Ear Cropping-good? Bad?

[mia]

I think you answered your own question when you said "but I'm not sure that I want to put Duke through that kinda pain...."
Ear cropping is 100% cosmetic. People don't do it for "health" reasons they do it because they think it "looks" good. Cropping puts them at risk for infection, not to mention risking your dog to possible side effects of anesthesia strictly because you think it looks good. Gimme a break. I've always treated my dogs like one of the family and I've never thought about putting my kids through an obvious painful surgery just because I'm selfish enough to do so. My 3 year old daughter was born with congenital cataracts and had 4 eye surgeries under general anesthesia to allow her to see, it was a painful healing process that gave back her eyesight so she could SEE, healthful reasons differ from selfish ones.

You might want to talk to the hog hunters out there, cropping is important to them!!!! It's NOT cosmetic in their case. I used my Dobe in the bush and was thankful her ears, dews and tail were done. Just because some people live in the happy bubble of the city doesn't mean we all do. There are still dogs who work out there and do need their standards kept. It's not a matter of the dog being a member of the family, it's a matter of keeping them safe and healthy for what they are being used for. The CC is a catch dog and I do know people that still work them, in the field so yes ears need to be cropped to avoid injury, this is why it's in the CC standard. Either that or one could leave them natural and have the ear ripped off, that would be painless for the dog no?

Cropping, docking and dew claw removal are commonly for health reasons, yes it can be cosmetic as well but please don't discount why something is in a breed standard if you don't know.....

 

[Kandie]

When I get my CC, her ears are going to be cropped. I am getting a pet quality, so I won't be showing her; I just like the look on CCs.

Hope your babies ears turned out well.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

There dogs not children you own them do what you want as long as its not abuse.....

Tapd on my skyrocket

Agreed!

 

[GM2009]

I can't believe we're comparing dogs to children here. Dogs are not humans, they are animals. They are treated much different. I'm also assuming you haven't built a "baby run" in your backyard to lock your children into so they can be outside without running around the yard. I seriously hope you don't own a crate to fit your toddler in instead of calling a babysitter as well!! Again, dogs are not people.

Sure, cropping is painful. So is docking. There is an original purpose & I will support anyone who wants to do this. I will also support anyone who doesn't 100%. I've friends in the Rottweiler world who believe tails are important to begin new breeding practices and to detect the "kink" in the tail that can predict spinal issues in lines. At the same time, they will never guilt trip me if I decide to dock a Rottweiler here in the USA. I think this should be applicable to everyone!

Dogs are our "possessions". It sounds horrible, but it's the truth. I cannot feel right and tell someone, "Don't crop because it'll make you a terrible, terrible person!". As long as the puppy is being done by a vet in the right circumstances with proper after care, I definitely have zero objections. Just like if someone wants to "fix" their dogs. Will I ever neuter a dog again? Probably not. Will I spay again? Sure, as I don't want to deal with certain health concerns that come with it, but this is also MY CONVENIENCE!! Do people not understand this? Removing the uterus to prevent pyometra is for your own convenience. "I don't want my female to possibly get a cancer/infection & have to pay those costs... Plus she'll just be miserable and it'll be a world of trouble for her & ***I***." There is absolutely zero health benefits to neutering a male dog. Yet how many people neuter their dogs every day?

I owned a Dane female with natural ears. I loved the quizzical expression she always had, but I always resented myself a little on the inside for keeping her natural. Seeing a cropped Dane is magical for me. I know once I get my black show male (probably not for a long while) he WILL have his ears cropped, dammit! I also know if I get a CC (which would be much sooner) s/he will definitely be docked and most likely cropped. Yet testicles will remain intact!

 

[mia]

Like this GM2009? Was at a dog show today....

 

[GM2009]

Like this GM2009? Was at a dog show today....

Love it!! Such a noble appearance. I couldn't tell someone not to do this to their Dane... Do you know the show name of this dog?

 

[mia]

I don't know as I don't have a catalogue but there were some lovely crop jobs at the show. I am really personally tired of having the government or AR's in my house. Why can't I have the right to choose, if I want to crop so be it, or eat meat etc..... It's getting really old....

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

I don't know as I don't have a catalogue but there were some lovely crop jobs at the show. I am really personally tired of having the government or AR's in my house. Why can't I have the right to choose, if I want to crop so be it, or eat meat etc..... It's getting really old....

I agree completely!

 

[GM2009]

GM crops can be tricky, those ears are soo long. The after care is a nightmare for the owner but I think it's well worth it! Haven't met a breeder who disagrees on this matter. I, too, believe we should be allowed to decide. I understand they're trying to prevent "animal cruelty" but it's hypocrisy. We're allowed to remove dew claws, speuter, and even attach the stomach to abdomin walls to "prevent bloat", but we can't choose to crop ears under a licensed veterinarian with anesthesia & pain medications? Hmm... doesn't sit right with me!

