There has been a lot of misinformation out there floating around on Doberman discussion groups about the cost of ear cropping procedures for Dobermans. Many prices owners post on public forums are either extremely outdated, not applicable to most owners (such as the price a breeder pays when cropping many puppies at once), or misleading. That’s why we decided to get some clear (and updated for 2022) numbers as to exactly how much it costs to crop a Doberman’s ears.

It costs an average of $631 for a Doberman ear cropping procedure at a veterinarian inside the United States. Many owners will pay an average of $107 additional for recommended blood work prior to the procedure. After the surgery, owners can choose to regularly post their dog’s ears in position themselves, or pay between $15 and $65 per posting change if it’s not included in the cost of the procedure.

Doberman Ear Cropping Costs

Above is a table showing all the veterinarians we contacted and the quotes they gave for an ear cropping procedure of an 8 week old Doberman puppy (rounded to the nearest whole dollar). We called veterinarians who specialize in ear cropping all across the United States to get a fair representation of the true, and current, costs of this procedure.

Pre-Surgery Exam

Typical Cost: Included

Most veterinarians want a pre-exam of the Doberman before scheduling that actual ear cropping procedure. Most of the time the cost of this is included in the total price of the ear crop. Only one out of the eleven veterinarians above charged an additional fee for the pre-exam that was required before the ear crop surgery (since it was required, we combined it with the cost of the procedure in the table above).

During the pre-surgery exam, the veterinarian will examine the puppy and make sure they’re a good candidate for ear cropping and that there’s a high likelihood the ears will successfully stand. Much of this depends on the vet’s opinion as to the thickness of the dog’s ear cartilage. Since the ears naturally become thicker and firmer with age, it’s best to get in to see a veterinarian as soon as possible for this pre-exam.

Most veterinarians will want to perform the ear cropping procedure when a Doberman puppy is between 7 and 9 weeks old, but no later than 12 weeks old. Remember, it’s best to contact your vet as early as possible about ear cropping as they are often booked months in advance and won’t perform the procedure if your dog is too old by the time they can get him in for surgery.

Ear Cropping Surgery

Average Cost: $631

The ear cropping surgery itself is usually the bulk of the cost when getting your Doberman’s ears cropped. Most veterinarians we spoke to advised that you would drop off your Doberman puppy early in the day and pick him up in the afternoon. Only one advised that they wanted to keep the dog overnight, and one advised they wanted to keep the dog for three days post-surgery. In all situations, the length of stay was included in the cropping price.

Although it varies as to what the procedure itself includes, below is what’s most commonly included with the price of the ear cropping procedure.

• Anesthesia (general)
• IV
• Catheter
• Antibiotics
• Pain Medications
• Heart monitor during surgery
• Cone/E-collar (if needed)
• Initial ear wrap
• Follow up exam
• Sutcher removal

Not many of the veterinarians we spoke to advised that they use cones or e-collars after surgery to protect the ears from the dog. It seems that most preferred using pain medications and take-home sedatives to dissuade the dogs from scratching at, or damaging, their ears after surgery. Most veterinarians advised that often the cones can “do more damage than good” to the ears by pressing them down flat making it less likely that they will stand.

Another option that was mentioned on occasion was the use of a therapy laser (or “cold laser”) after cropping. This is a way to help reduce inflammation and speed up the healing time after the surgery. Of the vets who offered this, only one charged an additional price of $15 for the laser therapy.

Blood Work

Average Cost: $107

Blood work is often optional but highly recommended by veterinarians prior to a Doberman getting their ears cropped. Essentially it helps to lower the overall risk of the procedure by checking for certain disorders that Dobermans often have and ensuring that they’ll be able to handle the anesthesia. These are all important things for the vet to know prior to surgery.

The cost of this is almost always additional and very few vets include the cost of this in the price they initially quote for the ear cropping. So when you’re calling around, make sure you ask how much blood work will cost and if it’s included in the price they quote you.

Follow-Up Exam

Typical Cost: Included

The follow-up exam is essentially a chance for the veterinarian to remove the initial bandages they put on the dog after surgery, assess the healing process, and remove the stitches (sutures).

In all cases, except one, a follow-up exam was included in the price for the ear cropping procedure itself. Only one veterinarian we contacted, Broadstreet Animal Hospital, did not include this in their ear cropping package for Dobermans. They stated it wasn’t necessary since they use sutures that dissolve on their own and don’t need to be manually removed.

Ear Postings

Typical Cost: $15 – $65

Dobermans need to have their ears “posted” (or braced) into position in the weeks and months after surgery to ensure that as the cartilage naturally thickens and hardens with age, the ears will stand in the correct upright position. This typically requires the ear posts (often call “ear wraps”) to be changed every 3 to 7 days until the ears reliably stand on their own.

