Ear Cropping Information

The process of ear cropping for dogs dates back centuries, according to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. Ear cropping is a topic in the middle of several arguments among dog enthusiasts, breeders, and animal rights activists. While many believe that ear cropping gives certain breeds a classic look, others insist that cropping is an unnecessary cruelty. Regardless of the opposition, ear cropping still remains a presence in the dog world.

  1. Description

    • The term "ear cropping" describes the act of cutting a dog's ears in order to create shorter ears that stand up in the air. Ear crops are performed on certain dog breeds to create a look. These breeds include the Rottweiler, Doberman pinscher, miniature pinscher, pit bull and boxer. Two-thirds of the ear flap is cut off in the cropping, though some breeds crop more closely. Some veterinarians perform ear crops, while other people rely on the breeder to crop a puppy's ears. After the wounds have healed, the ears remain in an upright position permanently.

    Reasons

    • Proponents of ear cropping cite a number of reasons regarding why cropping should be done. Hygiene is listed as one reason for ear cropping. Cropping supporters state that cropping the ears of long-eared dogs helps minimize debris buildup within ears and cuts down infections. However, this has not been medically proven as true. Others note that ear cropping should be performed because of breed standards. Those against ear cropping say that a cosmetic procedure should not be upheld just because of tradition if the dog is put through pain.

    Procedure

    • Ear cropping is usually performed when a puppy is 10 to 14 weeks old. The puppies are put under full anesthesia before the operation begins. The veterinarian or breeder then snips the dog's ears so that they stand up straight. After the surgery, the ears are bandaged and put into splints that keep the ears standing erect. The amount of time the ears must be splinted depends on how long the dog's ears were originally. The dog endures some ear pain and sensitivity for a few weeks following the procedure.

    Controversy

    • The necessity of ear cropping is debated among many people. The Animal Legal and Historical Center notes that the overwhelming majority of veterinary schools do not teach veterinarians how to crop dog ears. Advocates of ear cropping note that the amount of pain felt by the dog is minimal. Those opposed to cropping state that the physical pain may end, but many dogs suffer psychological trauma from the procedure. The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes both ear cropping and tail docking, which is the process of cutting a dog's tail so that it is close to the dog's body.

    Outlawing

    • The United States has not passed any formal laws regarding ear cropping's legality as of 2010. However, individual states may choose to classify the procedure as inhumane and unlawful. Maine prohibits the cropping of dogs' ears, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center. In Indiana, a case of home ear cropping gone awry was brought up and the defendant was found guilty of animal cruelty and practicing veterinary medicine without a license. Outside the United States, several countries, including Canada, Great Britain and Germany, have banned both ear cropping and tail docking.