Cropping Ears?

mi_bella

New Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
92
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Texas
#1
Now that my brother is adding a doberman to the family, we have been faced with this question from the breeder.

We used to have one when we were younger and it had cropped ears. That was back when we had the lovely life of no jobs, not having to take responsiblity for pets, and alllowing our parents to make all decisions. He really likes that look but we keep hearing the experience is quite a traumatic one for the puppy.

How much of this is true? Is it really that horrible to clip the ears/tail?

Go ahead and just be brutually honest. Hehe, I can handle it. I just need some educated opinions.
 

smkie

pointer/labrador/terrier
Joined
Dec 16, 2004
Messages
55,184
Likes
35
Points
48
#2
I think you will find convincing arguments both ways. It has been a very heavily debated topic on this forum for as long as I can remember. I for one am against it, Unless you live in S. Africa and have these crazy trees that split a dog's tail. haven't seen it with my own eyes, but Puppydog swears it's true.
 

CaliTerp07

Active Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2008
Messages
7,652
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
38
Location
Alexandria, VA
#3
You will get a very divided response on this. Many people feel that it should continue because it is beneficial for a dog doing it's job/working. In the case of a doberman, a protection dog, cutting the ears and the tail removes things that could be grabbed onto. Some believe that it's not a painful procedure for dogs.

Others feel that it is an outdated practice that has been proven unnecessary in many European countries, or that the risks of a long tail/ears aren't enough to justify the pain of the procedure.

If you do a search for "crop" or "dock" on here, you'll find several REALLY long threads on the subject. It tends to get very heated.
 

bubbatd

Moderator
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
64,812
Likes
1
Points
0
Age
90
#4
I can understand the pros and cons on tails , but I love natural ears .
 

mi_bella

New Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
92
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Texas
#5
I can understand the pros and cons on tails , but I love natural ears .
I do like natural ears but, on dobermans at least, it is a complete different look. I would perfer it because it makes them seem so much more noble and sweet, in my opinion, but I can see why my brother like the other look as well.

What are the cons and pros? Or how can I search it on this forums without going through every thread.
 

mi_bella

New Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
92
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Texas
#6
I think you will find convincing arguments both ways. It has been a very heavily debated topic on this forum for as long as I can remember. I for one am against it, Unless you live in S. Africa and have these crazy trees that split a dog's tail. haven't seen it with my own eyes, but Puppydog swears it's true.
But then wouldn't any other part of the dogs body be just as in danger of getting cut as their tails?
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#9
Both of my Dobermans are cropped, and I'd absolutely do it again. I was with both litters before, during, and immediately after cropping, and I wouldn't really call it a traumatic experience at all. The most "traumatic" thing the puppies went through during cropping day was the effects of the anaesthetic. They whine and wiggle and move sort of erratically as they're waking up (just like any other dog I've had under for anything else), but as soon as those effects are worn off, the pups are up and trying to walk around and play with their littermates. The majority even eat about an hour after waking up, and all are eating by evening when they're all back home. Because the ear was cut, the pups shake their heads a bit and attempt to scratch at their new cups on their heads, but not because of unbearable pain. I can't say that it's not a uncomfortable for them... I'm sure it is to a certain degree. But mostly they just seem itchy when they do happen to think about their ears. By the next day they're running and playing and wrestling together like nothing ever happened. And if one puppy happens to hit a sensitive spot on another puppy's ear, then that puppy lets the other know to back off a bit. And then play resumes.

Proper aftercare is a major aspect of how the puppies are going to feel after ear cropping. If the breeder isn't doing a good job of cleaning up the ears and helping them heal, then for sure, the pups are going to experience some pain. But if the breeder is diligent in proper aftercare, then the pups really couldn't care less. Also, veterinary experience makes a big difference too. Only vets experienced in the art of cropping should be cropping puppies, because they know what they're doing. There are too many vets out there who say they can crop a dog and the dog comes home looking like it's been butchered... not a good thing.

Anyhow, that's just my feelings based on my own experience. I used to be on the fence about ear cropping before I got Dobermans. Now that I've been around a few of my breeder's litters, and helped to raise the last one, I don't see what the big deal is anymore. I'll always be pro-choice... crop if you want, don't crop if you don't agree with it. But don't force others to conform to your idea of what's wrong or right, especially if you have zero experience with the prodedure of cropping.

As far as tails go, it's not uncommon for a lot of dogs to injure their tails when they whip it too hard against something. I've seen quite a few tail injuries on dogs with similar tails to what a doberman would have, just because they hit it too hard against things as their tails aren't protected by anything and the dog is strong. Lots of Danes I've met have had their tails amputated at an older age, as well as one Dal, because they injured them too badly. Not saying that this would happen to every Dobe with a tail... but it's a possibility.
 

bubbatd

Moderator
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
64,812
Likes
1
Points
0
Age
90
#10
Many here feel that pros are avoiding tail injures and the cons are the pain they go through with docking . As to Dobes , we all love the elegance of well cropped Dobe or Boxer , but that's what we've been brought up seeing . I now admire the natural look too .
 

