Ear Cropping Styles for Boxers

Ear cropping, or cosmetic otoplasty, is a minor surgery that removes part of the dog's ear in order to create an upright and styled posture. Cropping is commonly practiced in breeds such as Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, Schnauzers, Miniature Pinschers, Pit Bulls, Great Danes and Boston Terriers. The procedure is used to obtain a look of breed standard.

  1. Ear Cropping Procedure

    • Regardless of breed, all ear cropping procedures are similar. The surgery is performed legally only by a licensed veterinarian, and is only performed on puppies age 8 to 12 weeks. During surgery, between 1/3 and 1/8 of the ear is removed, and sutures are placed to force the cartilage of the ear to stand upright. After the surgery is complete, the ears are held in an upright position with stitches, tape and foam or cardboard supports. Stitches are removed after 7 to 10 days, but the ears must remain taped for around two months in order to maintain an upright appearance.

    Purpose

    • Ear cropping is considered the breed standard for many purebred dogs, including the Boxer, but purebred dogs are not required to have cropped ears according to the AKC Standards. Cropping can also help eliminate potential health problems due to long, floppy ears, such as ear mites and infections.

    Cropping Styles

    • Although crops only remove a section of the ear, many different styles are available based on ear size, appearance and breed. In Boxers, 2/3 to 3/4 of the ear is left after the cropping surgery is complete. Since boxers have small ears compared to larger breeds such as the Doberman and Great Dane, the ears are generally trimmed shorter and smaller. This allows for a proportionate appearance and does not compromise in integrity of the cartilage. These short crops are sometimes referred to as a "military style." In addition to standard crops, show cuts are also available. These cuts alter the appearance of the curves and size of the ears and most veterinarians will not perform such procedures.

    Risks

    • Ear cropping surgery contains many risks. Dogs are sedated during the procedure, and reactions to the anesthesia can cause complications, including death. Recent veterinary advances have made the surgery safer, but as in humans, poor reactions can still occur. After the surgery is complete, bad post-operative care can cause pain, bleeding, loss of one or both ears and misshapen cartilage. The main argument against cropping is that it causes pain to the puppy, although out of all dog breeds Boxers are highly pain tolerant. Pain medications can also be prescribed after the surgery.