How many times have you looked at Dobies in the street and wondered, Why do people crop Doberman ears?
Doberman Pinscher is one of the most famous dog breeds out there. This guard dog is known for its black or brown coat with rust markings, docked tail, and cropped ears. Some people don’t even realize that Dobies are born with floppy ears that are cropped early on!
But, is this really necessary? Why do people truly crop Doberman Pinschers’ ears? And should you do it?
Let’s find out!
Why Do People Crop Doberman Ears?
The truth is, there is more than one reason why Doberman owners and breeders decide to crop their pooch’s ears.
Some of the reasons why this is done include:
- To conform to the breed standard
- To better fulfill their role as a working dog
- For aesthetics
To fully understand the reasoning behind this, and to make your own decision about supporting or opposing the procedure, it’s important to look a bit deeper – and this is what this article is for.
Historical Reasons For Cropping Dogs’ Ears
Tail docking and ear cropping in the Doberman Pinscher breed have a long historical background, and the first recorded case of Doberman ear cropping is from the 19th century – almost since the moment Louis Dobermann bred the first Dobie.
Originally, this breed was designed to be a guard dog and a fighting dog. Fortunately, dog fights have been outlawed for a while, but Dobermans have already gained a reputation as the dogs of war. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as they were used as war dogs in WWI!
As you can see, ear cropping was first done for practical reasons. Floppy ears are a nuisance in the ring, and a dog with cropped ears looks more intimidating. No burglar would dare to enter a home once they saw an angry Doberman growling at them!
Ear cropping became a standard procedure for this breed, and for decades, it was even considered to be obligatory. Even today, many people don’t realize that the natural state of Doberman’s ears is long and floppy!
Still, this doesn’t really answer our question: Why do people do this in modern times?
Why You Should Want To Have Your Dobie’s Ears Cropped
There is more than one reason why an owner might want to have their dogs’ ears cropped.
Here’s what some of the most common ones are:
1. Achieving A Traditional Doberman Look
Many Doberman Pinscher owners want their pups to have a traditional look that has been there for generations. Cropped ears are even required by the American Kennel Club (AKC) Doberman breed standard!
Of course, if you want your Dobie to be nothing more than a beloved pet, chances are you don’t really care about this.
However, if your goal is to have a show dog, adhering to the breed standard is essential.
It’s important to note that not all canine clubs require Dobies to have cropped ears. For example, The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) doesn’t have the same requirements, and you can see Dobie with floppy ears in the show ring.
Also, cropped ears help people easily identify your dog as a Doberman. A Doberman with floppy ears is often confused with different breeds, such as Great Danes or various mixed-breed dogs.
Fair enough, this isn’t important to everyone, but some people simply want their dog to look the part.
2. Improved Sound Localization
Do you know of any wild dog breed that has floppy ears? There is a reason why all wild canines, such as wolves or hyenas, have upright ears.
We all know that dogs’ ears have a purpose: To allow them to hear. However, ear cartilage that hangs down in front of the ear canal can obstruct the sound and keep them from hearing well.
Doberman Pinscher, just like all other registered dog breeds, is a man-made creature. As such, they have certain features that can negatively affect their natural abilities, and floppy ears are one of them.
Of course, your Dobie won’t become deaf just because you’ve allowed his ears to stay floppy. Still, if you want your Doberman to be an effective guard dog, you should aim to allow him to have as good hearing as possible.
3. It’s Generally Healthier
As they are more natural, erect ears tend to be healthier than floppy ones. For example, a dog with erect ears is less likely to have ear infections than a floppy-eared pup.
The reason behind this is that bacterial infections tend to love moisture, and upright ears are drier than floppy ones.
Also, floppy ears are more likely to end up injured. This is why many hunting dogs have their ears cropped.
Sure, you won’t take your Dobie hunting, but they are active dogs that are likely to run through bushes or accidentally hit their head on some object during playtime or training.
No matter the ear crop style, the injuries are less likely to happen and more likely to heal compared to the ears that are downwards-pointing.