Lizmo

Water Junkie
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
17,300
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
AL
#11
Mi Bella, I would talk to actual Doberman owners. :) There are quite a few on here. Toller_08, SizzleDog, NoodleRubyAllie. They would be able to give you very sound advice on what exactly goes on to the pups during and after a crop, how the pups are affected (if at all), etc.
 

Lizmo

Water Junkie
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
17,300
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
AL
#12
Both of my Dobermans are cropped, and I'd absolutely do it again. I was with both litters before, during, and immediately after cropping, and I wouldn't really call it a traumatic experience at all. The most "traumatic" thing the puppies went through during cropping day was the effects of the anaesthetic. They whine and wiggle and move sort of erratically as they're waking up (just like any other dog I've had under for anything else), but as soon as those effects are worn off, the pups are up and trying to walk around and play with their littermates. The majority even eat about an hour after waking up, and all are eating by evening when they're all back home. Because the ear was cut, the pups shake their heads a bit and attempt to scratch at their new cups on their heads, but not because of unbearable pain. I can't say that it's not a uncomfortable for them... I'm sure it is to a certain degree. But mostly they just seem itchy when they do happen to think about their ears. By the next day they're running and playing and wrestling together like nothing ever happened. And if one puppy happens to hit a sensitive spot on another puppy's ear, then that puppy lets the other know to back off a bit. And then play resumes.

Proper aftercare is a major aspect of how the puppies are going to feel after ear cropping. If the breeder isn't doing a good job of cleaning up the ears and helping them heal, then for sure, the pups are going to experience some pain. But if the breeder is diligent in proper aftercare, then the pups really couldn't care less. Also, veterinary experience makes a big difference too. Only vets experienced in the art of cropping should be cropping puppies, because they know what they're doing. There are too many vets out there who say they can crop a dog and the dog comes home looking like it's been butchered... not a good thing.

Anyhow, that's just my feelings based on my own experience. I used to be on the fence about ear cropping before I got Dobermans. Now that I've been around a few of my breeder's litters, and helped to raise the last one, I don't see what the big deal is anymore. I'll always be pro-choice... crop if you want, don't crop if you don't agree with it. But don't force others to conform to your idea of what's wrong or right, especially if you have zero experience with the prodedure of cropping.
^^ whoops, posted at the same time! :) Completely agree with the bolded part.
 

mi_bella

New Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
92
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Texas
#13
Both of my Dobermans are cropped, and I'd absolutely do it again. I was with both litters before, during, and immediately after cropping, and I wouldn't really call it a traumatic experience at all. The most "traumatic" thing the puppies went through during cropping day was the effects of the anaesthetic. They whine and wiggle and move sort of erratically as they're waking up (just like any other dog I've had under for anything else), but as soon as those effects are worn off, the pups are up and trying to walk around and play with their littermates. The majority even eat about an hour after waking up, and all are eating by evening when they're all back home. Because the ear was cut, the pups shake their heads a bit and attempt to scratch at their new cups on their heads, but not because of unbearable pain. I can't say that it's not a uncomfortable for them... I'm sure it is to a certain degree. But mostly they just seem itchy when they do happen to think about their ears. By the next day they're running and playing and wrestling together like nothing ever happened. And if one puppy happens to hit a sensitive spot on another puppy's ear, then that puppy lets the other know to back off a bit. And then play resumes.

Proper aftercare is a major aspect of how the puppies are going to feel after ear cropping. If the breeder isn't doing a good job of cleaning up the ears and helping them heal, then for sure, the pups are going to experience some pain. But if the breeder is diligent in proper aftercare, then the pups really couldn't care less. Also, veterinary experience makes a big difference too. Only vets experienced in the art of cropping should be cropping puppies, because they know what they're doing. There are too many vets out there who say they can crop a dog and the dog comes home looking like it's been butchered... not a good thing.

Anyhow, that's just my feelings based on my own experience. I used to be on the fence about ear cropping before I got Dobermans. Now that I've been around a few of my breeder's litters, and helped to raise the last one, I don't see what the big deal is anymore. I'll always be pro-choice... crop if you want, don't crop if you don't agree with it. But don't force others to conform to your idea of what's wrong or right, especially if you have zero experience with the prodedure of cropping.

As far as tails go, it's not uncommon for a lot of dogs to injure their tails when they whip it too hard against something. I've seen quite a few tail injuries on dogs with similar tails to what a doberman would have, just because they hit it too hard against things as their tails aren't protected by anything and the dog is strong. Lots of Danes I've met have had their tails amputated at an older age, as well as one Dal, because they injured them too badly. Not saying that this would happen to every Dobe with a tail... but it's a possibility.
Thank you for the advice. I really respect and appreciate it coming from someone that has experience with that.

At the end of the day, I know my brother will do crop his ears but I just wanted to hear some opinions on it. I know he'd change his mind if I could give some legit reasons.

I still dont know if I would do it to my dog but I just wanted to be a little more informed and provide my brother with some of that information.
 

