Ear cropping is not a straightforward or quick procedure. In fact, most wild animals that are carnivores have erect ears. How to find a puppy and raise a happy, healthy dog, January 13, 2023 By Jane Pinzhoffer 65 Comments. Many people think so, and the procedure is now banned in many areas. I do agree, we should not crop our dogs ears or tails and we should not circumcise our boys either. dobermans ears Once the ears are fully healed, you may move on to posting the ears. Your email address will not be published. Replacing the ear posts on a Doberman can take 15 to 45 minutes depending on the specific technique thats used and how experienced you are with the posting procedure. Cropped Ears. In some dogs, surgery may not be successful and these dogs sometimes undergo additional surgery. 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. The Doberman breed is a man-made creation, just like most dog breeds in existence, and they have many features that would never occur in the wild. More information about the traditional method used in the past by veterinary surgeons to crop a dogs ears can be found here. I have had two Dobermans, never got their ears cropped and neither has had ear complications. Natural, uninjured ear carriage in a Doberman is never upright. But there is certainly some level of pain and discomfort afterward. Their ears are soft and silky, and inside theyre smooth and pink. In some areas this may involve considerable journeys as fewer and fewer vets are willing to carry out the procedure. 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.) Although ear cropping has been a common custom for this breed, especially in the US, there is much controversy regarding this practice. Doberman ear posting can take from a few weeks up to a year. You just justify it by saying to helps with unwanted dogs being born. The look between the cropped and the un-cropped Doberman is very different. WebThe use of pain relief with a healthy diet lets the wounds heal at a fast pace. My Dobie was the best dog I ever owned. During the ear cropping procedure, the Doberman puppy is anesthetized and the floppy part of the dogs ear is cut off. In addition, the long healing process in the weeks that follow surgery, can be more painful for the dog than the actual surgery itself. How often its not successful is almost impossible to determine as every veterinarian has a different definition of what a successful crop is. You remove or alter your elderly parents body parts because you think if they were different they would look better? I strongly discourage this practice and if you still do it, despite its cruelty and pointlessness, you are only doing it for appearance, not to help with hearing or infections. And there are a number of reasons why this practice has fallen out of favor. My problem is that without those stand up ears people dont consider them to be Dobermans and I need to have that recognition so I can feel like they need to stay away because people dont recognize a Doberman without cropped ears. Good owners weigh carefully their own commitment and responsibility before getting a dog. This involves wrapping, or posting, the ears into position until the dogs ear cartilage naturally firms up causing them to stay erect. The following line appears further down in the document: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.. We travel 7 hours one way to dr. Anne midgarden to have our european doberman for sale cropped. Its often fairly time-consuming to post a Dobermans ears in the right position and it involves inserting a support into the ear (like a foam rod, cardboard, or plastic support), and then wrapping the ear to stay in place. The lycoan pictus, also known as the African wild dog, also has erect ears. During the surgery itself, its unlikely the dog will experience any pain due to the use of general anesthesia (the dog will be unconscious). Dogs as an animal would not exist were it not for mans interference. Now youre embarrassed and sticking to your dumb*ss excuses for animal cruelty. The stitches are removed at about a week and the cup comes off at about two weeks. Use peroxide to clean the edges of the ears and then dust the edges with BFI Powder to help dry them out. Ear cropping is a surgical procedure veterinarians perform on puppies between 6 and 16 weeks old. This is their true nature at heart - to always be protecting and "working" anyways whether they are active in competition for it or not. The Proceedure is Not Always Successful, Video: Cropped vs. Natural Eared Dobermans. You may have heard that leaving your Doberman uncropped will increase the risk of ear infections, but there is no evidence to support this theory. Doberman ear cropping is now banned in many countries. They ridicule you if your opinion is different and call you an animal abuser. How Long Do You Post Doberman Ears? - Doberman Site The ears heal and, after about The opinions and statements in the pros and cons sections in this article arent necessarily representative of the authors opinions. There are those who insist that ear cropping is a part of the breeds identity. Tilting the head might be an attempt to compensate for this lack of control. 