I don't know as I don't have a catalogue but there were some lovely crop jobs at the show. I am really personally tired of having the government or AR's in my house. Why can't I have the right to choose, if I want to crop so be it, or eat meat etc..... It's getting really old....

 

[TexasRose]

We just had our CC puppy's ears cropped 2 weeks ago. I'll be honest, it was hard for me to do. He is the first breed we've ever had that the cropped/docked look was common. We had the ears done because we are going to show him and because my husband may hunt with him, depending on if the puppy shows the drive for that as he gets older. I felt really guilty about it though. However, he did not seem to be bothered by it much at all. The first day home he shook his head more often but after that he didn't act any different at all. We go on Tuesday to get the stitches out and start posting them. I think that it's definitely the owner's decision and that we decide what is best for our dogs and our family.

 

[Duke]

Thanks for all the input guys. As it turns out I backed out the morning of the procedure. He still has his ears. I just count do it. He is too darn cute with those big floppy ears. Thanks again yall.

 

[rhonda7770]

I have 3 CC's and all of their ears are natural. Since 2 of my babies are black brindle they already face a huge stereotype issue as it is, so I chose not to crop. As for that sketchy guy... OMG.. I have recently seen large male CC that had been the victim of someone like him... It looked like his ears had been cut with scissors when he was a pup... It was really sad..


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[mastiffmedic]

There dogs not children you own them do what you want as long as its not abuse.....

Tapd on my skyrocket

to some people slicing a dogs ear almost completely off IS abuse, btw I "own" my kids til they're 18, its up to me look after their best interest.

---------- Post added at 01:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

Actually cropping ears also lessens the chances of ear infections. Most infections are caused by moisture getting into the ear, they thrive in dark damp area's. Cropping the ears can seriously reduce that risk
As for the children vs dogs... Well that is a whole other debate. Do you believe in circumcision or piercing ears? have you ever had a dogs ear get ripped while it is playing? Brutal to heal. Our Boxer, who we decided not to crop, ended up with a cancerous tumor on the top side of his ear that had to be removed, had we have cropped him it never would have happened and would have saved us a fortune in vet bills... Just sayin'
Are your dogs intact or spay/neutered? That is a far more invasive surgery.
As for putting the dog under, do you not believe in testing for Dysplacia? That involves putting a dog under general anesthesia to get proper placement.
That argument is full of holes.

Whats full of holes are people that justify ear cropping by saying its for health reasons when 99% of the time its to "keep the breed standard" or "thats how they're supposed to look". I was young and dumb (I was 20 at the time) when I had my red nose Pits' ears done, professionally by a vet, humanly under general anesthesia, a week post op and he spikes a fever, had a massive infection from the procedure. Antibiotics, IV fluids, 2 weeks of him being sick and a not so cheap vet bill, convinced me that I had made the wrong choice. A choice I made because I thought it looked cool and read somewhere that "it lessens the chances of ear infections". To each his own but I told my wife that I (we) would never do anything unnecessary to our animals again.

 

[mastiffmedic]

l

 

[mastiffmedic]

l

 

[Sabrina]

Dino had his ears done at 7 weeks. We wrestled with it a little but eventually decided to do it mainly because we wanted him to look scarier because that is why we got him- to deter people from breaking into our home. I had some sketchy things happen to me when my husband was away and I feel sooooooooo much safer now with Dino because, if I was a "bad guy", mine would be the LAST house I would ever visit!!

Aftercare was so easy and painless- he was a happy healthy pup and has never had an ear infection I don't regret our decision at all, and I definitely don't feel like we harmed him in any way.

 

[Batz]

I know I'm kinda late on this thread but I left shadows ears natural only because I wasn't sure any of the vets in my area could do a proper CC crop, and there was no way I was chancing my beautiful pup looking goofy beacause some vet had no idea what they were doing. Though shadows tail is docked and I commend you mastiff owners whose breed doesnt have a docked tail I can only imagine the bruises those things leave.

 

[Duke]

I ended up leaving dukes ears natural. I didnt want to risk a bad crop, I didnt want to spend the $$ and I didnt think he'd appreciate it much either.

 

[bellareea320]

Duke looks great! Luna's ears were cropped before we took her home at 10 1/2 weeks and it was my first time dealing with cropped ears and it was tough for me because i am such a mommy and I thought she was never going to let anyone touch her ears again. I was wrong of corse and being over protective, she actually loves when anyone touches her ears now. I am also a perfectionist and think one ear is different but try to tell myself not any two ears are the same. Its personal choice and either way they look great!!!

 

[Aplatitsin]

I bits ears were cropped at about 9-10 weeks old