The Controversy of Cropping: Why Dobermans' Ears Are Cropped

A Doberman is one of the most distinct breeds because of its smooth, muscular body, which is contrasted by sharp expressions and pointy ears. The majority of people have no idea that the raised ears of a Doberman are surgically done and are actually known as an ear crop surgery. Such practice has been debatable in the entire canine fraternity and across. Well, to understand the reasons why Dobermans' ears are cropped, it is essential to trace the historical, functional, and aesthetic reasons why this most controversial procedure is brought into force.

Historical Background

Ear cropping has been done for centuries, originally for working dogs, such as Dobermans, for functional purposes. Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann first did the original breeding in the late 19th century for a German tax collector who needed a loyal, protective, and strong dog to accompany him on rounds. The breed was developed for purposes as a guard dog, police dog, and personal protector.

Originally, it was believed that the dog would be less injured in a fight with an intruder or wild animal if its ears were cropped. The logic was that since a dog's ears would stick up, they would reduce the chance of getting injured or grabbed during a fight; hence, therefore, minimizing the injuring risk in such a risky circumstance. It was also believed that cropping the ears increased a dog's hearing ability by reducing the amount of floppy disk that covered the ear opening, although this theory is neither biologically true nor supported by any scientific evidence.

 

Aesthetic Concerns

Nowadays, ear cropping is done for cosmetic reasons, making the features of the breed more diversified. The cropped ears of the Doberman, together with the docked tail, lend visual identity to the whole breed as an angry and alert, ready-for-anything-to-defend beast. Breeders and owners who support ear cropping also consider keeping to the traditional look not only something that is highly desirable in the show ring. There should be a sense of keeping to the original vision of the creator.

In fact, ear cropping is still done in many countries, such as the United States, especially on show dogs. In the United States, the American Kennel Club (AKC) allows the participation of Dobermans in conformation shows whose ears have been cropped; hence, to make this "mutilation" more in par with the standard appearance, many breeders have their dogs' ears cropped.

Health and Ethical Concerns

Of course, there is some historical and aesthetic justification for ear cropping, but that in no way demonstrates that the procedure is actually justified. The surgical cropping of part of the dog's ear is followed by taping the ears to a frame for several weeks while they heal erectly. Due to that process, it must be quite painful for the dog, and there are all the risks associated with any surgical operation mentioned: pain, infections, complications from anesthesia, and long-term discomfort.

On the other hand, animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, and many dog owners feel that these types of ear alterations are purely cosmetic and do nothing to enhance the health or well-being of the dog. This procedure has already been banned or restricted in the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other European countries because it was highly considered to be inhumane. For example, in these countries, uncropped, natural ears are perfectly acceptable and even preferred on show dogs.

 Pros

With society's views on animal welfare constantly evolving, ear cropping is being placed under greater scrutiny. In some locales, there is a trend toward keeping Dobermans and other historically cropped breeds in their natural state. Advocates for uncropped ears in dogs will say that a dog should not be appraised on the basis of a standard of style that has long since passed relevance. Instead, the dog should be judged by its health, temperament, and other abilities.

While clipping ears remains legal in around half of the states in America, a gradually higher percentage of veterinarians are now refusing to carry out this practice, and, one step at a time, public opinion is taking a turn towards natural ears. Social media and advertisement campaigns have in fact been very important in raising a potential dog owner's awareness of what really goes into cropping ears, posing doubts against such necessity and ethics in the first place.

Where cropping of Doberman ears maybe put into history, tradition, and aesthetics, it is no less controversial for that. However, while some believe that it secures the classic look of its breed, others regard this procedure as needlessly painful with no useful point to give the dog any benefits. As attitudes toward animal welfare continue to evolve, the future of ear cropping remains uncertain. But what is irrefutable is the fact that ear cropping for a dog should be with due consideration of risks versus benefits and should primarily have the welfare of the animal in mind.