Surgical interference is the only thing that alters the appearance of their ears. The very first thing your puppy will want to do after being cropped is eat - which shows you how much the whole procedure actually bothers a young puppy!! This can vary by a few months in both directions, but 8 months is usually the timeline given by veterinarians and breeders. In my personal experience, Ive only seen what I would describe as true pain from any of my Dobermans at around the time of the first bandage change by the vet after the procedure. 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. Whereas in other countries, its often either completely outlawed or only permitted if its medically necessary. During surgery, the outside part of the ears are trimmed and the edges are sutured. DO NOT take the ears down and let the ears hang for any length of time. She did not seem to be in any undue pain. WebThe ideal age for a Doberman is 7-9 weeks of age, before the ear cartilage begins hardening. Once the ears are fully healed, you may move on to posting the ears. Australia banned ear cropping and tail docking (on horses as well) in the early 2000s. Im cropping my Dobermans ears. 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.) How can one say that they love or feel for their pet if one is willing to cause it a lot of pain, for no better reason than that YOU think it looks good. After the procedure, the dog must endure weeks of healing and pain. Yes her ears were in a rack and taped for about six weeks, and topical antiseptic was applied regularly. I dont share those concerns as my intent is for my dog to appear vicious, We are in favor of maintaining our right of choice on this elective surgery and respect that others may choose differently than us. The ironic thing is that they call it a natural look, but is it really natural? Since, while sometimes struggling to keep those suckers in her ears, we've managed. How to find a puppy and raise a happy, healthy dog, January 13, 2023 By Jane Pinzhoffer 65 Comments. Regardless the Doberman breed is meant to protect. Adopted Daisy from the local Humane Society . ear cropping Having cropped ears made for one less hand-hold for an attacker to grab on to and gain control over the dog. It is recommended that ear cropping surgery be performed by a cosmetic veterinarian with extensive experience. Elders/parents will start when the children are young and continue as they grow into adulthood. It does not typically take very long to stand. The AVMA opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes. Ear cropping is the process of surgically altering a dogs ears to point upright. Pain medication and veteranarians increasing willingness to use it will help the Doberman recovering from an ear cropping. It serves no other purpose. The show crop is typically the most expensive option, followed by the working and pet crops. It cannot be carried out in areas where ear cropping is illegal, and is a procedure that is usually carried out only in puppies. Many can hardly recognize a Doberman with un-cropped ears. These people grow up happy, loved, and functioning people of their community. 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. If you have NOT purchased your Doberman from a knowledgeable breeder, or are thinking of purchasing a Doberman, please inquire at your local kennel club for the name of an educated Doberman breeder/handler/vet in your area. Their ears are soft and silky, and inside theyre smooth and pink. She was wonderful with children, too! Puppies can look pretty cute with those floppy ears of theirs. floppy ears) were diagnosed with a type of ear infection whereas only 12.8% of dogs with erect ears were (source). and the puppy is under anesthesia for only that time. The duration of healing time is dependent on how well they were cropped, sutured, and kept clean. If we compare the responses of cropped Dobermans to un-cropped, we usually hear "gorgeous, beautiful" versus "cute, silly." Veterinarians and other animal experts have concluded that there is little benefit to ear cropping and this has to be weighed against the downsides. American Bullies, Pit bulls, and Also, when a Doberman has any type of ear irritation, theyll often violently shake their head side-to-side. One of the greatest security measures is JUST the appearance of the Doberman. However, I never saw anything remotely resembling pain on subsequent bandage changes, or during ear posting later on. Sorry- my dog my choice. I say it is, because it did not alter their personalities. Many argue that there are no examples of dogs in the wild who have floppy ears due to natural selection. Ear cropping is a surgical procedure veterinarians perform on puppies between 6 and 16 weeks old. Always kept them how they were born. Ear cropping of the Doberman Pinscher is usually done at approximately 7 to 8 weeks of age. We personally travel approximately 1400 miles round trip for our puppies to see the very best vet we can. And even then theres no guarantee that the surgery will be a success. My second was a rescue from the shelter and about 1.5 years old. Un-cropped ears are often referred to as "natural" but that does not mean it is actually natural. Others will state that cropped ears allow the dog to hear better or reduce the risk of ear infections or deafness. Sometimes the ears will both stand but other times one ear may be crooked. Ear cropping surgery is done under anesthesia and takes about 30 minutes. I agree. Fences and kennels do the same without the pain for the dog. With daily care of cleaning the ears thoroughly this risk can be reduced. Ear cropping a Doberman for cosmetic reasons is considered cruel and unnecessary in many parts of the world. Probably not. Female Dobermans will reach their first heat around eight months, so seven months is definitely time to face this procedure. More information about the