This can be somewhat of an involved process and while many owners will decide to do the ear posting themselves, others want their veterinarian to do it. There seemed to be a broad range of costs here in the quotes we received. Two vets we spoke to included unlimited postings with the price of the procedure while two others advised they don’t do postings at all at their offices and it’s completely on the owners to do themselves. All other veterinarians either charged for all posting changes or included a few for free and then charged for additional postings.

Length of the Crop

Most veterinarians will charge the same amount for a Doberman ear cropping, regardless of the style (or length) of the crop chosen. Only one out of the eleven veterinarians we contacted, Powell Veterinary Service, Inc, quoted a different price based on the length of the crop. At this one vet, we were quoted an additional $100 if we wanted the long, show crop.

This is because it’s generally more difficult to get the ears to stand the longer the ear crop is. The added size and weight of longer cropped ears are what make this more difficult. This means the procedure usually requires a bit of additional skill on the part of the veterinarian. Also, it will require the ears to be posted into position for a longer period of time after the surgery before the ears will naturally stand on their own.

When to Get Your Doberman’s Ears Cropped

The best time to get a Doberman’s ears cropped is between 7 and 9 weeks of age, but it can usually be done as late as 12 weeks of age with good results. Most veterinarians won’t perform an ear cropping procedure on a Doberman older than 12 weeks of age. This is because the dog’s ear cartilage naturally thickens and hardens as they age and an ear crop after 12 weeks of age is less likely to produce standing ears.

If you’re looking to get your puppy’s ears cropped, it’s important that you begin looking for a vet to perform the procedure as early as possible since the number of veterinarians who perform this is shrinking, and the ones that do, are often booked for many weeks in advance. In other words, if you find a vet to perform the ear cropping procedure on your 8-week old puppy, and they’re booked for 5 weeks, that will put your dog at 13 weeks old by the time you could get him (or her) in for their ear cropping—too old for the procedure.

Take a look at our article all about at what age should you get your Doberman’s ears cropped for more in-depth information on when to get this done.

Where to Save Money

There are three different ways you can save a bit of money with the ear cropping process.

• Get Multiple Quotes – This is obvious with anything you are shopping for, but as you can see from the list of quotes we received above, there are some widely varying prices for the ear cropping procedure with this breed. The highest quote we received for Doberman ear cropping was $1072 and the lowest was $370. That’s a difference of $702 for seemingly the same proceedure! So if you aren’t affraid to drive some distance to get the proceedure done, it’ll definitely give you more options on veterinarians to consider and you may be able to find much lower price quotes.
• Skip the Blood Work – Most people, myself included, don’t recommend skipping on blood work before the proceedure. Not all veterinarians require it but they advised us that it helps them to gain a broader picture of your Doberman’s health before the proceedure, effectively reduing risks surrounding the proceedure itself. However, if your vet doesn’t require it and you choose to forego it, it will save you an average of $107.
• Post the Ears Yourself – This is the most common way us Doberman owners will save money in regards to getting our dog’s ears cropped. Dobermans need to have to have their ears posted in position after their ear cropping surgery until the ears stand consistently on their own, usually at 6 months of age. This will require a ear wrap (aka “ear post”) change and ear cleaning every 3 to 7 days until that time. Most veterinarians we contacted were happy to tutor owners how to do the ear posting themselves at home instead of paying them to do the change everytime. Besides saving you between $15 to $65 per posting, it will also save you a trip to the vet. There are multiple tutorials online showing how to post your Doberman’s ears yourself as well.

Less Veterinarians in the U.S. Are Cropping Ears

Despite the Doberman breed standard calling for cropped and erect ears, this procedure is becoming less common. As a result, fewer veterinarians are offering it to their clients. Often it’s the older veterinarians who have been in practice for many years who continue to offer the service whereas new vets are much less likely to. Canine ear cropping is not taught at many veterinarian schools in North America any longer which is likely much of this reason.

If you’re having difficulty locating a vet near you who performs ear cropping, try to focus on practices that have been in business for many decades. It seems the longer the veterinarian practice has been in business, the more likely they are to offer ear cropping services to their clients.

Can Doberman Ears Stand Without Cropping?

Yes, it’s possible to post a Doberman’s uncropped ears into the erect position and achieve upright ears. However, the additional weight of the longer, wider ears makes this less likely to be successful and the end result is often undesirable to owners. A Doberman who has not had the ear cropping procedure, but whose owner has posted their ears into position while they were young, will often end up with what many owners describe as “fruit bat ears”. They are large, wide, upright, and don’t resemble what most of us are used to seeing in a Doberman’s ears.

The picture below is of a Doberman who has not had an ear cropping but who has naturally erect ears (very rare). However, this is very similar to the result you’d get if you posted your Doberman’s ears in the erect position when your dog is young but did not have the ear cropping procedure done.

