Should I Crop My Dane’s Ears?

One question that often arises for new Dane owners is whether or not they should crop their puppy's ears.  The answer really boils down to aesthetics.  The cropped-ear look is what many people think of when they think of a Great Dane.  In fact, some people with natural-eared Danes report that they are often asked what kind of dog they have, when owners of cropped Danes don't have that issue as often.  However, the natural look is becoming much more common and much more popular in the U.S., despite the traditional cropped appearance. 

Is cropping cruel?

Cropping cannot be considered "cruel" in that it is done under anesthesia, and the puppy is given pain killers afterward to minimize the pain.  Newly-cropped puppies will cry out when they bump their ears on something, but the pain seems to be minimal and subside quickly. 

Cropping has been banned in several other countries, including many European countries as well as Australia and New Zealand.  The officials in those countries determined that cropping and docking were inhumane, and the procedure has been banned for several years.  The Unites States has not determined that cropping is inhumane or cruel.  The American Veterinary Medical Association, however, has put forth an official statement about cosmetic cropping and docking:  "Ear-cropping and tail-docking are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient. These procedures cause pain and distress and, as with all surgical procedures, are accompanied by inherent risks of anesthesia, blood loss, and infection. Therefore, veterinarians should counsel dog owners about these matters before agreeing to perform these surgeries."  In fact, many younger veterinarians will not perform an ear crop, and it is becoming more difficult to find a surgeon with enough experience willing to perform a crop.  Before hiring a vet for your crop, be sure to ask for references and see a portfolio.

The perception of other people also plays a role.  Many citizens are coming out against ear cropping.  If you crop your Dane, you may hear some negative comments from other people when you take your dog in public.  If this is a problem for you, you may want to take it into consideration when making your decision.

Is a cropped ear more healthy?
There has been a lot of discussion in the past about whether cropped ears are less prone to infection than a natural ear, due to the increase in air flow into the ear canal.  Many crop advocates claim that natural ears are more prone to infection, and that hematomas in the ear can even occur as a result of an ear-infected dog shaking its head.  However, there have been a few studies in recent years that dispel that rumor.  The fact is, both cropped ears and natural ears can become infected, and they should be cleaned weekly in order to mitigate that risk.  There's no health benefit to cropping ears.  There is, however, risk of reaction to anesthesia.

Will cropping make my dog head-shy?

Opponents of cropping have often argued that the continual taping process can make a puppy head-shy.  There is little truth to that rumor.  In fact, i own a natural eared Dane who had head-shyness problems, and i don't believe that cropping or not cropping is a significant cause of head-shyness. 

What about all the taping?

Taping ears on a Great Dane puppy with a long show crop can indeed be an ordeal.  It may take up to a year or more for the ears to stand properly, and they may never fully stand.  Sometimes the tip of the ear or even the whole ear will droop or sag.  And a failed crop looks worse than a natural ear to most people.  However, most people who are consistent with taping ears and have experience or the help of an experienced vet or breeder will have success.  It will just take time, patience, and consistency.

The shorter the crop, the shorter the time it will take for the ears to stand.  However, long crops are generally what people think of when they think of a Dane crop, and they take the longest to stand.  You'll need to decide what length of crop to get after you decide to crop the pup at all.

Will cropping make my dog mean?

No, cropping won't make your dog mean.  It can, however, make your dog appear meaner to some people.  The cropped look is a little more intimidating to some people.  It's my opinion, however, that someone who will be afraid of a cropped Dane will most likely be afraid of any Dane at all, just because of their size.

How much will it cost?

If your breeder hasn't already cropped your puppy before you purchased him/her, you'll need to hire a vet to do the surgery.  While you're at it, if you're a first time owner of a cropped dane pup, you may want to get an after-care package as well, so that the vet can do the taping.  A crop with aftercare is usually in the neighborhood of $500.

What if i want to show my pup?

In the U.S., cropped Danes are much more common in the show ring than natural-eared Danes.  Both types of Danes are acceptable in the ring, however.  It is generally considered more difficult to win in the ring and finish a championship with a natural Dane, however, so cropped ears are more common in the ring.  One reason it's more difficult to place a natural Dane is that, since most breeding Danes have cropped ears, breeders aren't breeding for proper natural earset.  Cropped ears cover a multitude of sins that a natural-eared Dane would show and be faulted for. 

Natural ears are becoming more common in the ring, however.  And as more natural Danes are shown, it will become easier to finish their championships as well.

When should I crop?

Cropping can be done anywhere between age 6 and 14 weeks.  Most vets won't crop past 12 weeks, and between 12-14 weeks those who will crop may require a shorter crop.

As I mentioned before, there are really no major health benefits or risks (other than anesthesia) associated with cropping Danes, and most people don't consider the practice to be cruel.  The real question is aesthetics.  Is the cropped look important enough to you to take on the additional cost and hassle of taping?  If so, then cropping is probably the right decision for you.  If not, then cropping is probably not right for you.