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. Often, the ear set will result in long hanging ears that droop, which detracts from the look of the chiseled, wedge shaped head. With regard to the theory that erect ears are more accurate at sonic locating, I would point out that when the dog has control over the elevation of each ear, you will often find them listening with one ear in a lower position than the other. After they are cropped, we keep them for another 14 days to provide after care and remove the stitches. They will be healed and ready for posting before they go to their new home. Other countries follow a different breed standard such as the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) which has no such requirements. Despite what many people think, Doberman puppies are actually born with long ears as well as a long tail! Ear Cropping and Aftercare: Do's and Don'ts - Doberman all rights reserved. I think disfiguring an animal because it suits the owners eye is an extremely selfish thing to do. Adopted Daisy from the local Humane Society . ear cropping She did not seem to be in any undue pain. For example, typically every 3 to 5 days the bandages will need to come off, posts removed, and ears cleaned. This condition is characterized by a defect in platelet function which affects the bloods ability to clot. I have had 4 great danes so far, no one cropped. In Mexico it is prohibited but it does not prevent the owners from continuing to practice it, the difference is that now they end up doing it clandestinely, I just got my first girl dobermen amd she is wonderful one of my friends it trying to tell me that i have to get her ears cropped do to ear infection and my pup is 8 weeks old today. 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. The ethical method of cropping is an art done by a licensed, skilled, and experienced veterinarian. In Europe, the most prominent doberman club association (FCI) has banned the possibility of showing any cropped European doberman after 2016. Doberman Ear Crops Cavalier Doberman Pinscher Club Tail docking is a much easier, and cheaper, procedure done when the dog is much younger. If you want to go with something that is more natural that nature would have intended, that would be a cropped ear. Its unknown how much of this is because of the bandages theyre wearing annoying them and how much is due to discomfort. There have been bills proposed to ban ear cropping in Michigan, but they have not yet been passed and implemented. For some people, ear cropping is seen as a sign of breeding prestige and Doberman Planet editors pick the products and services we write about. The point is, protection is instinct in these dogs. If your dobie acquires a bad ear crop or a fallen ear or tip then the blame is on the owner for not being committed and doing their research. Dogs dont get to choose if you cut them up or not. The bandages and earn posts can be annoying and uncomfortable for the dog although it doesnt seem likely that they cause any pain. Look at the English bulldog for example, not being able to mate or birth without human assistance. 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 Cropping for European Show Dobermans by Paul If I thought that they were in pain I would absolutely not have their ears cropped. In my experience, it seems like Dobies have no problem handling the procedure itself and Im always relieved when I see how happy and chipper my Dobermans are right after the procedure. This will take a significant amount of time and effort on the part of the owner to maintain these ear posts. The procedure is most often performed on European Doberman puppies as early as 6 weeks of age and as late as 12 weeks of age. Dobermans often have their ears cropped to conform to breed standards, for cosmetic reasons, or for a role as a working dog. This schedule of wrapping and cleaning the ears will need to continue until the dog is at least 6 months old but at times can be necessary up until the dog is 1 year of age. Do not expect a beautiful crop without lots of support, work and commitment. Help?! They don't automatically stand straight up but the "posting" is the necessary after care where the ears are gently taped into position and in time the cartilage hardens upright. She was outstanding, loyal, loving, and great with children. I agree. We travel seven hours one way to Dr. Anne Midgarden to have our European Doberman puppies cropped. This actually has a function, to allow the dog to use the parallax introduced by the differential ear positioning to acquire the range of the target sound. Did you have your babies ear lobes cut and fused to their skulls because attached lobes look better to you? We believe she is the best european doberman ear cropping veterinarian in the united states. The wounds can bleed quite a bit and regular dressing changes are required to prevent infection. Doberman ear cropping is typically performed when a puppy is between 7 and 9 weeks old but sometimes as late as 12 weeks old. The AVMA encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards.. The best ear crop for a Doberman is the one that stands. Clearly a cosmetic decision. Cost may vary depending on which veterinarian performs the procedure. The ideal age for a Doberman is 7-9 weeks of age, before the ear cartilage begins hardening. Hygienic. If you choose the long crop, you could be looking at many months of after-care. Especially Dobbies with the risk of them having von Willebrands disease which Dobbies are known to have. When cropping a Dobermans ears, we may think theres only one style. His original dogs always had cropped ears and a docked tail. Puppies can look pretty cute with those floppy ears of theirs. Cropping is done within the first few months of a puppys life. There can be a lot of controversy surrounding this topic so we want to be as educational and sensitive as we can. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Happy Puppy Site is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, The Happy Puppy Site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Cropping a Dobermans ears can actually be hazardous to the dogs health for a number of reasons. Preventative Tips for Doberman Cropped Ears Infection Ask them who they use and recommend. One example is although this map shows cropping as legal in Canada, readers have informed me that its illegal in many provenances within Canada (its only legal on the federal level). Many argue that this is less likely if the dog has cropped ears. Doberman Puppy 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. Find out why or why not. Some into old age, if you will. This was so they could excel at their primary purposeguard work. I am 66 and need security help. There are a few cases where a veterinarian might advise that it is, and usually, this is only in the case of a severely damaged ear from an