Pros of Ear Cropping
By John Walters
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.
2.The traditional Doberman look-
The Doberman Breed was created in the 1890's by a German tax collector, night watchman, and local dog catcher Karl Fredrich Louis Doberman. He wanted to create a dog breed that was ideal for personal protection.
The dog he ultimately created though 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.
3. Less Ear Infections
One of the most common underlying causes for an ear infection is excessive moisture. 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 'pendulous ears"(i.e. floppy ears) were diagnosed with a type of ear infection whereas only 12.8% of dogs with erect ears were
4. Its 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 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 rin, having their dog fit the breed standard likely isn't one of any concern to them.
5. Easy Recognition as a Doberman
Doberman with cropped ears are more quickly recognized as Doberman, at least in the United States, where ear cropping of Doberman is so incredibly common. Where as Doberman with floppy ears are misidentified by others as a type of hound dog, mutt, or 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 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 attacker to grab on to and gain control over the dog.
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 many 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 ears can begin to bleed and have difficulty haling. Many argue that this is less likely if the dog has cropped ears.