is too late? Duke is 13 weeks...almost 14..I think thats too late by some have said no...

 

[mkj878]

I've always thought it was done between 9-12 weeks old. I think cane corso's look better with it done but personally IDK if i could handle going through it

 

[Cody]

Ppl will have it done up to 16 weeks.
The older the dog the shorter the crop needs to be to stand correctly when mature. Personally I prefer cropped CC.

 

[Duke]

I think it looks nice as well. My wife disagrees...says itll make him look like a mean dog. I really want to get it done but Im not sure if I'm going to drop $400 on the procedure...one of our employees husband says he clips pit bull ears...he doesnt sew them or anything...says he just clips them and thats it....that cant be good!!! He said he wouldnt want to do my dog (not that i asked) becuase he would be afraid i wouldnt like it....what the heck!??! I cant imagine anyone having this guy clip their pups ears!!!!

 

[mkj878]

Definitely do not let that guy touch your dog at all

 

[ruthcatrin]

Many places its illegal to have the procedure done by anyone but a vet, not to menton the risks involved....

Personally I don't see the point unless you plan to show, why put him through he pain?

 

[mkj878]

Yeah I purposefully found a breed that didn't require a crop/dock...

 

[raechiemay]

Definitely do not let that guy touch your dog at all

I completely agree!!! The fact that he is openly admitting that you probably won't like it would cause me to run in the other direction!!! I'd hate to see what his "chop jobs" look like!

Many places its illegal to have the procedure done by anyone but a vet, not to menton the risks involved....


Personally I don't see the point unless you plan to show, why put him through he pain?

I also have to agree with Ruth. IMHO I think dogs/puppies should be left the way they were born. I'm not harping on anyone that gets it done, just my own opinion on the subject

 

[Duke]

Yea that guy is nuts...He started telling me all this when I told him what kind of dog I had...one of those "ahh man you should do this and that and crop this and buy this choker and get this food" kinda people...when he told me how he does the ears I got queezy! poor dogs!!!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Yeah I purposefully found a breed that didn't require a crop/dock...

Me too, heck with TM's you don't even have to remove dew claws.

I do understand that some people like the look, and its expected in the show ring for many breeds, and as long as you're taking the steps to have it done properly via a vet then its your dog and your choice. Now if you were telling me the husband was giving you a discount and so you were going to have HIM do it......THEN I'd have a fit.

 

[Duke]

Now if you were telling me the husband was giving you a discount and so you were going to have HIM do it......THEN I'd have a fit.

LOL absolutley not!!!! Ive learned that you get what you pay for in life...always...

 

[allsierra123]

I know an old guy that breeds Aussies. He does the tails on his pups with a straight razor. There are a good number of people that don't use a vet for that kind of stuff especially in the working dog world

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[Cody]

Do not let buddy do that to your dog! That sounds sketchy, why is he doing that with his pibbles?
Is very common for people that fight dogs to do home jobs...
Docking tails is a whole different thing to cropping ears.
Not to get into the natural vs crop/dock debate, but the CC or similar types have been done for over 3000 years looking back at art and their place in it. It is to preserve the historical accuracy of the breed and maintain proper expression IMO.
My first CC had her ears and tail and I swore never again.
Also because of the history of Crop/dock with in the breed, proper ear set has never really been established.
Until the recent bans in Europe it had never been an issue so it is all over the place. From lab ears to hound ears.
Personally I think it takes away from the expression, the regal presence that the CC has is diminished by big floppy ears, but again that is just my preference. I know the look isn't the be all end all of the breed and there is SO much more to them then ears but, it was that presence that made me pull over in the middle of downtown Montreal and jump out of my car 16 years ago to find out What that creature was It is the look that draws us in to our respective breeds to begin with.

 

[mkj878]

Do not let buddy do that to your dog! That sounds sketchy, why is he doing that with his pibbles?
Is very common for people that fight dogs to do home jobs...
Docking tails is a whole different thing to cropping ears.
Not to get into the natural vs crop/dock debate, but the CC or similar types have been done for over 3000 years looking back at art and their place in it. It is to preserve the historical accuracy of the breed and maintain proper expression IMO.
My first CC had her ears and tail and I swore never again.
Also because of the history of Crop/dock with in the breed, proper ear set has never really been established.
Until the recent bans in Europe it had never been an issue so it is all over the place. From lab ears to hound ears.
Personally I think it takes away from the expression, the regal presence that the CC has is diminished by big floppy ears, but again that is just my preference. I know the look isn't the be all end all of the breed and there is SO much more to them then ears but, it was that presence that made me pull over in the middle of downtown Montreal and jump out of my car 16 years ago to find out What that creature was It is the look that draws us in to our respective breeds to begin with.

I agree with you about their appearance, most CC with floppy ears and/or tail intact don't look like true CC to me, but its all personal opinion of course.

 

[yuppers21]

I personally have not chosen a breed yet where cropping/docking is standard for a reason, however, I do believe that it has an aesthetic quality achieved by doing so. I would never discourage someone from doing so as long as it is being done by a well trained vet w/ experience and for owners who are dedicated to the care of the pup afterwards. Heck, for some sporting dogs the docking of tails and removing of dew claws are done as a preventative for injury. Split tails bleed like you wouldn't believe and can take a very long time to heal or end up being docked anyways due to the nature of the wagging and banging agaisnt things. Dew claws are extremely painful when they are forcefable ripped out and often require being removed afterwards anyways, so why not spare the dog of such an experience when it is a very young pup and the claw is just a floppy appendage? We actively encourage spaying and neutering of all non-breeding dogs (though perhaps very on the when), so it is ok to rip out testicles and slice out uteri, but not ok to alter other parts of the dog? Reproduction can be prevented in other ways and a hysterectomy is a much more invasive and risky procedure than an ear cropping/tail docking.

