Ears: To Crop or Not to Crop

This is a personal preference.

One of the things that I love about this breed is their intelligence, and I feel that the cropped ear just gives a more alert, intelligent look.

As a groomer

I find that dogs with floppy ears have more tendencies to have ear infections.

All ears, cropped or not cropped need care.

As a breeder

I'm breeding with my next show dog in mind. Our puppies' ears are cropped at about 7 to 9 weeks of age, which sometimes rushes my decision on what I keep.

I also think that American breeders haven't bred for proper ear sets and correct ear leather. People don't realize that there is a correct way to tape or glue a natural ear so that they don't stand up on their own or flop down. The natural ear should bend and the ear set should come straight off the head. Cropped ears are to stand erect.

During the puppies teething period (between 16 to 20 weeks old) cropped or uncropped ears should be posted or taped to achieve the proper look. After teething the ears are what they are.

I also think that the "backyard breeder" doesn't want to take the time or spend the money to crop ears. Chances are once a puppy is sold, the new owners can't see putting anymore money into the dog or they think ear cropping is cruel. The surgery is no more hurtful than spaying or neutering.

Last but not least

Just because cropping is my personal preference doesn't mean that you have to do it too. I will let puppies go without getting cropped. However, I do not lower the selling price because of it.

Taping Cropped Ears

Instructions (with illustrations) for taping cropped ears.

Taping Natural Ears

Article by Marion Kidd (PDF will open in a new window) of Remporter Standard Schnauzers in Australia discusses uncropped ears and demonstrates how to tape if necessary.