Ear Cropping. Yes or No?

[DaneMama]

out of curiosity, what is a "head" breed? I have not heard this term and could not find anything when I googled it.

A "head breed" is one known for their "beautiful" heads. In the Dane world, the head is the most beautiful part of the dog...which is the case with most mastiff breeds. Judges and breeders look at a Dane's head shape and size first and foremost when selecting breeding/show dogs.

If a Dane does not have a beautiful head, they wont go anywhere in the show world, unfortunately. Bailey has a beautiful head, but Akasha does not...she is still as cute as a button tho!!!

I have seen very few crop jobs that actually make the head on a Dane, or boxer, look better than natural. And to make them that way...takes a lot of hard work and diligence with bandaging and taping while in puppyhood.

I would never crop a dog's ears. Danes in particular speak a LOT with their ears. They carry so much emotion in them, just in the way that they move their ears...that it's a tragedy to me when those means of communication are cut off.

I have had several friends consider cropping and on their way to the vet they stop and take a long, hard look at those big, floppy ears and smile, turn around and go back home.

[RawFedDogs]

The only reason to crop a dog's ears is for the ego of the owner.

[CorgiPaws]

That's what I assumed it ment, but then Boxers were labeled in that post as not a "head" breed, so i was confused as a Boxer's head pretty much makes or breaks her in the show ring. When Annie was evaluated as "show" or "pet" by akc judge Pew, he stacked her and mostly looked at her head at every angle, and her bite, of course.

[malluver1005]

Yes, I don't like the fact that you have to perform "cosmetic surgery" on a dog just to show them (just my opinion). I guess I can understand it though. What really annoys me is that some people crop their dogs' ears just to make them look tougher (pitts, dobes, cane corsos, etc.). My dog was born with erect ears. But if he had floppy ears, I would leave them alone!!

[DaneMama]

I kinda relate it to doing cosmetic surgery on an infant. They have no say or choice in the matter, just like a dog...if the parent wants it done it gets done.

[whiteleo]

I think it will eventually be a mute point as more and more vets are refusing to do croppings. It is a unecceassary procedure for the purpose of a owners ego, I personally believe that people who can do those things to their dogs don't truly have compassion for the animal world!

[CorgiPaws]

I think it will eventually be a mute point as more and more vets are refusing to do croppings. It is a unecceassary procedure for the purpose of a owners ego, I personally believe that people who can do those things to their dogs don't truly have compassion for the animal world!

I think that it being illegal in other countries is opening up the show world a bit, and might change a few "breed standards." You can show Boxers with natural ears, and finish, though it does take longer and therefore more money, but it IS a start.
I don't know if they've really opened up to natural ear dobies, pits, danes, etc. Maybe Danemama will be able to shed some light there.

It bothers me that an ear crop gone wrong can "ruin" a dog's chances at finishing. I mean, what the heck does ear cropping the parents have a dang thing to do with how the puppies will be born? The dog will still throw the same quality pups, even if an idiot vet hacked the poor things ears to bits.


My vet DOES do ear cropping, (he is an akc judge and breeds bull terriers for show) but is not doing declawing on cats, or debarking on dogs, so glad to see vets refuse these services!!

[DaneMama]

There are the very few Danes that finish with natural ears. There are the same prejudices in the Dane world as in the Boxer world unfortunately.

I really do believe that cropping is on its way out, and to me is just archaic and outdated. Just like anything, ie Socialized medicine, etc...the US is the last to get the big picture

Hopefully we will soon follow in the footsteps of the Europe and banning crop jobs.

[jdatwood]

Now tell me these would look better all mutilated and standing up straight??

[oakley]

Personally, I could never do it to my dog. And I am also sad she has a docked tail. I wish I had found and picked her out before the tails were done, but its so hard to tell at that age what the pups will be like personality-wise.

On another level, I do have some appreciation for a well done crop on a boxer, dob, or dane.