Can Any Breed be Cropped?

StillandSilent · May 22, 2014

So, we had a new client at work today who was concerned about her Great Danes crop not standing. Her Great Dane was obviously a dalmation, which is what the vet had to gently break to her. How her previous vet did not realize this is beyond me (she bought the puppy off the internet and they claimed it was a Dane).

But it got me thinking. Is the reason the crop wouldn't stand that it was a poor crop, improper care afterwards, or because it was the wrong breed? Is there anything special about the ear leather (thinner? Thicker?) in breeds that are traditionally cropped?

Could I crop a beagle or a golden if I did it at the right time?

Obviously, I'm not suggesting doing that. I'm just wondering if it's possible.

DJEtzel · May 22, 2014

Good question! I would think that they can't because of the different ear shapes/weights, but I am interested to see what other people here say/thing - Especially the vets!

Laurelin · May 22, 2014

Well what length of crop are we talking about? I'd think any breed could have a CO style crop. Maybe even a short pit bull/amstaff type? But the really thin ears probably couldn't have a long show Doberman crop job. Don't really know just speculating.

Torch · May 22, 2014

Purely speaking from my own experience with my Amstaff pup (who had full drop, hound like ears, very similar to a Lab or shorter-eared hound), I think quite a few different types of ears could be cropped. Length and style would be the deciding factors, I think. Oh, and age.

AmberH · May 22, 2014

I would bet most dogs could be cropped successfully with a short crop. I follow an artist on Deviant Art that had a catahoula cropped, for whatever reason. A nice long crop, it looks nicely done. I don't agree with cropping a breed that isn't traditionally done but whatever, I guess. As long as you care for it properly.

krissy · May 23, 2014

On a greyhound group on Facebook someone recently posted a picture of a couple greyhounds (or possibly lurchers that are primarily greyhound) with cropped ears. It was a really strange crop though with a big wedge taken out of the middle of the ear which left two flaps on either side sticking up.

Now greyhound ears are definitely different in size and shape than most breeds. And different dogs tend to have different ears. Kili's are floppier than Summit's and she only carries them in the rosebud (typical greyhound look with the ears back against the skull) or semi-prick positions. Her rosebud position is also not as tight back against the skull as Summit. Summit, on the other hand, can do almost anything with his ears. They are typically in the rosebud position but he will also do semi- and full-prick, and can also do semi-prick in one ear and full prick in the other. And then there are some hounds that are in full-prick almost all the time. Greyhound ears are interesting, but that Facebook photo wa the first time I'd seen a crop. They're used for hunting hogs from what I could gather (poster had very broken English) so I guess they get their ears torn up if not cropped.

stafinois · May 23, 2014

I want to see some of these off breed crops

crazedACD · May 23, 2014

stafinois said:

I do too. I've searched online before and never come across it.

Also, all these posts and no one commenting on the breed mix up?

That is crazy to me! It really was a Dal, not a Harlequin Dane?

sassafras · May 23, 2014

crazedACD said:

Yea I tried to do a GIS and among all the images of traditionally cropped breeds there was a bunch of human body mod stuff.

Anyway, I don't know why not, other than some ear shapes/sets might be hard to do it properly.

Linds · May 23, 2014

I know I've seen Saluki's with cropped ears. Not a tall crop but still a crop.

Paviche · May 23, 2014

AmberH said:

Is it this one? I was curious and looked it up.

http://volatilevisage.deviantart.com/art/Eli-s-ear-wrap-335748809
http://volatilevisage.deviantart.com/art/Eli-9-months-3-375950786

Muttkip · May 23, 2014

Paviche said:

That would be the one!

Shame she ditches more dogs then she knows what to do with, but atleast her Dane isn't mixed up with a Dal

AmberH · May 23, 2014

Yeah, that's the dog. The crop isn't as nice as I remember but still decent.

There's also pictures of a merle "pit bull" cropped. Looks pretty catahoula to me too but she claims it's from game lines.

StillandSilent · May 23, 2014

I didn't see the actual dog, but the vet had taken pictures and it was obviously a dalmation and a very petite one at that. It was one of the oddest things I've ever seen.

Laurelin · May 23, 2014

Are you... sure that is a catahoula?

AmberH · May 23, 2014

I don't think any of us can be sure. Just going by what the person said. Why do you question it? What do you think she is? Certainly not a traditionally cropped breed/mix either way.

crazedACD · May 24, 2014

Laurelin said:

More grown up picture, I'd say yes

stafinois · May 24, 2014

I saw this dog at a doggie swim event. I couldn't figure out what she was. Cropped ears with a tail? The owners informed me she was Boxer/Lab. The vet wouldn't dock her tail at the age they brought her in at but they did the ears.

Romy · May 24, 2014

Dals were cropped historically.

There are so many different styles of crop, you probably could crop any breed as long as it was the appropriate style for their ear type.

Pops2 · May 24, 2014

AmberH said:

feel free to tell her she is full of $#!+ as merle didn't exist in pit bulldogs (that's why it wasn't mentioned as a DQ in the original breed standards) until some asshat started crossing them with leopard dogs and saying they were pure.

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