Doberman Pinschers are well known for their upright ears however, these breeds are frizzy-eared. And unlike other breeds of dogs, the ears of Doberman Pinschers don’t rise up by themselves over time.
The owners of purebred Dobermans want to replicate the famous ears by surgically altering the ears of their dogs through a procedure known as ” ear cropping .” A lot of people find this change to be visually appealing, however, it could be more about fitting the appearance of Dobermans should appear like.
To help you determine whether ear cropping is required to determine if ear cropping is necessary, we have put together information to help you make the right choice for you.
What Is Ear Cropping?
Ear cropping is an operation that requires cutting off a part of the dog’s ears typically when they’re between 8 and 12 weeks old. After the initial procedure which can take about 30 minutes while under anesthesia, your puppy’s ears are tacked to a surface until they heal, allowing them to stand on their own.
History
Today, the recognized standards for dog breeds frequently fall back to traditional concepts. Doberman ears cropping isn’t any different. earlier in the 1600s their ears were cropped to make them more functional.
As an animal breed that has always been used to protect the ear cropping procedure was a way of increasing the fear aspect of these softies that had floppy ears.
Security concerns were also a factor in particular with Dobermans that are employed for hunt dogs and security. They are more likely to get caught on trees when the dog flies by or for attackers to grasp. The thinness of their leather can easily be damaged and cutting them off could be a solution to prevent the possibility of sustaining ear injuries that are difficult to heal.
Why would you cut off your Doberman’s ears?
The majority of purebred Doberman owners opt for the classic upright ear style of the breed in order to conform to the American Kennel club-recognized standard. There are many other reasons why owners might opt to trim their Doberman’s ears.
Hearing
While there’s not much evidence that can be substantiated, ears with cropped edges look more like wild dogs. The cute floppy nature of certain breeds is thought to be the outcome of domestication.
Many dog owners believe that their dogs are able to locate the sounds more effectively with ears that are cropped. Since Dobermans are primarily used for security reasons and hearing better is a benefit.
Health
Whatever kind of dog they could be vulnerable to Ear infections when their ears aren’t clean enough. Ears that are floppy can be more susceptible to ear infections due to the dirt that is trapped in their ear flaps.
Dobermans being naturally floppy-eared are prone to an ear infections. To remove the risk from the picture, pet owners should crop their ears to keep dirt from getting stuck inside the canal of their ears.
The health issues aren’t just to do with dogs’ ears, but. For owners of dogs with floppy ears It’s well-known how susceptible to damage the earflap’s softness is particularly when your dog is susceptible to allergies and shakes often. Acute ear injuries, like an ear-cut like a papercut ear, could take an extended time to heal.
Aesthetics
Sometimes, the motives for cutting a dog’s ears can be simply as simple as not liking the look of ears that look droopy. While some owners are enthralled by the adorable floppy look, however, some feel it’s unattractive. It’s either not scary enough to be used as the role of a Guard dog or doesn’t fit with the perception of what Dobermans should appear like.
The aesthetics of the ear is probably the main reason why ear grafting is so well-liked.
The Downside to Ear Cropping
Even with all the good reasons for cropping ears it is possible to find enough reasons to not be concerned about it. Although ear-cropping was thought to be essential in the past, nowadays there are more and more dog owners and vets are questioning whether it’s an acceptable procedure.
Recovery
Although the initial procedure is relatively simple and your dog will be able to go to his home in the morning the next day The recovery time will take a lot longer.
The process of healing and training ears to stand up could take from 5 months and 1 year. Your dog isn’t the only one who has to live being taped on their ears and bandaged for that time. As their protector, the long aftercare procedure is your responsibility. To prevent infection and get that distinctive look of your dog’s ear-cropped ears it isn’t possible to skip one or two days because you’re tired or tired of changing bandages.
Unproven Benefits
Most importantly Many pet owners believe that the causes for ear cropping are not valid. There is no evidence that Dobermans who have their ears cropped have better hearing than those with floppy ears, however, dogs of all breeds and ear types could be susceptible to infections in the ear.
A part of our responsibility as dog owners is keeping the ears of our dogs clean no matter if they’re standing up or not.
Ear Cropping Might Not Work
There’s a chance that even after all the surgeries and tapes, the ears of your Doberman dog don’t remain in place. It could be because you’re not paying enough attention to the dog’s needs after surgery. Additionally, there are additional physical reasons for why this procedure isn’t working:
- The pinna cartilage is not thick enough to support the ear properly.
- The crop you have chosen is too large to fit the ear size.
- The ears are too low.
- Scar tissue is too visible.
After all the excitement of the procedure and post-care The disappointment of discovering that the procedure didn’t work may not be worth it.
Conclusion
The majority of the time it is an individual choice for you as the dog’s owner. Although there is no evidence of health benefits associated with the procedure however, many dog owners particularly those with pedigree Dobermans are drawn to the more sexy appearance of their dog to the more natural, soft appearance.