croping the ears?

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harleyboxer

Super Boxer
I think boxers look good with natural ears, but if I had a doberman I would definitely get it cropped. They just look better with their ears done.
 

abby's mum

Super Boxer
In Canada, though it's still allowed by law, it is not popular. Many vets will actually refuse to do it.

Maybe that is the case in British Columbia but in Ontario, Alberta, Sasketchewan, Quebec, Nova Scotia, etc. most show dogs are still cropped. Many vets don't crop but that is because it takes a vet highly experienced with the procedure to do it right.

That being said, I wouldn't bother cropping if you don't want to do all the work and/or aren't showing.
 

Cholbert

Boxer Insane
Unpopular opinion.

Well, we chose to have Siren's ears cropped, but she's got a much different crop than I've seen show dogs have. I think hers are beautiful - but that might be just me. Take a look at my gallery if you want to see her pictures. For awhile after taking off the tape one of her ears would flop about halfway - which was actually kind of cute, but not so cute at the same time. A lot of the stand up part is up to the dog. Siren would let the one ear droop because she was lazy according to the vet.

All the work that people are talking about - I didn't have with her. We did have to tape her back up when she'd scratch her tape off. It was maybe a months worth of putting new tape on. She has a really high pain tolerance because they never bothered her. Everytime we'd put something on them (i.e. to help them heal) she'd wipe it off. The day she came home from having it done she never acted like she was in pain or hurting - she was Miss Happy Go Lucky, like normal.

As for the cost - we paid $200 to have it done. If that's a lot I understand - again, it's personal preference. I like the look it gives her - she looks so alert and pretty. However, I would have been just as happy with them floppy. My husband was the one insistent on doing it and I didn't care either way but now that I I've seen her with the cropped ears - I lean toward the cropped ears.
 

KCboxer4

Completely Boxer Crazy
Personal preference

As it has clearly already been stated, it is a preference. Does it hurt ? Yes it does, two stitches or forty two, it hurts, the ears are cut. There are different kinds of cuts, show cuts, pet cuts, and, wrong cuts all together. The color of the dog is also an issue when talking of the posting of the ears and how long they will take to stand. White Boxers have an easier time with it I understand, I don't believe this should be done, Roxie came to us with her ears cropped already (wht 12yrs) Maya is a retired show dog and was 4yrs when we adopted her. Hers is a longer, more tapered cut, Dylan my brindle male took 10 months for his ears to stand and it was constant taping and I personallly would not do it again, thats just me. They say the reverse brindles can take longer, thats what he was.
They are beautiful either way, and it is a preference, but I do believe it is painful. I believe our experiences and situations are all entirely different also. This is just my opinion and what I think. Best of luck
 
i don't think color has anything to do w/ how quickly a cropped dog's ears stand. It depends on the crop, and the ear leather. A heavy-earred dog, if cropped, my never stand correctly because its ears were not made to be cropped. But a dog's who's ears are "flying" all over the place may be a good candidate for an earcrop. The length of the crop obviously makes a difference too. A show crop w/ less bell, will take longer than a shorter pet cut w/ more bell. ;)

-Kat
 

KCboxer4

Completely Boxer Crazy
This was the information that I was given by my breeder, just what I was told, not saying it's the gospel:) My reverse Brindle had very very coarse hair, my white female has very soft fur and my flashy fawn has soft hair. My white female never got mange, my brindle did, my fawn tends to get spotty in the winter on her hynnie :) I was told as to cropping the skin and fur are different on each color dog and have an impact on how well the ears stand and how fast. Like I said, FYI, thats what I was told. Hey, maybe he made it up :) !!!!!!
 

Iaboy

Banned
Again it is a personal choice, but I would have not put Max through that as I think it would be very painful, he was too old anyway when we brought him home. My vet is against it in any breed so he states. They are both beautiful I think the cropped ears look a little more aggressive but that is my humble opinion. This can be a touchy subject just like what is the best food is.
 

KimbaCloud

Boxer Buddy
All of my Boxers have had their ears cropped and yes I have come to the understanding that it is a personal preference. I believe ears cropped separate the Boxer from any other breed. I have my Boxers ears done by someone I absolutely trust and know they do a good job. Ears should not be done past a certain age, 12wks or older in my opioion SHOULD NOT be done. Ears should not be done unless there is someone home at all times with the pup. If no one is home you can have significant damage to the ears and to the dog if she/he is not closely watched. Ear cropping have three sizes, short, Medium, and show. The show ears will take longer to stand due to ear blood flow up to the highest point. After the crop of the ears you have to let them scab up and heal. Then taping is involved to train the ear to stand. Majority of the time they do not stand right away. It is a long process that needs patience and a lot of care for your dog. It can take up to a year the train an ear to stand. You need to ask yourself if that is worth it to you. I must stress that someone would have to be there constantly with the pup and taping is no easy task if you have not done it before or even have an idea of. But I digress ear cropping has come to be a personal preference.
 

LvMyPup

Boxer Booster
I must have been lucky I had Cassius's ear done at 11 weeks after the stitches were taken out or I think they disolved the vet taped them and they have been standing up ever since he is 6 now. I had nothing to do just drive him back and forth to the vet a couple of times.
 

Mama_Zookeeper

Boxer Insane
Rocky's ears where done at 12 wks of age and he had very little trouble helping them to stand. Honestly aout 2 wks of taping. He was groggy when he came home, but other wise fine and the next day he was back to his crazy self. His ears are still very silky and soft, yet they stand very well.

Cropping is not for everyone, I happen to like it on fawns & brindles without a lot of flash. If the dog is very flashy I like the ears floppy. I like whites floppy as well. I think the main thing is to do your homework...this will mean finding a vet who will crop and knows what he is doing. Ask for references or photos of his past crops. Know what you want ahead of time, if your are not looking for a show crop let it be known before you have the procedure done as these will require a more work to help them stand correctly. Also reputable breeders will have a vet who does the crops for their dogs. My breeder recommended the vet who did mine here in San Antonio, as I did not want to go all the way to Austin for the procedure. I think this is a decision you have to make before you have your pup as the window for cropping is not very long, most vets will not do it after 12-13 weeks of age.

Good Luck, Dora
 
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