Undecided About Ear Cropping?

If you’re still on the fence as to whether or not to get your Doberman’s ears cropped, you’re not alone. Many owners struggle with this decision because our favorite breed looks so adorable with floppy ears when they’re young and so regal with standing ears as adults.

However, there are many other reasons this procedure is done besides just looks alone. If you want to learn more about all the reasons, see our article Doberman Ear Cropping Pros & Cons: Should You Do It. It really is a very personal decision and it’s important that owners make the decision that’s right for them and their dog.

The post Doberman Ear Cropping Cost – 11 Real Price Quotes appeared first on Doberman Planet.

Whether or not you should crop your Doberman Pinscher’s ears is one of those topics I write about on this site that certainly gets a lot of controversy from people on both sides of the debate. It’s my hope in this article to outline the real-world pros and cons of getting your Doberman’s ears cropped, along with my experience with my Dobermans, so you can decide what’s best for you and your dog.

There is no requirement stating owners have to crop their Doberman’s ears. In fact, many Doberman owners decide to leave their dog’s ears in their natural state. While the Doberman breed standard in the United States calls for Dobermans to have cropped ears, this is only of concern if you plan to enter your dog in AKC breed conformation shows.

In other words, there is no right answer here and owners can do what they please. There is no regulation or law anywhere that I am aware of (certainly not in the U.S.) requiring you to crop your Doberman’s ears. In some areas, however, there are laws against it. Although the Doberman Pinscher Beed Standard as published by the American Kennel Club does call for cropped ears on the Doberman, this only matters if you’re showing your dog in breed conformation shows. Otherwise, it will likely have no bearing on your decision.

PLEASE NOTE: In this article, I will present the potential pros and cons of ear cropping Dobermans as argued by those who are both for, and against it. The opinions and statements in the pros and cons sections in this article aren’t necessarily representative of the author’s opinions. They are presented here so you can make up your own mind.

Pros – The Arguments for Ear Cropping

Below are some of the most common arguments made by those who are for the ear cropping of Dobermans as to the potential benefits of the procedure.

1. Improved Sound Localization

Many argue that there are no examples of dogs in the wild who have floppy ears due to natural selection. The Doberman breed is a man-made creation, just like most dog breeds in existence, and they have many features that would never occur in the wild. One example of this is floppy ears.

Ear cartilage that hangs down in front of the ears can obstruct sound from entering the ear canal as efficiently as it otherwise would if the dog had erect ears. Having an unobstructed path for sound to travel the ears can increase hearing and even the ability of the dog to locate the source of a sound.

2. The Traditional Doberman Look

The Doberman breed was created in the 1890s by a German tax collector, night watchman, and local dog catcher named Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. He wanted to create a dog breed that was ideal for personal protection.

The dog he ultimately created through selective breeding is the dog we know today as the Doberman. His original dogs always had cropped ears and a docked tail. This was so they could excel at their primary purpose—guard work.

This look has caught on and now a Doberman with erect and cropped ears is widely considered to be the “traditional” look for a Doberman. Die-hard breed fanatics often argue that you aren’t raising a Doberman in the image originally intended by the creator of the breed if you have a Doberman without cropped ears.

3. Less Ear Infections

One of the most common underlying causes for an ear infection is excessive moisture (source). Ear cropping and posting procedures will open up the ear and drastically increase airflow into the ear canal. This can lead to a drier ear overall and potentially fewer ear infections.

One study done on 2,012 dogs in Nova Scotia showed that the prevalence of ear infections in floppy-eared dogs was significantly higher than in dogs with erect ears. In the dogs studied 17.8% of the dogs with “pendulous ears” (i.e. floppy ears) were diagnosed with a type of ear infection whereas only 12.8% of dogs with erect ears were (source).

4. It’s the Breed Standard

The Doberman Pinscher breed standard in the United States is set by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The breed standard states that the Doberman Pinscher should have ears that are cropped and held in an erect position. Other countries follow a different breed standard such as the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) which has no such requirements.

Frankly though, to the average owner of a Doberman who just wants a family dog and has no intention of having their dog compete in the show ring, having their dog fit the breed standard likely isn’t of any concern to them.

5. Easy Recognition as a Doberman

Dobermans with cropped ears are more quickly recognized as a Doberman, at least in the United States where ear cropping of Dobermans is so incredibly common. Whereas a Doberman with floppy ears is often misidentified by others as a type of hound dog, mutt, or an unknown breed.

Being able to be quickly identified as a Doberman can make it less likely for someone to challenge the dog due to the Doberman’s reputation for fearlessness, loyalty, and protectiveness over their owners.