traditional method used in the past by veterinary surgeons to crop a dogs ears can be found here. Its an expensive procedure that causes the dog a lot of pain. WebThe cost of ear cropping can vary depending on the style and the veterinarian that performs the procedure. If we used the "natural" logic, this breed would be eliminated because it would not be "natural" for us humans to alter or assist the way they are. No one will have the dedication and vested interest to ensure that your puppy's ears come out nicely more than you will. Finally, this last consideration of why or why not to crop/dock is one that not many think about at all: the longterm future of your dog if he/she had to be rehomed. A big controversy in the European Doberman world is whether it is humane or not for a European Doberman owner to crop his puppys ears. Look at the English bulldog for example, not being able to mate or birth without human assistance. However, this is how the majority of aftercare is done for Doberman ear crops in my experience. A friend of ours had a Doberman as a pet, she had a completely unexpected domestic dispute with someone she knew and trusted for many years - her Doberman turned on to the attacker. Are you implying that ear cropping should be used to prevent cancer in dogs? Its relied upon by judges in breed conformation shows when rating contestants and selecting the winners. You can get Dobermans ears cropped at a veterinarian who specializes in the procedure if permitted by your local laws. Is that for the well being of the dog ?? WebShow Crop: This ear is the longest and a little narrower than the other two crops. Having an unobstructed path for sound to travel the ears can increase hearing and even the ability of the dog to locate the source of a sound. I have a natural ear Doberman and her ears stand up most of the time. She already had cropped ears and was trained. Did you have your babies ear lobes cut and fused to their skulls because attached lobes look better to you? Also consider the additional fees for medicine if the vet charges extra, for travel if it is required, and for after care supplies/tapes. The posting process is critical to ensure the crop is successful. We shouldnt be able to cause pain and risk to an animal simply to change its look.. Rather, go after those who just think having an untrained pet is a ok. All our puppies receive full support with posting instructions and feedback through our Prima Ear Posting Kit. The puppy is put under anesthesia while the ears are trimmed and the edges are stitched. Please take the great big beam out of your eye before you take the speck out of mineWould you give a life saving vaccine or medication or perhaps a medical procedure to your loved one which has been cruelly tested on an animal?? 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 love dobies. The best ear crop for a Doberman is the one that stands. The ears heal and, after about I had her treated and she lived to be 15! We are extremely humbled to be able to use her as our main ear-cropping veterinarian. There are many people out there who believe that cropping a dogs ears is cruel and inhumane. He wanted to create a dog breed that was ideal for personal protection. Ear cropping is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the dogs ear is removed, producing a sharper and less heavy ear. Also, dogs with floppy ears tend to have more ear infections. I would chose to focus your attention on people who dont properly take care of their pets to begin with. This surgery should performed by someone who specializes in the cropping of ears, because the expert cropping of ears is more an artistic endeavor than a technical surgical procedure such as spaying or neutering. Fewer and fewer veterinarians are willing to perform this surgery. But not everyone agrees with the practice, and it definitely does have some downsides. Where can you get a Dobermans ears cropped? It is highly recommended by folks here, that owners post their own pup's ears. During this time they play just as rough if not more because the cone/cup on the head looks like a very fun chew toy! WebThe use of pain relief with a healthy diet lets the wounds heal at a fast pace. It could cost a lot to repair if the damage was serious enough. WHAT ABOUT TAIL DOCKING? We have observed the cropping ourselves, it is very simple. One of the most common underlying causes for an ear infection is excessive moisture (source). Your email address will not be published. How To Post Doberman Ears - mydobermanslife.com Some ear settings can result in complimentary style, but there is no way to predict or promise what type of ear setting may result as an adult dog. We travel seven hours one way to Dr. Anne Midgarden to have our European Doberman puppies cropped. Depending on the technique used by the veterinarian, there is at times crying and/or whimpering during these stages, although not always. Our European doberman puppies get cropped around 6-9 weeks of age in our USA Kennel, and around 8-10 weeks of age in our Serbia Location. Doberman ear cropping is a surgical procedure that makes a Dobermans ears stand upright. WebEar Cropping in History: The practice of ear cropping can be traced back to the early days of the Doberman Pinscher breed. After we remove stitches we suggest that ears not be posted until they are completely healed of the procedure. One example of this is floppy ears. Even if true, this isnt really an issue for the average family pet. Unfortunately, it is also usually very easy for the puppy to remove the cup with regularity. Because it is so important that the pups ears remain in the cup until they are completely healed, one must be extremely vigilant during this period. The way in which you care for a cropped ear has a huge impact on whether or not that ear will ever stand properly. 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. 