accident, dog attack, or medical condition. Some cropping vets near us that claim to have experience since the 70's charge $825 and $725 per puppy. Can you post a Dobermans ears without cropping? Everybody, especially in the European doberman world, will have something to critique or comment on, but the important thing is that you get what you want and paid for. And even then theres no guarantee that the surgery will be a success. They do so for aesthetic, religious, or social reasons. One of the greatest security measures is JUST the appearance of the Doberman. Human circumcision is most commonly performed for religious and/or cultural reasons, whereas dog ear cropping really is purely cosmetic, but neither are primarily medical. I promised this beautiful Dobe , No One here will ever hurt her . Not very different with our pets it would seem. Sorry- my dog my choice. Remove any dirt, wax, or debris inside the ear We also send our owners home with a posting starter pack containing a few pre cut backer rods and rolls of tape that should last until they can buy their own. Ear cropping surgery prices range from 150 dollars up to 1,500 dollars in some practices. No one said it wasnt. The Doberman military crop (or working crop) is the shortest and easiest for training the ears to stand upright. I love dobies. Usually it is a red flag if the vet charges significantly lower or higher, but some vets in the midwest are exceptionally skilled at cropping and only charge around $250. Good breeders screen prospective owners carefully to evaluate their commitment and responsibility before placing the dog. Ear cropping healing time is around 1016 days. The ear wrappings do, at times, seem to annoy the dogs as the months go by during the posting stage (but the ears are fully healed at this point). In a dog that is meant to be a protector, the first impression counts. 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. The first thing that comes to mind may be "what a cute and goofy dog," which may fit the personality, but is not what we desire for the impression of the breed. Modern veterinarians do implore many pain management techniques to make the procedure as painless as possible including full anesthesia and pain medicine after the procedure. I had her treated and she lived to be 15! The article states it hasnt been scientifically proven that erect ears hear better than floppy ears. WebWhen Doberman puppies are born the ears are soft and floppy. The puppy is put under anesthesia while the ears are trimmed and the edges are stitched. The canis lupus, which is also known as the wolf, has erect ears. Not sure why you need to whine into the void or state the obvious: your dog is your dog. The medium crop gives the breed a more intimidating look which is ideal for any working dog, especially if their task is to protect the home. Doberman Planet LLC6366 Commerce Blvd # 194Rohnert Park, CA 94928, Join our team | Submit media | Terms of Submission, PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS | REFUND POLICY | About. All Rights Reserved. The only way to get reliably erect ears on a Doberman, is to cut them before holding them in their new position until the ear cartilage has hardened. The surgery must be done by a veterinarian who is experienced in cropping Dobermans Veterinarians and other animal experts have concluded that there is little benefit to ear cropping and this has to be weighed against the downsides. My first dobe was not cropped. The vet will have a pre-surgery 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. Many working dogs like hunting dogs, for example, will have their ears cropped if theyre expected to be running through thick brush or quickly past other obstacles that could injure their ears. Are you implying that ear cropping should be used to prevent cancer in dogs? Both loving, very smart, well trained. The cut edges of the ear are stitched and Soft foam blocks or posts are placed inside the ear and the ear is then taped around them to stand upright. You want to feel ok with cutting up your dog and having it recover from a painful surgery that isnt necessarybecause it looks cool to you. I say it is, because it did not alter their personalities. John Walter is a Family Doberman Specialist, holds a CPD certification in Canine Communication, and is an active dog trainer specializing in the Doberman Pinscher breed. The reason that I would not do it again is because I am in an area where there are no available Vets that would do the cropping the way I prefer (long crop). People just need work on stopping true animal abuse and not be concerned with my super spoiled Dobermans eats!!! We got our pups ears cropped on July 31st, 2018 and started posting the 7 or 8 days after that procedure that the vet prescribed. WebThe ideal age for a Doberman is 7-9 weeks of age, before the ear cartilage begins hardening. Excessive bleeding after surgery is a common clinical finding and severely affected dogs may bleed to death from surgical procedures. The medium crop is between military and show length. In smaller breeds like the Brussels Griffon, the ears were cropped to make it harder for a cornered rat to bite them. Ear cropping a Doberman for cosmetic reasons is considered cruel and unnecessary in many parts of the world. Both of which can deter a potential attacker. There are various tribes that make body modifications scarring, tattoos, body piercings, or extended neck, lip, earlobes, nasal canals, etc. I feel, it is a guilt trip you put responsible owners through. A Dobermans natural ears are large and heavy which makes it difficult to train them to stand if left uncropped. WebRECOMMENDED: 25 Dazzling Doberman Mixes. Before I bought my first doberman, I didnt know much about it and thought it was normal. The surgery itself is very brief, they wake up quickly, and when they do they are hungry and playing like usual. The operation itself is carried out under anesthetic, but post operative pain is inevitable when we make deep cuts in part of an animals body or when we remove body parts entirely. I believe cropping a dobermans ears is unnecessary and cruel. The Doberman breed was created in the 1890s by a German tax collector, night watchman, and local dog catcher named Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. There are many people out there who believe that cropping a dogs ears is cruel and inhumane. They were fine. The look for the breed is meant to be regal, also described as "the look of eagles." And how many ladies out there complain about ear cropping, but go and get breast augmentations, which are also purely cosmetic. 