6. Better for Guard or Protection Work

The creator of this breed, Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann originally cropped his dog’s ears so that they could excel at protection work. Having cropped ears made for one less hand-hold for an attacker to grab on to and gain control over the dog.

Having shorter, smaller ears that naturally laid back over the top of the dog’s head like cropped ears will do, means there is a lesser chance of damage to the ear by a person or other dog during a conflict. It also allows the dog to be more quickly identified as a Doberman (as per the previous point) and gives them a more alert appearance. Both of which can deter a potential attacker.

7. Protects Against Future Ear Injuries

Many working dogs like hunting dogs, for example, will have their ears cropped if they’re expected to be running through thick brush or quickly past other obstacles that could injure their ears.

Also, when a Doberman has any type of ear irritation, they’ll often violently shake their head side-to-side. They can do this so repetitively at times, that the tips of the ear can begin to bleed and have difficulty healing. Many argue that this is less likely if the dog has cropped ears.

Cons – The Arguments Against Ear Cropping

Here are some of the potential drawbacks, or downsides, to getting your Doberman’s ears cropped as argued by those who are against ear cropping.

1. Surgery Risks

Every surgery inherently involves some level of risk to your dog and for an ear cropping procedure, your Doberman will almost certainly be under full (or “general”) anesthesia which involves a higher level of risk. Although rare, there is a long list of potential complications that can happen during an ear cropping procedure such as infections or even death.

2. Discomfort or Pain

Any medical procedure will almost certainly involve some level of pain or discomfort on a dog. During the surgery itself, it’s unlikely the dog will experience any pain due to the use of general anesthesia (the dog will be unconscious). But there is certainly some level of pain and discomfort afterward. How much pain is hotly debated by both sides of this issue.

In my experience with my Dobermans, I have never noticed pain around the time of the surgery. But as the pain medications wear off, at times my dogs would shake their heads, and try to scratch at their ears. It’s unknown how much of this is because of the bandages they’re wearing annoying them and how much is due to discomfort.

Where I’ve noticed the most pain from my Doberman pups is when the stitches are removed or the first bandage change occurs after surgery. Depending on the technique used by the veterinarian, there is at times crying and/or whimpering during these stages, although not always.

After that, your dog’s ears will need to be posted in position usually until their ear cartilage firms up (usually at 6 to 8 months of age). The bandages and earn posts can be annoying and uncomfortable for the dog although it doesn’t seem likely that they cause any pain.

3. Not Medically Necessary

Ear cropping in modern times is almost never medically necessary. There are a few cases where a veterinarian might advise that it is, and usually, this is only in the case of a severely damaged ear from an accident, dog attack, or medical condition.

Many argue that putting your dog through a surgery that they don’t medically need is immoral. Certainly this can be seen as one downside to this procedure.

4. Ear Posting is Difficult

After the surgery is completed, the ear cartilage needs to heal and the ear will need to be “posted” in position so that when the ear cartilage hardens naturally with age, the ears will stay in the correct position. This will take a significant amount of time and effort on the part of the owner to maintain these ear posts.

For example, typically every 3 to 5 days the bandages will need to come off, posts removed, and ears cleaned. Then the posts and bandages will need to be replaced so the ears are positioned correctly.

Owners will often do this more frequently if the ears get wet or dirty, or less frequently if they stay fairly clean. This schedule of wrapping and cleaning the ears will need to continue until the dog is at least 6 months old but at times can be necessary up until the dog is 1 year of age.

5. Limits Their Expressiveness

Like all dogs, Dobermans will communicate with other dogs and humans through various means including the use of their ears, tail, body movements, and more. When you reduce or eliminate the ability for them to use their ears to communicate how they’re feeling, it can lead to misunderstandings of behaviors.

Some argue that cropped-eared dogs get into more dog fights because how they’re feeling during a given interaction isn’t adequately communicated to the other dogs.

6. Makes Them Less Approachable

The general perception of a cropped Doberman thanks to movies and television is that they’re more aggressive and potentially dangerous than if they have floppy ears.

In fact, one study on the perception of various dogs by 392 study participants published in 2016 determined that modified dogs (those with cropped ears and docked tails) were seen as more aggressive towards other people and other dogs, and more dominant. Doberman Pinschers with cropped ears and docked tails were seen by participants as being about 13% more likely to be aggressive towards other people and dogs as compared to those with natural ears and tails (source).

In the real world, this means that you’ll see more families crossing the street to get out of your way while you’re walking your dog, fewer people approaching you to interact with your dog (this could negatively affect their socialization), and more hesitations about the dog from friends and family.

7. The Proceedure is Not Always Successful

There’s always a chance that cropping your Doberman’s ears will not be successful. How often it’s not successful is almost impossible to determine as every veterinarian has a different definition of what a successful crop is. Sometimes the ears will both stand but other times one ear may be crooked. Other times neither one may stand. Although the success of the ear cropping seems to depend heavily on the consistency and technique of the ear posting by the owner.

