Great Dane Ear Cropping

Great Danes are big dog breeds that have distinct characteristics and look very royal. Great Danes are athletic dogs that have a lot of courage and are hence also known as the 'Apollo of Dogs'. The Great Danes were bred in European countries for hunting wild boars, guard castles, pull carts and to even take part in battles. They were mostly used to hunt down the unpredictable European wild boars that were known for their formidable tusks. These tusks were so sharp that they could rip the dog to shreds.

The Great Danes are the tallest dog breeds that prove to be great house pets. The puppies tend to be a bit on the clumsy side, but the adults are surefooted. This is a gentle dog breed and tend to be a bit on the dominant side if not given a firm dog training and dog obedience sessions. It is important to teach the dog some manners as the dog is huge in size and improper training may create some problem for the owner. Ear cropping is an owners fancy to amputate their dog's ears. Personally, I do not support this gruesome practice of Great Dane ear cropping. This painful mutation was carried out in history for a purpose and not any cosmetic benefits.

History of Ear Cropping
As mentioned in the beginning of the article, Great Danes were bred in Europe as wild boar hunters. The wild boar could rip off the dogs ears with its tusks. To prevent any kind of injury to the animal, people carried out Great Dane ear cropping procedure. This gave the animal a majestic look that is still used as a breed standard. The standard even today states that the ears should be "identical in shape and length, with pointed tips. They are in balance with the head and not exaggerated in length. They are set high on the skull and carried perpendicularly at the inner edges, with as little bell as possible along the outer edges".

What is the Procedure?
The Great Dane ear cropping procedure involves an 8 to 16 week old puppy being put under general anesthesia. Then the vet cuts off about 50% of the ear. This helps in reshaping the ear, so that it stands upright as opposed to it natural way of hanging.

After the surgery is complete, the ears have to be taped upright for at least three months. Many times the ears are taped up for about a year. You need to change the tape every week and carefully observe if the ears are healing without any infections. But many times, the ear cropping does not end up the way it was supposed to look. You may find one ear stands straight and the other flops down. Or many times both ears flop down or stand at an angle. There are many styles that pet owners make their animals undergo. The longest cropping styles are found in Great Danes and Doberman Pinscher. This style is called the 'Doberman style' that begins at the second joint of the ear.

Ear Cropping Cost
Ear cropping cost is about 100 to 400 USD. Also, post surgery care takes about a year, so you may need to shell out more money according to the animals healing progress.

What is the Need for Ear Cropping?
People who are for ear cropping procedure feel it helps reduce the chances of ear canal infections. It also helps reduce the chances of hematomas that is, separation of the ear skin layers where the blood collects due to vigorous head shaking. Yes, ear cropping sure helps in reducing these dog health problems, but before you get your dog operated understand the other side of the coin.

Drawbacks of Ear Cropping
Ear cropping is a very painful procedure. Ears have a complex vascular system. Thus, ears can bleed profusely. It is a long procedure as you need to care for your dogs ears for up to a year. It is just a type of cosmetic surgery that helps satisfy the owner's pride and does nothing useful for the dog. Many term ear cropping as a type of animal abuse. In fact, Great Dane ear cropping procedure has been banned in most western European countries. It is only popular in North America today.

Ear cropping sure makes your dog look majestic and handsome. But, if you are not planning to enter your dog in dog shows, what is the point in making your dog go through this painful process. If you want to prevent the ear infections, take good dog care and avoid any type of problems. Personally, I would not want my dog to undergo so much trauma just to please my desire to have a better looking dog. If you feel, Great Dane ear cropping will help your dog, then it's your personal choice. Please visit a vet who is qualified and experienced in dog ear cropping.