4. It Makes Them Better Guard Dogs
Cropping a Doberman’s ear will make him a better guard dog.
Hear me out now: There is a reason why Louis Dobermann wanted his dogs to have cropped ears.
A dog with cropped ears is less likely to get injured while defending your home.
As stated above, cropped ears are less likely to get injured. If your pooch ends up fighting an intruder, they are less likely to have their ears pulled or hit.
Also, if they can hear better, they are more likely to react on time and attack burglars before they can attack them.
So, if you plan on buying a Doberman puppy for personal protection, you’d probably want to have their ears cropped.
Cons Of Ear Cropping
After reading the previous part, you probably want to have your Dobie’s ears cropped. However, there is another side of the story you should learn before you opt for such measures.
Here are a few arguments people who are against ear cropping, not just in Dobermans but in dogs in general, have:
1. It’s Still Surgery
Even though ear cropping is an aesthetic procedure, it’s still a serious surgery that can have complications.
Most breeders will crop their dogs’ ears when they are between 7 and 12 weeks old. While this means they’ll typically cover the cost of the ear cropping procedure, you might be the one who will need to do the aftercare.
This includes bandage changes, wound cleaning, and dealing with possible complications (that should be minimal if the surgery was done by a qualified veterinarian approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association).
2. There Are Predujices
Dobermans are not only one of the most popular dog breeds – they are also one of the most feared dogs. This means they are more likely to end up abandoned or euthanized than most other breeds.
Dogs with cropped ears, even if you’ve done just a show crop, tend to look scarier than floppy-eared canines. This will further add to the stigma.
3. It Can Make It Challenging To Understand Your Dobie
Dogs’ ears have another important role: They serve as a tool of communication that can help us – and other canines – understand them.
Our pets cannot speak with us. Instead, one of the ways they communicate with us is with body language.
The movement of short, cropped ears can be difficult to notice. In other words, you might miss an important cue your pooch is sending to you.
4. It’s Not Necessary
Let’s face it: Ear cropping is an elective surgery that isn’t truly necessary.
Many people are against putting their dogs through such an extensive experience just for good looks, and a big part of us has to agree with such reasoning.
5. It Hurts
Finally, a dog who has had his ears cropped will go through a certain amount of soreness.
Most experts agree that a dog going through this surgery will only feel a little pain and discomfort, nothing more.
Still, many people don’t want their Dobies to go through any type of ache. Others would even consider such a procedure to be animal cruelty.
Certain people even think that the trauma of having their ears cropped can negatively affect a puppy’s pain tolerance later in life.
Legal Aspects of Ear Cropping
The matter of legality depends on where you are located.
For example, Doberman ear cropping is not just legal in the US, but, as I’ve mentioned, it’s considered a breed standard.
However, it is illegal in many European countries, and this list includes most members of the FCI and countries that have ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals.
As such, it’s important to check with your local laws before deciding to have your Dobies’ ear cropped.
The Verdict
As you can see, there are different reasons why do people crop Doberman ears – and several reasons why some people are opposed to it.
So, should you do it?
In general, if you want to keep your Dobie as just a family pet, you don’t really need to make your dog go through all the hassle.
While considered standard in the US, ear cropping is a serious surgery that needs to be done by a qualified professional – and even then, something might go wrong. This is a greater risk than many people are willing to take.
If you want your Dobie to be a watchdog, this procedure isn’t necessary, but it might be preferable. Your Doberman will be much safer and do a much better job without floppy ears getting in his way.
However, if you want to have a show dog, then ear cropping is mandatory for the Doberman to be according to the breed standard.
In the end, this is a decision that should be made in consultation with your veterinarian, and according to your moral grounds.
Vanja’s passion for writing started at an early age, which is why she pursued Journalism as her college degree. She can research any topic and find all the information before you bat an eye, which is a great thing for her job but a terrible one for her husband.
Even as a young child, she fell in love with everything fluffy – but dogs have a special place in her heart due to her childhood companion, a Corgie named Archie.
Motivated by her experiences and driven by a desire to give back to her four-legged companions, she spends her free time volunteering at a local dog shelter.