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I'm All Ears

© Deborah J. Myers

Why are Doberman ears cropped? Louis Dobermann, developer of the breed, wanted the dogs to have naturally standing ears. It was part of Dobermann’s culture, as many German breeds have standing ears. The name many people call the breed, “Doberman pinscher,” means literally “Dobermann’s terrier.” (Because the Doberman breed has been so far removed from its terrier roots, Europeans have dropped “pinscher”). Manchester terriers were a big part of the dog’s early breeding and Dobermann wanted his dogs to have terrier-style ears. Standing ears create an alert expression and the standing ears look good with the long, sleek nose of the Doberman. Standing ears make more sense than flat ears for a dog with such keen hearing and attentiveness.

As with some other dogs with naturally flapping ears, Dobermans experience complications such as ear infections unless their ears are cropped. Inside their ears, two inches behind the kiss mark on the cheek, Dobes have deep pockets that easily trap moisture. Having these pockets open to air circulation helps keep them dry and less prone to infections.

Ear cropping is not as painful as one would think. If you wear pierced earrings, you know that the earlobe has few pain receptors and piercing feels like a pinch. Cropping is similar for the Doberman. Good veterinarians make it quick work on wriggling puppies.

After a couple of days, cropped ears are healed and no longer sore. Although they must remain in tape so that the cartilage firms up, the ears are not painful. Taping the ears ensures that the ears will stand up and that the dog will have ear control. This means that once the tape comes off for good, the dog will be able to swivel his ears, pin them down flat, allow them to droop, hold them halfway up, and stand them back up straight again. They can express a lot of emotion with their ears.

Most vets recommend ears to be re-taped every other week or more often as needed. This is important to make sure that the skin is clean and dry under the taping materials.

There are three types of crops: utility crop, triangular crop, and show crop. The utility crop is very short. The triangular crop is longer but shorter than the show crop. The show crop is the most popular choice. It leaves the most ear intact and is a long, nearly tear-drop shaped crop that tapers to a point at the top of the ear. Although the hardest crop to make stand, the show crop is the style most owners select. Whichever crop is chosen, the ears should be symmetrical, stand evenly on the head, and be easy for the dog to control.

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