Doberman Pinscher Ears: Pros, Cons, and Everything in Between

The Doberman Pinscher's ears are a distinctive feature of the breed. They are typically cropped to a triangular shape and stand erect.

Doberman Pinschers have been bred for their athleticism and intelligence, which makes their cropped ears a practical choice. This allows for better hearing and helps prevent ear infections.

Cropping Doberman Pinscher ears is a common practice, but it's essential to consider the potential risks and complications. Some owners may choose not to crop their dog's ears, and this can be a viable option with proper care and maintenance.

Doberman Pinschers with uncropped ears require regular ear cleaning and monitoring to prevent infections.

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The Doberman ear cropping procedure is a surgical process that takes about 30 minutes to complete and is done under anesthesia. The ears will usually stand upright after being taped for 5 or 6 months, although some Dobermans may take up to one year.

Ear cropping surgery has no known health benefit and is done solely at the dog owner's preference. It's a choice that's becoming less common, as fewer veterinarians are willing to perform the surgery.

The American Kennel Club says that ear cropping is "integral to defining and preserving breed character" in certain breeds. However, the American Veterinary Medical Association opposes ear cropping in dogs, believing it poses unnecessary risks.

In the United States, ear cropping is not banned or regulated, but it's becoming more controversial. Some states are considering legislation to ban ear cropping, but they have not yet done so.

The Federation Cynologique Internationale, the largest canine organization in the world, does not require the Doberman's ears to be cropped. In fact, their breed standard says the ears should be left natural and of an appropriate size.

Ear cropping is not an automatic disqualifier in breed conformation shows, but it can result in penalties. The extent of the penalty depends on the degree and effect of the deviation from the breed standard.

Proper aftercare is essential to prevent infection and ensure the ears stand upright. This requires a lengthy aftercare period, which can be uncomfortable for the dog.

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Protecting your Doberman's ears is crucial, especially if they're prone to injury or irritation. Many working dogs, like hunting dogs, have their ears cropped to prevent future injuries.

Cropping can also reduce the likelihood of ear irritation, which can lead to bleeding and difficulty healing. This is especially true for Dobermans, who may violently shake their head side-to-side when they have ear irritation.

Here are some reasons why some people choose to crop their Doberman's ears:

Cropping a Doberman's ears can have some benefits, but it's essential to consider the pros and cons.

In the United States, cropped ears are the traditional look for a Doberman, and it's often considered a key characteristic of the breed.

Cropping the ears can improve hearing by removing a large flap of skin that directly covers the ears from the outside world.

However, it's worth noting that Dobermans are not more prone to ear infections than other breeds, and the increased airflow into the ear can actually help to reduce ear infections.

Additional reading: Different Types of Dog Ear Infections

If you plan to show your Doberman in breed conformation shows, cropping the ears is often a requirement.

There are many reasons someone might want to crop their dog's ears, but in the end, it's up to you to decide.

Modern cropping techniques involve numbing medication and full anesthesia to minimize the discomfort to the dog.

In the United States, being able to quickly identify a Doberman as a Doberman can make it less likely for someone to challenge the dog due to its reputation for fearlessness, loyalty, and protectiveness over its owners.

Here are some reasons why ear cropping is done:

Having cropped ears can protect against future ear injuries, which is especially important for working dogs like Dobermans.

Many working dogs, including Dobermans, will have their ears cropped if they're expected to run through thick brush or past obstacles that could injure their ears.

Cropped ears also reduce the likelihood of ear irritation, which can cause a Doberman to violently shake their head and potentially damage their ears.

This repetitive head shaking can lead to bleeding and difficulty healing, making it easier to prevent with cropped ears.

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After Care is a crucial aspect of ear cropping for Doberman Pinschers. It can be a bit time-consuming, but with the right guidance, you'll be able to help your dog heal properly.

You'll need to perform the posting of the ears until the dog is about 6 to 8 months of age, or up to 1 year in some cases. This involves wrapping the ears into position until the cartilage firms up and the ears stay erect.

Every 3 to 5 days, you'll need to remove the ear postings, clean the ears, and check for any signs of redness, irritation, or infection. You may need to do this more often if your dog gets their ears wet or particularly dirty.

Replacing the ear posts can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on your experience and technique. It's a bit of an art, but with practice, you'll get the hang of it.

Here's a quick rundown of the steps you'll need to follow:

By following these steps and working closely with your veterinarian, you'll be able to help your Doberman heal properly and achieve the desired ear shape.

Take your time and put in the effort to choosing a good veterinarian to do the procedure. Please don’t just go to the first one you find.

Ask reputable Doberman breeders what veterinarian they use to crop their dog’s ears. They probably have plenty of experience and do good work.

When you talk to the veterinarian for the first time, ask how long they’ve been cropping Doberman’s ears and if they have photos of past dog’s they’ve done. Any reputable vet who crops ears should have a portfolio of pictures showing past dogs they’ve done the procedure on.

You want a veterinarian who uses modern, humane techniques, such as numbing medication and putting your dog under anesthesia for the procedure.

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Make sure they have experience cropping Doberman ears specifically. All breeds of dogs have slightly different ears.

Here are some things to look for in a veterinarian:

Take your time and find a vet who answers all your questions and makes you feel at ease. If you don’t have a good feeling about them, keep looking.

Having cropped ears can actually protect your Doberman from future ear injuries. This is especially true for working dogs like hunting dogs, which are often running through thick brush or quickly past obstacles that could injure their ears.

Cropped ears can also help reduce ear infections by allowing for increased airflow into the ear, making it less likely for the ear to develop infections.

However, it's worth noting that ear cropping is an elective surgery and has no known health benefit. It's a cosmetic procedure that's done solely at the dog owner's preference, and some argue that it poses unnecessary risks.

In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association opposes ear cropping in dogs because it's purely cosmetic and can cause unnecessary harm to the animal.

If you do decide to crop your Doberman's ears, it's essential to know that the procedure is becoming less common and is not taught in many veterinary schools. Fewer veterinarians are willing to perform the surgery, and dog owners are becoming more aware of the controversial nature of the procedure.

Here are some reasons why people choose to crop their Doberman's ears:

However, it's also worth noting that having uncropped ears is not a disqualifier in dog shows. In fact, the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) breed standard for the Doberman does not require the ears to be cropped.