You will find tons of answers on here but it will be you in the end that will be taping and taping and oh yeah taping some more..
It can be a bit intimidating the first time around.
We had dobermans before cropped and one ear stood and one didnt. B/c the vet we used cut them too short. So basically ask around for a vet that does cropping and ask them to see their portfolio. usually they will set up a meeting and look at the pups ears feel them and then be able to tell you if you can do a pet crop or a show crop. Pet crops stand sooner b/c they are a bit shorter. The lazer crop has a faster healing time and is supposed to be less pain. More expensive but if done by the right vet they are great looking. We went natural with our girl. Her ears perk up sometimes and lay flat sometimes. We never taped them though. I love her ears she has so much expression in them. With that being said my next pup will be cropped b/c it will be a show pup.
(i guess my main question is: How painful is it really? will she suffer horribly? will it traumatise her forever?)
I really cant answer how painful the regular crop is. With our dobies they went in the morning for the crop and by mid afternoon were waking up and ready to go home that night. The female didnt have any pain after surgery she was back to herself when we brought her home they gave her some pain meds. The male had a reaction to the anesthia and started peeing all over the place and acted as he was in pain. no meds with his.(two different vets) We gave him some baby asprin and he seemed better. He was a bit older then the female when he had them done. his ears took all of two weeks to stand beautifully. hers we taped until she was 7 months and one never stood.
Good luck with your decision it is a very tuff one.
Nikki, Layla & Sumo