Playing devil's advocate of course. Arguements could be made for either side of the debate. In the end, I believe it is an owner's right to have the option to dock, crop or de-dew, and the responsibility to do so in the proper way by professionals who know how to do so safely and with as little pain imposed as possible.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Not to get into the natural vs crop/dock debate, but the CC or similar types have been done for over 3000 years looking back at art and their place in it. It is to preserve the historical accuracy of the breed and maintain proper expression IMO.
......
Until the recent bans in Europe it had never been an issue so it is all over the place. From lab ears to hound ears.

I know, I just don't see the point when the dog won't be showing or working, but then I went out of my way to find breeds where that wasn't required. *shrug* I like the look of the dogs both ways, though I'll admit that the first time I see a breed normally docked with a tail I often do a double take (talk about changing the look of the dog lol).

I personally have not chosen a breed yet where cropping/docking is standard for a reason, however, I do believe that it has an aesthetic quality achieved by doing so. I would never discourage someone from doing so as long as it is being done by a well trained vet w/ experience and for owners who are dedicated to the care of the pup afterwards. Heck, for some sporting dogs the docking of tails and removing of dew claws are done as a preventative for injury. Split tails bleed like you wouldn't believe and can take a very long time to heal or end up being docked anyways due to the nature of the wagging and banging agaisnt things. Dew claws are extremely painful when they are forcefable ripped out and often require being removed afterwards anyways, so why not spare the dog of such an experience when it is a very young pup and the claw is just a floppy appendage? We actively encourage spaying and neutering of all non-breeding dogs (though perhaps very on the when), so it is ok to rip out testicles and slice out uteri, but not ok to alter other parts of the dog? Reproduction can be prevented in other ways and a hysterectomy is a much more invasive and risky procedure than an ear cropping/tail docking.
.

I don't believe in "just neutering/spaying" either lol, Apollo's intact and if both of Arty's testicles had dropped he would be too. I DO understand crop/dock in working dogs, and I guess I should have added that to my above post ie "show or work", and it does make sense especially in a working situation, I just don't see the point in a pet.

But thats my preference and like I said above as long as its done by a vet I don't have a problem with someone doing it. I DO know that there are folks who "DO" crops professionally for certain breeds, and assuming that its not illegal in the area, and proper medical care is taken then I'd be tolerant of that too, though I'd still prefer a vet.....

 

[Duke]

heres another question...how is the procedure done? do they give the dog a local or general? I couldnt imagine the vet being able to do a very good job with the dog flopping all over the place..or do they restrain the pup somehow?

 

[Jadotha]

Here are my thoughts on this: If you were considering a show crop on a Great Dane, it is too late for your pup. But CC crops allow for short crops with large bells that should work for you. My personal opinion is that dogs who were traditionally cropped as the breed developed its distinctive characteristics should preserve the historical and intended 'look'. In days of yore, ears were not a focus of attributes being selected for, because cropping took care of this. I love the regal, proud, unique 'look of eagles' in properly cropped CCs. I have owned Great Danes for years, and I have never, and will never own an uncropped one.
I agree with those who said that if you want an uncropped dog, get a dog that is not meant to be cropped. Again, my personal and no doubt highly controversial opinion, I think it is a sad day when countries legislate against cropping and docking but are fine with spaying and neutering -- which causes as much or even more pain and risk to dogs, is an elective procedure basically for our convenience.

I am not saying anyone who believes differently is 'wrong' -- everyone must be able to make their own decisions about what is right for them in these situations. These are just my opinions and values to contribute to the conversation

In terms of the procedure itself, it does require general anaesthesia, so you should ensure that a blood panel is performed first (part of the $400 price tag). However, compared to after care for a GD, which involves months of taping and stabilising, usually CC crops only require care of the raw edges and removal of the stitches.

 

[Oak Hill Farm]

They put the dogs completely under sedation, which is a risk in itself. I prefer the cropped look myself,as NY corso was cropped. However I gave seen some good looking infringed as well. It's really your preference.

I do think you should get it done in the next week or so if you are going to do it, or you will have to bear cut them. Add: by a licensed vet. Not your acquaintance. They won't stand without A LOT of work at a late age.

I agree government should not mandate it. Each owners preference. My corso was cropped/docked, my CAS is docked with no ear flaps at all (completely removed), my old boxer was docked not cropped and my future boerboel will not be docked. I'm all over the place, lol.


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[Mickey48]

If you don't want to show or work with him, let his ears like they are.
Your wife is right, cropping lets dogs look more "dangerous" to Non-dog people and sadly a lot of (male) pet owners who crop their dog just do it for petting their own ego so that people cross the road just because they saw the dog, and when you're Latino the Non-Molosser people completely set you in the "Wanna-be-Ganxta-who-fights-his-dog" category just because you walked your dog in "their" street.
And sadly it could also limit their chances of Survival when they get into a dog fight and the whole thing lands in front of a jury, especially if he's big and brindle, "because big cropped brindle dogs are always mean mean child eating pitbulls"(Thanks to today's :cuss: "entertaining media").

Just my $0.02