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. There are folks who still get them cropped for working reasons or for the standard when showing them for judging. They can do this so repetitively at times, that the tips of the ear can begin to bleed and have difficulty healing. According to the Doberman Pinscher Club of America ear cropping is done for two functional reasons. It cannot be carried out in areas where ear cropping is illegal, and is a procedure that is usually carried out only in puppies. Proper aftercare is essential during this lengthy healing process, which is very uncomfortable for the dog. For example, in the United States, its legal as long as a veterinarian performs the procedure. Its my hope in this article to outline the real-world pros and cons of getting your Dobermans ears cropped, along with my experience with my Dobermans, so you can decide whats best for you and your dog. However, this standard does not require the Dobermans ears to be cropped. The Doberman Pinscher Breed Standard in the U.S. as put out by the American Kennel Club (available here) outlines what the ideal Doberman Pinscher should look like. No exceptions. This is the look your dog will have for the rest of your life! (Luckily i was able to clot and have stitched) this can be fatal. Like a previous person stated, would you decide to put your son through the pain of having him circumcised?? On average I hear about $500. This answer is one that most people are completely unaware of. The first is that a cropped ear gives the dog an advantage when confronted with an attacker as theres less for the perpetrator to grab hold of. The duration of healing time is dependent on how well they were cropped, sutured, and kept clean. No one will have the dedication and vested interest to ensure that your puppy's ears come out nicely more than you will. Reputable Doberman breeders will arrange the cropping of all their puppies. Its a elective procedure for humans needing their ears cropped called pinning the ears back for folks whose ears stick out. At about 8-10 weeks age (give or take depending on their genetics and quality of nutrition) the ear cartilage begins I have always had my Dobermans ears cropped, and I am talking 2 that I have had. There is scientific reason to neuter dogs. Also isnt neutering a animal painful or traumatic also completely against what they are made to do. 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. She was fearful, emaciated, and had heart worms. PLEASE NOTE: In this article, I will present the potential pros and cons of ear cropping Dobermans as argued by those who are both for, and against it. So glad this horrible, unnecessary process is now illegal in most of Europe. 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. Like the United States breed standard, falling outside whats outlined doesnt appear to be a disqualifier but is considered a fault. How To: Ear Posting PRIMA Dobermans Many still question the ethics of this procedure. So because it doesnt traumatize the animal too much to permanently damage them its fine? If we compare the responses of cropped Dobermans to un-cropped, we usually hear "gorgeous, beautiful" versus "cute, silly." However, I never saw anything remotely resembling pain on subsequent bandage changes, or during ear posting later on. Dobermans are notorious to have constant reoccurring inner ear infection with un-cropped floppy ears due to restricted air flow. A: This will vary significantly from vet to vet. Ear Cropping The Doberman is the ONLY breed bred for personal protection. : This ear is the longest and a little narrower than the other two crops. Before you think, "well I'm just getting my dog as a pet, we don't plan on protection sport or unruly play with other dogs and I live in a safe neighborhood" The Doberman is always on watch. After the procedure, the dog must endure weeks of healing and pain. I took care of her ears after the procedure was finished. Frankly though, to the average owner of a Doberman who just wants a family dog and has no intention of having their dog compete in the show ring, having their dog fit the breed standard likely isnt of any concern to them. She had natural ears and a cropped tail and thought to have been used for breeding. Floppy ears are a natural occurrence. Some countries do not legally allow these practices but that does not mean they are unethical. If youve ever seen a fierce-looking Doberman standing guard to protect their family, chances are they had this ear style. Cons The Arguments Against Ear Cropping, 7. The procedure is most often performed on Having cropped ears made for one less hand-hold for an attacker to grab on to and gain control over the dog. In general, Dobermans and Great Danes are cropped between 8 and 10 weeks of age. The shorter the ears are cropped, the easier and faster they usually tend to stand. SMH. Said it was up to me whether to do it or not and that he didnt recommend putting the pup through unnecessary pain. Although to be fair, its likely that the pain medication is still in their system at the point when I first see them after surgery. They stick out from the side or oddly perk up from the front. When hunting has been the culture among The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) opposes ear cropping in dogs. Many argue that there are no examples of dogs in the wild who have floppy ears due to natural selection.
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