Doberman ear
Cropping Of Doberman’s Ears: The Doberman pinscher, or Doberman, as they are commonly known, is a very popular breed of dog. They are not only alert and intelligent but also make great companions. Although previously they were used as watch dogs and police dogs, today they are more commonly kept as pets. The dog is medium in height, ranging from 24 to 28 inches, and weighs approximately between 55 to 90 pounds, depending on whether it’s a male or a female. Typical physical characteristics include a muscular body with a deep and broad chest.
Compared to other breeds of dogs of the same build and size, the Doberman has a longer tail. However, their tails are usually docked. Docking is a surgical procedure by which a major part of the dog’s tail is removed. This procedure has to be done as soon as the puppy is born. Docking was practiced extensively in the past. However, today it has been made illegal in many countries, with the exception of few countries like the United States. Although the concept of docking was initially practiced for a specific purpose, these days it is used for cosmetic reasons, to enhance the physical appearance of the dog.
Similar to docking, cropping is another surgical procedure performed on the ears of the Doberman pinscher within days of birth, in an attempt to enhance sound localization. Cropping involves surgically trimming or cutting off a part of the dog’s ears. The ear cropping of a Doberman needs to be done when the puppy is between 7 to 9 weeks old. If it is done after the puppy crosses 12 weeks, it usually results in failure, with the ears not being able to remain erect. This surgery must be completed before the puppy leaves the care of the dog breeder for a new home. Most pet owners choose not to have the ears of their Dobermans cropped since the procedure is considered to be painful for the dog.
Ear cropping is generally carried out by a process known as taping and posting, which involves propping up the ears of the dog with tape bandages and posts. As the puppy grows, this procedure of posting and taping enables the cartilage of the ear to develop and eventually stand in an upright position. Ear copping, or any of the other procedures following it, do not in any way hinder with the dog’s ability to move the ears or lay them down.
Taping And Posting Of Doberman pinscher’s Ears: Usually, except in a few cases like show crops, the process of posting takes one month. Before you begin the process of taping, always allow the dog some time for recuperating after the ear cropping, so that the wounds get sufficient time to heal. The use of antibacterial powders is recommended in order to combat itchiness and scarring. Taping can take up to seven months. The best way to tell if the entire procedure is a success or a failure is to check if the ears of the dog remain in an upright position after several days. If they start drooping, it indicates that the taping and posting procedure of the Doberman pinscher’s ears has not been properly done. Care should be taken to ensure that the ears of the dog do not remain taped continuously for more than 10 days without a break in between.
The cardboard pieces used in tampons make very good posts and serve the purpose perfectly. Their long cylindrical shape is helpful in providing the desired shape to the ear. Athletic tapes with strong adhesives are a good choice for taping. Many factors like infections, crop size, healing time, choice of posts and tape influence the success rate of the entire procedure of cropping, taping and posting.
It has been observed that ear cropping in dogs helps to significantly reduce the rate of hematomas and ear infections. However, no studies have been conducted to support these observations. The traditional Doberman is always envisioned or perceived with docked tails and cropped ears. Like docking, cropping too is banned in many countries.
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