Historically, breeds such as Dobermans had their ears cropped as puppies and then splinted - taped to bits of wood or cardboard - to make their ears grow upwards instead of leaving them to go floppy. Now, we tend to see breeds such as American bullies having their whole ears removed.
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.
Dobermans are born with floppy ears and long tails, similar to a labrador or hound dog. The ears are cropped and tails docked so that they achieve the upright standing ear and the short tail.
Ear cropping is an elective surgery currently implemented in approximately 20 dog breeds, including Dobermans, Great Danes, Boxers, Schnauzers, and many others. This procedure involves the surgical removal of most or all of the flappy portion of the ear.
Background. Tail docking and ear cropping of dogs are illegal in all states and territories of Australia. There should be vigilance to ensure these practices are not occurring and that other possible cosmetic procedures do not become commonplace in the future.
Ear cropping is painful and completely unnecessary. Despite what some breeders will claim, cropping a dog's ears does not benefit them in any way. It can be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare in the short-term and in the long-term.
Legislation summary
Prohibited procedures relating to dogs are: ear cropping. debarking.
The Doberman was a guard dog. Having ears stand upright allowed for increased hearing capabilities. This was an important feature for a watchdog. Today, ear cropping in Dobermans is usually done to comply with show standards or simply for the owner's personal preference.
Dear Critter Corner: I was recently surprised to learn that Doberman Pinscher dogs have naturally long and curly tails and floppy ears. Every one I had previously seen has a short bobtail and sharp, pointy ears.
How Is Ear Cropping Done? In order for the ears to heal in the desired upright precision after surgery, they must be “posted” to a hard surface and taped until completely healed. Bandages need to be changed weekly, typically. The entire process can last from 4-8 weeks.
A: Tail docking is painful. The intensity or duration of the pain under ideal or typical circumstances is difficult to quantify.
Are Dobermans dangerous? Dobermans come in at number four for aggression. Their strength and intelligence can make them aggressive towards strangers and occasionally their owners.
However, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and British Veterinary Association (BVA) maintain that tail docking is painful and may negatively affect the development of a puppy's vulnerable nervous system. Additionally, poorly performed docking can lead to chronic pain.
Ear cropping is a painful mutilation that provides no benefit to the animal but is intended to give a dog a more aggressive appearance. Research into perceptions of dogs with cropped ears (and their owners) has found that both were seen as more aggressive (Mills et al. 2016).
Potential Complications—As for any incision, cropped ears may become infected. Cropped ears may also fail to stand or have a distorted shape or position potentially leading to subsequent operations.
Ear cropping is a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia. This is a purely cosmetic procedure and in no way necessary for the general welfare of your dog.
Cropping doesn't benefit the dog in any way and can actually be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare. The procedure is usually carried out for purely aesthetic or cosmetic reasons often because the owner wants to achieve a particular 'look'.
Doberman pinschers are considered people-oriented dogs that are affectionate and sweet with people, if socialized and trained properly. They are loyal to their owners and are good with children if raised with them; however, some Dobermans bond only to one person.
Doberman Pinschers are usually family/people-oriented, loyal, tolerant, and friendly dogs that get along very well with kids of all ages if properly trained and socialized. This is especially the case for a Doberman that has been raised with kids from a young age.
“When a dog bumps or nudges you with their nose, it is usually because they want your attention or they want something from you.” Your dog probably learned to bump you with his nose. If you pet him every time he nudges you, he'll learn that it's an effective way to get your attention.
Other breeds like Dobermans, Danes, and Boxers may require 4-6 months of proper taping after surgery until the ears will stand. The length of the time for ear posting varies based on breed, ear crop length, and genetics (which can influence ear leather and shape on individual dogs.)
In Roman times, dogs had their tails docked as a means to decrease the spread of rabies [9], while ear cropping was practiced to prevent ear damage during fighting and hunting [10].
In 2004, tail docking for non-therapeutic reasons was banned across Australia. Since then it has been illegal to dock dogs' tails unless there is a veterinary medical reason for the operation.
Any non-veterinarian who docks a dog's tail, or any veterinarian who docks for a reason other than the dog's welfare, is liable for prosecution. A maximum penalty of $14,375 applies for individuals and up to 5 times more for corporations. Dog tail docking is banned in all other Australian states and territories.
Dobermans do not have to have their tails docked. While a Doberman with cropped ears and a short docked tail is the traditional look for the breed, there is no requirement that owners need to get their Doberman's tail docked unless you plan to enter breed conformation shows.