Cropped ears are more healthy??

[Linda]

**Disclaimer --This post is NOT intended as an argument for or against cropping!!**

I went to an all-breed dog show this weekend. It was a bench show, so the dogs and owners/handlers were there all day.

I know nothing about showing, so it was interesting.

Anyway, as we were walking through the boxer area, I overheard a conversation between an owner and a woman (I assume another spectator). The woman commented on cropping and how she wished the standard would change so it wouldn't be necessary. The owner said it's "good and bad." It's uncomfortable for the puppy for a short period and the taping is kind of a hassle to keep up with, but it's "actually more healthy for the dog." He went on to say that whenever you have ears flopping down, you get bacteria, moisture, infection, ear mites.

I'm just a lowly pet boxer owner, so I'm not an expert. I would consider these people who are showing to be far more knowledgeable than myself. If I were a new boxer owner or looking for a boxer, I would take this person's opinion very seriously.

I think that argument is a crock! Is this really what people think? Does anyone believe there's any truth to it?

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Linda
Remy -DOB 6/2/92; white male w/brindle patches;
Bailey - DOB 10/16/99; flashy brindle female
Shannon - 1992?-12/7/99 Flashy fawn; We miss her!

 

[Badassboxer]

I'm not very educated in this ear cropping area, and that makes me mad, a handler saying such a thing!

I cant compare cropped and uncropped ears (Debo has floppy ears) but my cat gets ear mites and has ear problems, while I have never had a problem with Debo's ears, other than looking a bit dirty, my cat's ears stand straight up...I don't get that trainers thinking!

 

[RileyMom]

In my opinion (which is by no means an authoritative one, but I'm giving it anyway) I don't think it's necessary.
In fact, my vet asked if we were planning to crop our pup's ears and when we said no she was glad to hear it! Seems purely a matter of aesthetic preference to me.
As for any health risks of floppy ears? I think anyone who is devoted to the health and well being of their pup will keep up with whatever measure are needed to prevent or treat health problems (ie. ear cleaning, tooth brushing, exercising, etc.) "An ounce of prevention..." doesn't have to mean cropping is essential.

 

[Linda]

I forgot to mention that our oldest boxer does have cropped ears and we've had two boxers with natural ears.
Remy has had a few ear infections, and Shannon never had any ear problems.

I have a friend who had 2 boxers-one cropped and one not. She also said her cropped boxer had infections and the other didn't.

 

[Alisha Mobley]

I have also read this on Boxer web sites. When I took Pru in for her ear cropping our vet made certain that I understood this was not something that needed to be done just because of the breed. I told him about what I had read and all he said was "Don't believe every thing you read". The funny thing is I have read this in many places. I never knew if there was any truth to it, until I asked my vet, since every dog we owned as I was growing up had stand up ears and then I had my Boxers cropped.

Although I just rememberd we had a fox before we bought Tyson. When I bought him he was 8 weeks old. I took him to the vet for shots and a check up. He, of course, had stand up ears and a double ear infection to go along with them.

I cropped for the traditional look of the Boxer and I prefer the cropped look on a Boxer. I studied the standard and history of Boxers for months before doing this. Cropped ears are just about all you see when looking at American Champion Boxers and Boxers from long ago. My decision to crop had nothing to do with health reasons. But tail docking is another story.

Alisha - Indiana

[This message has been edited by Alisha Mobley (edited 12-11-2000).]

 

[Brutus and Amaya's Mom]

Also keep in mind that in Europe they have banned cropping. I doubt that they would do this if it caused more health problems and there was a real reson to crop.

Cropping is done for looks in Boxers. Originally cropping had a purpose in some breeds. You don't want a guard dog to have floopy ears that a bad guy could grab...but fact of the matter is that few Dobbies are actually guard dogs or Boxers police dogs. They are just pets and there is not reason to crop unless you are showing.

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Brutus & Amayas Mom
Brutus 9/23/99 Flashy Fawn
Amaya 3/22/00 Flashy Brindle

 

[Sabrina Jay]

All of my boxers are cropped. (I prefer the cropped look, but do not recommend it to anyone who does not want the aftercare and/or expense)

One of my boxers, Hoss, use to have ear infections when he was younger. As he has gotten older, he doesn't have trouble.

I have also heard that cropping can cut down on ear infections, but personally, I don't necessarily believe it. I think if a dog is inclined to have trouble with ear infections, they will have them.

I have 2 / 2 legged children (they are grown now). My oldest son, ALWAYS had ear problems, and outgrew them, when he got older. My youngest son, NEVER had ear problems.



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Sabrina Jay JeSaJay's Boxers

 

[Marimat]

Hello board

Any dog which is subject to conditions that have poor hygiene is subject to any of the things that are purported to be avoidable through ear cropping.

Coming from a country where cropping is banned, in fact, has never been allowed, I can say that we rarely have any ear problems with our dogs and all of them have natural ears. It doesn't even really make sense to say a cropped ear is healthier as cropping actually serves to expose the ear canal which logically, in turn, opens the ear more to the atmosphere and actually increases the chance of mite infestation, infection or other ear ailments.

I'm afraid that the "healthier" argument is just an excuse for those who advocate cropping. Just like the one where it was claimed that boxers are a hearing guard dog and therefore must be cropped. That gem actually came from the ABC about 2 years ago when the pro/anti cropping reared it's head.

I actually like the look of *some* crops. I prefer a shorter more functional and traditional crop than the neck lenghthening jobs we see now, and that is an issue, but really, other than aesthetics I don't see any advantage to the dog with cropping................ or for that matter docking tails.

And that's from a breeder and exhibitor!!



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Matthew Cowley
Bocsirs & Marimat Boxers
matthew@bocsirs.com
ICQ 625778

 

[Sabrina Jay]

Hi Matt!!

You will never convince me NOT to dock a tail though!! They are weapons!! LOLOL

Actually, broken tails are very painful for a dog. I will always have a tail docked on a boxer puppy.

I do wish we had a choice on ear cropping. Last year, the ABC changed the AKC standard to penalize for uncropped ears. (which I do not agree with).



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Sabrina Jay JeSaJay's Boxers

 

[Alisha Mobley]

I don't think a Boxer with natural ears should be penalized in the show ring. It is unfair that they are. A Boxer is not born with cropped ears. I feel they should be judged for what they are born with and what could be passed on to their off spring. I feel that even a bad crop job shouldn't be held against the dog if being shown. What if it is perfect compared to the standard except it's ears weren't cropped properly, everyone knows a bad ear job will not be passed on to off spring and if this Boxer is perfect in every other way wouldn't it be an improvement to the breed?

I feel there is no reason a Boxer's tail should not be docked. After reading all the horror stories and seeing all the pictures of Boxers (and other breeds) that were not docked I feel I would be putting a Boxer in danger if I didn't dock it's tail. The amount of pain one would go thru if it's tail was to rupture is far more than the pain it feels at 2-3 days old when docking is done. I can see where the arguement is coming from for cropping but tail docking doesn't compare.

Alisha - Indiana