However, there are things you can do to increase your chances like going to a reputable veterinarian experienced in Doberman ear cropping, posting for the appropriate length of time after surgery (not stopping posting early), and getting the dog cropped at an ideal age (usually between 7 and 9 weeks of age).

8. Judgement from Others

There are many people out there who believe that cropping a dog’s ears is cruel and inhumane. This is especially true outside the United States. So you may get the occasional comment about how you “mutilated” your dog or how you don’t care about your dog because you choose to get their ears cropped.

This is especially true on social media where it’s easier for those in other countries to see your dog and then pass judgment.

Video: Cropped vs. Natural Eared Dobermans

The Doberman Breed Standard

Inside the United States

The Doberman Pinscher Breed Standard in the U.S. as put out by the American Kennel Club (available here) outlines what the ideal Doberman Pinscher should look like. It’s relied upon by judges in breed conformation shows when rating contestants and selecting the winners. The breed standard for the Doberman Pinscher, states the following:

“Ears normally cropped and carried erect. The upper attachment of the ear, when held erect, is on a level with the top of the skull.”

– Official Breed Standard of the Doberman Pinscher (The American Kennel Club)

Interestingly, however, the ears being left in their natural state is not listed as a disqualifier in this document, but it would be considered a fault due to the following line which appears later in the document:

“The foregoing description is that of the ideal Doberman Pinscher. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.”

Official Breed Standard of the Doberman Pinscher (The American Kennel Club)

So in other words, you can expect a Doberman in the show ring to get penalized for not having cropped ears, but it’s not an automatic disqualifier.

In Other Countries

The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is the largest canine organization in the world and they have divisions in Europe, the Americas, Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. They too have a breed standard for the Doberman (available here). However, this standard does not require the Doberman’s ears to be cropped.

In fact, the FCI breed standard says the following in regards to the ears.

“The ears, are left natural and of an appropriate size; they are set on either side at the highest point of the skull and are ideally lying close to the cheeks.”

Federation Cynologique Internationale (AISBL) Standard No. 143 – Dobermann

Like the United States breed standard, falling outside what’s outlined doesn’t appear to be a disqualifier but is considered a fault. The following line appears further down in the document:

“Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.”

Federation Cynologique Internationale (AISBL) Standard No. 143 – Dobermann

How cropped ears are perceived by the kennel clubs inside the United States and other parts of the world are in stark contrast to each other. But realistically, falling outside of any of the breed standards only has consequences if you intend to show your dog in breed conformation shows.

Legalities of Ear Cropping

Due to the differences of perception of ear cropping of Dobermans and dogs in general between various countries and societies, it’s no surprise that there are very different laws on this subject depending on where you live. For example, in the United States, it’s legal as long as a veterinarian performs the procedure. Cropped ears are the norm at any Doberman club gathering or kennel club events where Dobermans are present inside the United States.

Whereas in other countries, it’s often either completely outlawed or only permitted if it’s medically necessary. The following map can give you a rough idea of where it may or may not be legal.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Although the map above is a good general reference, it’s important to do your own research in regards to legalities where you live, even if this map indicates it may be legal in your country. This map may not be complete, completely accurate, and may have outdated information. One example is although this map shows cropping as legal in Canada, readers have informed me that it’s illegal in many provenances within Canada (it’s only legal on the federal level).

Ear Cropping Proceedure

Although the ear cropping procedures can vary a bit depending on what vet you go to, the following seems to be a fairly consistent approach and experience that most Doberman have from what I’ve seen.

1. Prepare for the Cost – In the U.S. ear cropping a Doberman costs on average between $300 and $800.
2. Pick a Time to Do It – Ear cropping on Dobermans is done when the dog is between 7 and 9 weeks old. It can often be done up until about 12 weeks of age—but ask your vet to look at your dog’s ears to see if the cartilage has already hardened. See my article on when to crop a Dobermans ears for more information.
3. Find a Veterinarian – Ear cropping should be done by a reputable veterinarian experienced in Doberman ear cropping specifically. Ask for photos, or see examples of other dogs they’ve done in the past. You may have to travel far to find a vet like this as fewer vets are doing this procedure in recent years. To get an idea of cost, you can see our article all about Doberman ear cropping cost where we received 11 real quotes from veterinarians to get our Doberman’s ears cropped.
4. Pick a Style – Pick the ear crop style you want: short (military crop), medium, or long (show crop). All my dogs have had medium length crops and that seems to be the standard for most family Dobermans.
5. Have the Proceedure Performed – The ear cropping proceedure is about a 30-minute procedure, and it’s done under general anesthesia. After the proceedure, your veterinarian may have a pain patch affixed to your dog or they may be on some slow-acting pain medications (or both). You may receive a few chewable pain medications to give to your dog for the first few days after surgery.
6. Follow-up with Your Vet – After a week or two, the vet removes the stitches and it’s usually up to the owner after this point to keep the ears in the propert position by posting and wraping them. Your vet will likely give you information on how they suggest doing this.
7. Owner Care – Approximately every 3 to 5 days, the owner will remove the ear posts, cleam, and inspect the ears. Then they will post them into position again using a new support and medical tape. This may occur more or less frequencly depending on how clean and dry the ear canal stays.
8. Continue Posting Until the Ears Stand – The cleaning, posting, and re-wrapping is usally redone every few days until the ears stand reliably on their own (usually anywhere between 6 to 8 months). The longer the crop, the longer posting will be necessary. The idea of this is to hold the ear in the correct position until the ear cartilage naturally firms up enough to keep them in the upright position. Your dog’s ears naturally firm with age.

