Ear cropping is a cosmetic procedure to force dogs' ears to stand erect.
Ear cropping is cosmetic surgery customarily performed on purebred dogs to achieve the "standard" look of a particular breed. Cropping forces the ears to stand erect, and styles vary depending on the breed and purpose of the procedure. Commonly cropped dogs include terriers, pinschers, schnauzers, boxers, Great Danes and Neapolitan mastiffs.
Styles
Cropping styles are, simply, either long or short, though they have been known by many names. "Rottweiler," or "military," style is often the term used in reference to short crops, and "Doberman" describes long. Long crops are performed at the second joint of the ear and short crops are performed at the first, according to Spear-Bar Kennels in Tucson, Arizona, but there are many variations within these two categories.
Purpose
Cropping is purely a cosmetic procedure. However, different styles are used for different purposes. While the American Kennel Club does not require cropping to show a dog, specific styles are required if cropping is carried out. Thus, there is a distinction between "show" crops and "pet" crops, in which "show" crops are held to stricter standards and may differ slightly in appearance. Each breed will have its own style and standards.
Cropping Surgery
Cropping is surgery and is performed on puppies 6 to 12 weeks old. The procedure involves cutting away or "trimming" off part of the dog's ears and then holding them in an erect position with tape and an aluminum or foam structure for a few weeks.
A qualified veterinarian will often refuse to do the surgery after 12 weeks due to high failure rates. Surgery only shapes the ear; the cartilage will determine if it stands erect. A young puppy's cartilage is more likely to be "trained" than an older dog's, according to Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital in Pearland, Texas.
Postoperative Care
Veterinarians worth their salt will take this procedure seriously and detail postoperative care to the dog's caretaker. Recovery takes about 21 days, and the ears must be bandaged, held erect and kept clean. Dogs will be sent home with anti-inflammatory drugs, sedatives and antibiotics. Any necessary re-bandaging will need to be done at the office, as improper bandaging can cut off blood supply, creating scarring or even killing tissue, explains Claws & Paws.
Considerations
Cropping is not required for any dog, not even for American Kennel Club show dogs, which are some of the most highly regarded show dogs in the world. If you do wish to crop your dog's ears, monitor pain levels as well as you can, and watch for possible complications, including moist dermatitis, irritation of the skin secondary to the tape adhesive, ear infection, scarring and immune suppression.
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