Saeleofu

Active Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
9,036
Likes
0
Points
36
#14
I love natural ears, and given the choice I'd leave them natural.

Tails I can see the benefits of docking. I've seen many dogs come in with split tails from wagging too hard, only to need a tail amputation later in life. That being said, Gavroche is natural and I haven't had any major issues with his tail, just some thin hair and pimply things lol
 

ACooper

Moderator
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
27,772
Likes
1
Points
38
Location
IN
#15
Both of my Dobermans are cropped, and I'd absolutely do it again. I was with both litters before, during, and immediately after cropping, and I wouldn't really call it a traumatic experience at all. The most "traumatic" thing the puppies went through during cropping day was the effects of the anaesthetic. They whine and wiggle and move sort of erratically as they're waking up (just like any other dog I've had under for anything else), but as soon as those effects are worn off, the pups are up and trying to walk around and play with their littermates. The majority even eat about an hour after waking up, and all are eating by evening when they're all back home. Because the ear was cut, the pups shake their heads a bit and attempt to scratch at their new cups on their heads, but not because of unbearable pain. I can't say that it's not a uncomfortable for them... I'm sure it is to a certain degree. But mostly they just seem itchy when they do happen to think about their ears. By the next day they're running and playing and wrestling together like nothing ever happened. And if one puppy happens to hit a sensitive spot on another puppy's ear, then that puppy lets the other know to back off a bit. And then play resumes.

Proper aftercare is a major aspect of how the puppies are going to feel after ear cropping. If the breeder isn't doing a good job of cleaning up the ears and helping them heal, then for sure, the pups are going to experience some pain. But if the breeder is diligent in proper aftercare, then the pups really couldn't care less. Also, veterinary experience makes a big difference too. Only vets experienced in the art of cropping should be cropping puppies, because they know what they're doing. There are too many vets out there who say they can crop a dog and the dog comes home looking like it's been butchered... not a good thing.

Anyhow, that's just my feelings based on my own experience. I used to be on the fence about ear cropping before I got Dobermans. Now that I've been around a few of my breeder's litters, and helped to raise the last one, I don't see what the big deal is anymore. I'll always be pro-choice... crop if you want, don't crop if you don't agree with it. But don't force others to conform to your idea of what's wrong or right, especially if you have zero experience with the prodedure of cropping.

As far as tails go, it's not uncommon for a lot of dogs to injure their tails when they whip it too hard against something. I've seen quite a few tail injuries on dogs with similar tails to what a doberman would have, just because they hit it too hard against things as their tails aren't protected by anything and the dog is strong. Lots of Danes I've met have had their tails amputated at an older age, as well as one Dal, because they injured them too badly. Not saying that this would happen to every Dobe with a tail... but it's a possibility.
Good advice and experience there.

I can tell you I saw no "trauma" in Orson or any other boxer or doberman I've been around as a cropped pup. He came home from the vet a few hours after his crop........bounded in the front door just as happy and playful as before he left.

Recovery? It's next to NOTHING........there is WAY more recovery involved in a neuter for either sex than a crop or dock, so I don't know how or why people use the word "trauma" in relation to crop/dock.

Granted, there will be much more work for you (or your brother) as owners in the after care, making sure the pup's ears are taped to stand correctly, hopefully by someone who has experience and background.

I whole heartedly agree with Toller, DO IT if you want, DON'T do it if you want, but DON'T force your opinion on the issue down other's throats.
 

Saeleofu

Active Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
9,036
Likes
0
Points
36
#16
I don't know how or why people use the word "trauma" in relation to crop/dock.
Technically, "trauma" is anything that causes physical or emotional damage. Yeah, a crop or dock is "trauma." So is a neuter, a dog bite, a skin scrape, a vaccine, getting chipped, and beating a tail open from wagging.
 

Lizmo

Water Junkie
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
17,300
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
AL
#17
Coop! You do have a Doberman, don't you? I kept thinking, who else has a Dobe?? D'oh. Coop! :rofl1:
 

Pops2

Active Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2008
Messages
3,072
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
UT
#18
I don't believe there is a functional NEED for cropping. i have a friend that breeds & hunts Dogo Argentinos and he does 50/50 on the pups he keeps for himself. so far he has a seen a mrginal difference in ear cleanliness and that is the main risk of infection.
tail docking is a different matter most breeds w/ docked tails needed it for a reason including reduced risk of injury.
while i believe there is less need, i believe absolutely 100% it should be the dog owner's decision.
 

smkie

pointer/labrador/terrier
Joined
Dec 16, 2004
Messages
55,184
Likes
35
Points
48
#19
But then wouldn't any other part of the dogs body be just as in danger of getting cut as their tails?
It was a silly poke at an old debate. We run in the woods all the time, hard running and have not broken a tail ever on any of them so I had a hard time believing it but this one member determined that this one specific tree was a tail eater.
 

Laurelin

I'm All Ears
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
30,963
Likes
3
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Oklahoma
#20
Whatever you do make sure if you decide to crop you are aware of the after care needed.

Personally I wouldn't do it but that's just me.
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top