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. The amount of blood alone could be a danger, but usually the wounds to an ear are not fatal. I only noticed when looking at photos and videos I took of her running. If done right and with proper aftercare I dont believe it causes undue pain. Whereas a Doberman with floppy ears is often misidentified by others as a type of hound dog, mutt, or an unknown breed. Doberman Ear Cropping - How It Affects Your Dog - The Start by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Theres a lot worse in this world than responsible cropping! Its obvious you dont understand DOGS. The cropped ear helps to allow more airflow and light which not only reduces or eliminates ear infection, but some studies show it intensifies their hearing as well. When hunting has been the culture among The AVMA encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards.. Doberman Ear Cropping: Is It Necessary? (Here Are the Facts) Poor dog, Actually, this article doesnt shame people. In fact, the FCI breed standard says the following in regards to the ears. The operation is just the beginning. I think disfiguring an animal because it suits the owners eye is an extremely selfish thing to do. I have to say she has suffered chronic ear problems pain and suffering constantly Now Im wondering if I made the right decision? After that, your dogs ears will need to be posted in position usually until their ear cartilage firms up (usually at 6 to 8 months of age). This being the argument to neuter. The veterinarian that performs your dogs ear cropping will provide you with direction on aftercare which should be closely followed. I would not like that done onto my self, Why would I inflicted on another being? 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. Although we often laugh at the prospect of seeing our Doberman Pups with cups on their heads, it really is the easiest way to keep the ears upright while they heal. Although the success of the ear cropping seems to depend heavily on the consistency and technique of the ear posting by the owner. Shame on you. The medium crop is between military and show length. This condition is characterized by a defect in platelet function which affects the bloods ability to clot. This was so they could excel at their primary purposeguard work. For this reason and the following explained reasons, we fully endorse cropping and docking when done ethically by a skilled professional with proper after care and follow up. Doberman You dont get a dog just for its looks, its about character traits as well. Nor neutered. Achieving ears that stand properly requires time and commitment on the part of the owner. Post-operation care is a time-consuming commitment. This is the exact reason why tails are docked as well. cropping doberamn doberman ear help question 1 2 3 4 Next KUN636 New Member Feb 12, 2018 #1 So they just took the stitches off and now they taped her ears up. Excessive bleeding after surgery is a common clinical finding and severely affected dogs may bleed to death from surgical procedures. But there is certainly some level of pain and discomfort afterward. 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. They are sedated (anesthetized), cropped, and the edges are stitched up. Some into old age, if you will. Ear crops are now performed on a few dog breeds, particularly Doberman Pinschers, for cosmetic reasons or to correct ear abnormalities. Since Dobermans are stoic dogs, its unclear how much pain or distress is experienced by a Doberman who has had their ears cropped. They can do this so repetitively at times, that the tips of the ear can begin to bleed and have difficulty healing. Circumcision has scientific evidence in favor of reducing bacteria. Web Ear taping can last until six months-to-one year of age and sometimes even longer with a show-length crop. Anyone who has chosen to have their son circumcised has no room to have an opinion about cropping being cruel and unnecessary. Just my two cents though. In other words, there is no right answer here and owners can do what they please. Ears are for hearing, and are best left as the breed has developed them, as well explained by Reggie, above. Also isnt neutering a animal painful or traumatic also completely against what they are made to do. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.. The cutting of flaps will make your dog look fierce and meet the breed standard. This is especially true on social media where its easier for those in other countries to see your dog and then pass judgment. Although at times, this can go up until the dog is 1 year of age, depending on how long the ear cropping is and how fast the cartilage firms up. No one is taking a woman to a plastic surgeon without her knowledge and forcibly putting implants in her. 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). Unneutered dogs account for many dog deaths as they run away to try to mate and get hit by cars or otherwise killed. When cropping a Dobermans ears, we may think theres only one style. This is their true nature at heart - to always be protecting and "working" anyways whether they are active in competition for it or not. Modern veterinarians implore many pain management techniques in an attempt to minimize the pain such as general anesthesia, pain medication, and laser ear cropping. There are three different types of ear crops for Dobermans. So I didnt have it done and would never do it. We will arrange the ear cropping for all our puppies at approximately 7-9 weeks of age, only by a licensed vet whose quality we trust. Below you can see 3 different Doberman ear styles, a short Doberman (military) crop, the longer Doberman standard show crop, and a Doberman with natural ears. You may also find Dobermans with a medium ear crop. The shape or length of the ear crop style can vary with the dogs purpose or job duties.