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Sunnybrook Dobermans | |
Under Construction
EAR CROPPING
Doberman ears
naturally are long and floppy much like a black and tan
hound, in
the beginning ears were cropped very short so that if
or when they were attacked by an intruder there would be no
long floppy ear
flap to hold on to. Of course ,this no longer applies to
the household pets of today. One of the most difficult
decisions for many purebred dog owner is the one
relating to ear cropping.
Cropping your Dobermans
ears is a very personal choice and one that needs to be
given serious thought. You must be totally
committed to spending considerable amounts of money and
time for many months to get your puppies ears to stand
erect.
If you are going to show your Doberman in conformation classes you must crop your puppy at 6-9 weeks of age. The ear cropping procedure should not be performed after nine weeks because the ear cartilage is already "set" to lay flat and the blood vessels are too large. Please do not try and crop your Doberman puppy after 12 weeks of age! Many vets prefer to wait as long as possible because of potential adverse reactions of a small puppy to anesthesia, however the longer you wait the longer you will tape causing you and your puppy unnecessary grief and anguish. Many believe cropped ears have less incidences of ear infections, ear mites etc. and are just much cleaner like the "wild dogs" naturally erect ears. The cropping surgery will shorten and shape the ear so that it will be carried erect and in proportion to the dog's head and body, believe me this is a very artistic endeavor that your chosen vet must be fully able to successfully perform. Preoperative tests depend in part on the age and general health of the animal. Usually, most dogs are around 8 to 12 weeks of age and are healthy. Following anesthesia, the pet's ears are clipped and scrubbed with surgical soap to disinfect the area. An incision is made from the base of the ear, up the center and to the tip of the ear to remove the outer half of the ear.The ears are kept taped onto styro-foam cups until the sutures heal. Do not allow your puppies ears to fall down! The longer they are left down the longer they will take to get to stand up. If they are left too long, they may never stand correctly. One day is much too long. An hour or two at most is all you can wait. There is a great deal of controversy as to whether or not ear cropping is a humane practice. In the United States, the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights has recommended that the AKC and other breed associations delete mention of cropped ears from their breed standards. Currently, the choice is still yours.
Please get all the facts before making your decision. A lot of people prefer the unrecognizable "pet" look of an un-cropped Doberman and feel that it makes their dog appear friendlier and more approachable. You on the other hand may choose ear cropping to give him the breeds' standard
look. It is a
personal decision unless you plan to show. and current styles for your Doberman. And please don't forget: Your puppy will need to fast for twelve hours before the surgery. Food and water can cause vomiting and aspiration (inhaling of vomit) once the puppy is sedated. This can be fatal. Withhold food after dinner the night before his surgery. Although the procedure does require the puppy to be anesthetized, it may lessen your fears about cropping to know that the operation takes only 30 min. and the puppy is under anesthesia only for that time. The very first thing your puppy will want to do after being cropped is eat. Average taping time is approximately 4-5 months, please be prepared for it to take considerably longer. Puppies will usually have their ears up by the age of 6 - 7 months. Be prepared as some ears will not stand until the puppy is a year old if ever. Please be totally committed if you decide to crop your pets ears!
NEXT MONTH WE WILL HAVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AND PHOTOS
Dobermans Our Male Our Females Litter Box Feeding your Doberman Crate Training Doberman Temperament Vaccinations Introduction to the Doberman Doberman Pinscher Club of America Breed Standard
Sunnybrook Ranch 211 E Hatton Rd Tieton, Washington 98947 (509) 673-4561
Inner Strength He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. If a Dog Were Your Teacher....You would learn stuff like..... --Author Unknown--
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