This is accurate to my experience but since it may vary, it’s important that you contact a reputable veterinarian experienced in this procedure and ask them how to proceed. Always follow your vet’s advice over any information listed here.

More information about the traditional method used in the past by veterinary surgeons to crop a dog’s ears can be found here.

Ear Cropping After Care

After a Doberman’s ears are cropped it’ll usually be the owner’s responsibility to perform posting of the ears until the dog is about 6 to 8 months of age. Although at times, this can go up until the dog is 1 year of age, depending on how long the ear cropping is and how fast the cartilage firms up. This involves wrapping, or posting, the ears into position until the dog’s ear cartilage naturally firms up causing them to stay erect.

The veterinarian that performs your dog’s ear cropping will provide you with direction on aftercare which should be closely followed. However, this is how the majority of aftercare is done for Doberman ear crops in my experience.

Every 3 to 5 days (or as needed):

• Remove ear postings.
• Clean the ears and check for any signs of redness, irritation, or infection.
• Replace ear postings.

NOTE: You may need to do this more often with your Dobie if they get their ears wet or particularly dirty.

It’s often fairly time-consuming to post a Doberman’s ears in the right position and it involves inserting a support into the ear (like a foam rod, cardboard, or plastic support), and then wrapping the ear to stay in place.

Replacing the ear posts on a Doberman can take 15 to 45 minutes depending on the specific technique that’s used and how experienced you are with the posting procedure. You’ll need to maintain this process until the dog’s ears can reliably and consistently stay standing on their own. Usually, this occurs when the dog is around 6 months of age, but it can be as late as 12 months of age if it’s a longer crop or the dog’s ear cartilage is slow to firm up.

Cruel or Not Cruel

Ear cropping a Doberman for cosmetic reasons is considered cruel and unnecessary in many parts of the world. In other areas like the United States, ear croppings are commonplace, and cropped ears are still part of the breed standard for the Doberman Pinscher. It’s unclear at this time exactly how much discomfort or pain is experienced by the dog.

The question of whether ear cropping a Doberman is cruel or not is still vigorously debated by both sides. Many breeders and professional handlers of Dobermans will say that ear cropping is a fairly painless and relatively minor procedure, however, there’s an equal number of advocates who claim it’s painful and cruel to the animal. In 2008, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) released a statement advising that their organization is opposed to this procedure.

“The AVMA opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes. The AVMA encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards.”

– The American Veterinary Medical Association, 2008 (Source)

Modern veterinarians do implore many pain management techniques to make the procedure as painless as possible including full anesthesia and pain medicine after the procedure. There are also newer techniques being used such as laser ear cropping that drastically reduces the healing time.

In my experience, it seems like Dobies have no problem handling the procedure itself and I’m always relieved when I see how happy and chipper my Dobermans are right after the procedure. Although to be fair, it’s likely that the pain medication is still in their system at the point when I first see them after surgery. The ear wrappings do, at times, seem to annoy the dogs as the months go by during the posting stage (but the ears are fully healed at this point).

In my personal experience, I’ve only seen what I would describe as true pain from any of my Dobermans at around the time of the first bandage change by the vet after the procedure. In the past, that has caused some whimpering from my dogs. However, I never saw anything remotely resembling pain on subsequent bandage changes, or during ear posting later on.

WHAT ABOUT TAIL DOCKING? Tail docking is a much easier, and cheaper, procedure done when the dog is much younger. To learn more about this, see my article all about Doberman tail docking pros and cons

FAQ

Why do Dobermans have their ears cropped? Dobermans often have their ears cropped to conform to breed standards, for cosmetic reasons, or for a role as a working dog. Shorter ears are considered less likely to be injured if the dog is involved in a conflict or running through thick brush. Many still question the ethics of this procedure.

