Ear Cropping FAQs

This is a personal decision. Ear cropping is not right for every dog, and it is not right for every person who owns a dog. We recommend a consult appointment with our veterinarian if you are unsure about whether or not to crop. There is a tremendous amount of aftercare involved to make sure the ears stand properly, and an owner who is not committed to being diligent about the aftercare, should probably not crop their pet. A consult appointment will give you the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of ear cropping with our doctor, and help you to make the best decision for your new puppy.

The answer to this question will depend very much on the breed of the dog. In general, however, with few exceptions, no puppy will ever be cropped at our office after 5 months of age. In general, Dobermans and Danes are cropped between 7 and 9 weeks of age. Boxers are cropped between 9 and 12 weeks. Pit bulls are done between 3 and 4 months of age. Smaller breeds like min pins and miniature schnauzers are cropped older — around 4 months of age. For all other breeds, you will need to contact us directly. These age estimations are based on the average size of the puppy and the average ear size for that breed at that age. Individuals can vary, and we prefer pet owners to call us so we can help determine the optimum age for each individual pet.

On the day of the surgery, we apply bandages to both ears that post them in the upright position. We recheck 4 days after surgery for a bandage change and 12 days after surgery for 2nd bandage change and suture removal.

A perfect crop can be a flop if the aftercare is not handled correctly. Most pit bulls, amstaffs, min pins, and miniature schnauzers require only 3 or 4 taping appointments and the ears will stand. Other breeds like Dobermans, Danes, and boxers may require 4-6 months of proper taping 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.), you may be posting 6 months to a year depending on the pet. We prefer that clients return to us for all the posting — it is important to us that the aftercare is handled properly so that the outcome of the cropping is the best possible.

If you are looking for a particular look, we would recommend an ear crop consultation appointment. Each crop is done to compliment an individual dog’s look. Ear crops are designed based on an individual dog’s head, ear length and quality, the purpose of the pet (show or companion), and based on breed-specific standards.