Is ear cropping painful for a Doberman? Since Dobermans are stoic dogs, it’s unclear how much pain or distress is experienced by a Doberman who has had their ears cropped. Modern veterinarians implore many pain management techniques in an attempt to minimize the pain such as general anesthesia, pain medication, and laser ear cropping.

Can you post a Doberman’s ears without cropping? Posting a Doberman’s ears without cropping them is rarely done and is often not successful. A Doberman’s natural ears are large and heavy which makes it difficult to train them to stand if left uncropped.

How do you crop a Doberman’s ears? A Doberman’s ears are cropped by veterinarians familiar with the procedure under full anesthesia. Ear cropping should never be attempted at home or without anesthesia.

Where can you get a Doberman’s ears cropped? You can get Doberman’s ears cropped at a veterinarian who specializes in the procedure if permitted by your local laws.

How much does ear cropping cost? Cropping a Dobermans ears costs between $300 to $800 on average. Cost may vary depending on which veterinarian performs the procedure.

The post Doberman Ear Cropping Pros & Cons: Should You Do It? appeared first on Doberman Planet.

When I first brought home my Doberman Pinscher puppy, I was absolutely in love with him. I knew I wanted him to reach his full potential both physically and aesthetically. Like any proud Dad, I was convinced I had the best looking dog of them all. So I made the decision to get his ears cropped

As the weeks ticked by I remember wondering at what age I should be getting his ears cropped. I made some calls, talked to very reputable veterinarians who have worked with some world famous show Dobermans, and eventually got my answer. Along with some other very useful information for someone considering cropping their Dobermans ears.

At What Age Can You Crop a Doberman’s Ears? A Doberman’s ears are generally cropped when the dog is between 7 and 9 weeks old. However, some veterinarians will perform the procedure as late as 12 weeks. Any later than 12 weeks of age and it isn’t likely that the dog’s ears will stand because the cartilage in the ear has hardened.

A veterinarian who is experienced with Doberman ear cropping can look at your dog’s ears and make a determination on how late cropping can be done. Since every dog is different, there are other things the veterinarian will look for, other than just age, to determine if ear cropping is possible.

Why The Short Window of Time?

While dog owners of other breeds might tell you that you can get your dog’s ears cropped at any time, this is not the case for Doberman Pinschers. There is only a small window of time when you should get your Doberman’s ears cropped. There are a few reasons for this.

• If the ears are cropped when the dog is too young it will be very difficult for the veterinarian to tell what the future proportions of the ear will be. This can lead to unusual looking ears when the dog is older. The youngest a Doberman can be at the time of ear cropping is 6 weeks of age.
• If the ears are cropped when the dog is too old the cartilage in the ear has already hardened into a flat shape. This means the cartilage in the ear will never harden in a more rounded, vertical standing manner. The oldest a Doberman can be at the time of ear cropping is generally considered to be about 12 weeks of age.
• The ideal age for a Doberman to get their ears cropped is generally 7-9 weeks of age.

The cartilage in a Doberman’s ears gets thicker and harder with time. A cropping procedure when the dog is too old will also mean increased discomfort since the cartilage being cut is much thicker than in a younger dog.

The good news here is that every dog is different. So although these numbers are a good baseline to go off of, a good veterinarian will want to see your dog in person before deciding if ear cropping is an option.

When they examine your dog in person, they are checking the ear to see if it is growing in an expected manner. They are also checking the thickness and flexibility of the cartilage in the ear.

Even if your dog is slightly outside the age ranges listed above for ear cropping, it may still be a possibility for you.

Ear Cropping Older Doberman’s

Cropping a Doberman’s ears after about the age of 12 weeks old is generally not successful and most veterinarians won’t perform the procedure. However, as I mentioned above, no two dogs are the same and after a physical examination, the vet should be able to tell you if it is possible to crop your dog’s ears.

Older Doberman’s have had their ears successfully cropped because their ear cartilage was unusually thin, or still unusually flexible at an older age. Also, if the owner desires a shorter ear crop, that also makes it more likely to be successful at an older age. That is because the longer the ears are, the more difficult it is to get them to stand.

Some people will suggest that you can get any dog’s ear’s cropped at any age. This is not the case at all with Doberman’s. If you crop your dog’s ears outside the recommended age range given to you by your veterinarian after a physical exam, your dog’s ears will likely never stand.

Some Veterinarians will agree to crop older Doberman’s even after their ear cartilage has hardened. They compensate for the hardened ear cartilage usually by inserting an implant into the ears to make them stand up. This is a relatively new procedure that sometimes involves inserting a small wire into the ear after cropping.

It is unclear at this time how much discomfort is experienced by the dog with this implant so I personally wouldn’t want to do it. Don’t let your dog be your vet’s experiment! Besides, floppy-eared Dobermans are insanely cute, according to my wife.

Why Ear Cropping is Done

Cropping a dog’s ears is becoming a more controversial topic as the years go by. Personally, I don’t completely understand why, I mean we regularly dock a dog’s tail, remove their dewclaws, and spay or neuter them without much thought. However, the ear procedure seems to strike a different chord with some people.

I am not here to tell you that you should or shouldn’t get your Doberman’s ears cropped. I think it’s a very personal decision and whether cropped or uncropped, a Doberman is still a great family dog. What I will tell you are the reasons why some people choose to get their Doberman’s ears cropped.

• It’s their traditional look. Cropped ears are the traditional look for a Doberman. This was originally done because they were bred to be guard dogs. Docking the tail and cropping the ears made the dog harder to hold onto (no handholds).
• It improves hearing. Cropping the ears removes a large flap a skin that directly covers their ears from the outside world. This was another way to help them be better guard dogs.
• It can help to reduce ear infections. The increased airflow into the ear can help to keep the ears drier. A dry ear is less likely to develop ear infections. However, Doberman’s are not more prone to ear infections than other breeds.
• For dog shows. If you plan to have your dog compete in dog shows, you will generally want your Doberman’s ears to be cropped.

There are many reasons someone might want to crop their dog’s ears, but in the end, it’s up to you to decide. Luckily, modern cropping techniques involve numbing medication and full anesthesia to minimalize the discomfort to the dog.

Finding a Good Veterinarian to Do the Ear Cropping

Make sure you 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. This is a big procedure and you want your new family friend to be as comfortable as possible.

There are a few things you’ll want to look for when trying to choose a veterinarian to crop your pup’s ears:

1. Try asking reputable Doberman breeders what veterinarian they use to crop their dog’s ears. If a long time Doberman breeder uses them, they probably have plenty of experience and do good work.
2. 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.
3. Ask about how they do the cropping and ensure they use modern, humane techniques. Ensure they use numbing medication and put your dog under anesthesia for the procedure.
4. Make sure they have experience cropping Doberman ears specifically. All breeds of dogs have slightly different ears. You want a veterinarian familiar and experienced with Dobermans.

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.

See the Veterinarian in person. It will give you a better idea of how they run their business. I was very happy when I found my vet, her office was clean, I ran into multiple other Doberman’s in the waiting room (their owners all had great things to say about the vet), and she was great at making me feel at ease.

The cost to get your Doberman’s ears cropped can vary from anywhere between a few hundred dollars, to over a thousand. The price really does vary widely so definitely get multiple quotes before you decide where to get it done. Feel free to take a look at 11 real price quotes we received for Doberman ear cropping to get an idea of how the price differs by the veterinarian.

Ear Cropping Styles

It’s important to clarify with your veterinarian what style of ear crop they will give your Doberman. You want to make sure you two are on the same page. There are three basic types of ear crops for Doberman Pinschers.

• Show Crop: This is the longest crop and your Doberman will have very tall ears as you see at dog shows. If you are going to show your dog someday, obviously this is what you will want to get. This is also the most difficult type of crop to make stand up and generally requires that the dog’s ears are “posted” for a longer period of time after the surgery (held in the upright position by a post and bandages).
• Medium Crop: This results in a shorter ear than the show crop and is a good mid-range choice. The sweeping curve of the show crop is still present although the ear is not as tall. This is what my dog has, and it looks great!
• Working Crop: This is the shortest of all ear crops. A veterinarian might recommend this if they are not confident they will be able to get the ears to stand up (if the cropping was done at an older age for example). These ears are very short but stand up quickly and reliably after surgery. Very little posting time is required after surgery.

Your vet should be able to show you photographs of all three styles so you can pick which is best for your dog.

For an idea of what you should expect to pay for ear cropping, have a look at the article I wrote all about Doberman prices and expenses.

Related Questions

At what age should a Doberman’s tail be docked? Tail docking is usually done on Doberman Pinscher puppies when they are between 2 and 5 days of age. Their tails can be docked as late as 13 weeks of age, although this is considered to be a more significant surgery with longer recovery times the older the dog gets.

How long does it take for a dog to heal from ear cropping? Generally, it takes 6 to 8 weeks for a dog’s ears to heal after an ear cropping procedure. Although this can vary based on the individual dog and the length of the crop as longer length ear crops take longer to heal and stand on their own.

Can you tape a Doberman’s ears without cropping them? Although it is possible to tape (or “post”) a Doberman’s ears and train them to stand without cropping them, this practice is rarely done and very often not successful. Fully erect, uncropped ears on a Doberman will look similar in shape and size to that of a German Shepherd.

The post At What Age Can You Crop a Doberman’s Ears? appeared first on Doberman Planet.