Doberman Natural Ears: How It Affects Their Temperament And More!

Dobermans are known for their signature short, straight ears and docked tails, which can make them look quite scary and unapproachable!

However, did you know that these dogs are naturally born with uncropped ears? Though Dobermans with long ears and short ears may seem like different species, they actually belong to the same breed, and the cropped ear look is achieved with surgery!

Nowadays, more and more dog owners are opting to keep their Doberman's ears natural and forgoing the cropping procedure. Historically, short Doberman ears were seen as the norm, not only for this specific dog but for many breeds! Nowadays, however, these canines are being left to grow into their natural bodies. Interested in learning more? Read on to find out!

The Necessity Of Doberman Ear Cropping

If you've ever seen a Doberman with uncropped ears, you might just end up not recognizing it! Over the years, the image of Dobermans has been conditioned to be that of a tough guard dog breed with straight ears and a docked tail. No, this is not natural, and these dogs are actually born with long, floppy ears and tails similar to those of Labradors!

So why exactly are most of these dogs found to have stick straight ears and no tails? The Doberman breed is, in fact, relatively new and was developed only in the 1880s in Germany. They were initially bred to be aggressive guard dogs. However, have become a more family-friendly breed over the years. They were initially bred from various other aggressive dog breeds, specifically to become alert watchdogs who were used to guard houses and other establishments.

Over the years, breeders have toned down the aggression and viciousness of these breeds in order to make them family dogs rather than for use as guard dogs. This works well, as their naturally friendly and obedient personalities make them amazing pets! Dobermans are naturally loyal, loving, and get along very well with children and other pets.

Though Doberman ear and tail cropping were thought to be a necessity in the past, that is not really the case anymore. Dobermans with short, straight ears tend to look scarier and more intimidating to intruders, but that was not the only reason they were cropped.

In the past, breeders thought that cutting these dogs' ears to make them shorter would help them hear better by removing the extra flap of skin around them. This would increase their range of hearing and alertness, making them much better at their jobs. Their tails are docked for the same reason: to prevent any intruders from grabbing onto them and incapacitating them while trying to break into someone's property.

Though these measures are not really necessary anymore and have also been branded as being quite cruel toward the dogs, many people still get their Dobermans' ears and tails clipped for aesthetics, as it has become their signature look over the years.

Doberman Ears: Cropped Vs Uncropped

The Doberman pinscher breed naturally has long ears, like a Labrador retriever! If you have ever seen a Doberman puppy, you may not immediately be able to recognize it if it has not had the tail and ear cropping surgery performed on it.

Cropping or not cropping, this breed's ears do not really play an important role in their temperament—only in their looks. Though Dobermans with cropped ears may look quite scary and intimidated, as their ears have been modified to be so, they may not actually be vicious if not trained as guard dogs.

Temperament And Ear Cropping

The procedures of ear cropping and tail docking do not seem to have any effect on your pet's temperament. These surgeries are simply done to make the Doberman look more threatening. However, if it has been bred to be loving and calm, then carrying out these procedures will not affect any of that.

The way a Doberman is bred and trained affects its temperament more than ear cropping does. Most modern Dobermans are bred to be family dogs, so the viciousness level has been dialed down considerably by breeders. The only time when ear cropping actually serves a purpose is to make the dog look tougher and improve its hearing so that it can be constantly alert, which is not necessary for family dogs!

Doberman Ear Cleaning

Regardless of whether you get your pet's ears cropped or not, taking care of their ears is very important to prevent any infections.

Make putting ear drops into your pet's ears and gently cleaning them out a part of its regular grooming routine. You must start this process at a young age so that they become used to it by the time they grow up. Cleaning your dog's ears is a very crucial part of grooming, as trapped dirt can accumulate and become smelly, or block their hearing. Thoroughly rinse out their ears every two to three weeks.

If your dog seems to have a build-up of excessive wax in its ears or ear mites, then book an appointment with the vet immediately to sort out the issue.

One advantage of ear cropping is that it makes ear care much easier and reduces the risk of infection in these animals. It is much easier to thoroughly clean out your dog's ears when the extra flap of skin isn't covering it. However, even if they remain uncropped, you must make sure to keep them very clean by carefully cleaning out every fold of their ears.

Doberman Puppy Ears

Despite what many people think, Doberman puppies are actually born with long ears as well as a long tail! Read on to find out is the appropriate age to crop a Doberman's ears.

Ear cropping is usually done at the age of 8-12 weeks, after which the ears are slowly trained to stand up straight by wrapping them in a certain manner. The procedure itself takes around five to six months to heal, but it takes at least a year of care to help them become permanently straight.

Dog Ear Health

If you decide to get your Doberman's ears cropped, then it is very important to follow certain guidelines for aftercare so that there are no complications or risks of infection after the procedure is done.

Make sure to sensitize your dog to regular handling of its ears since puppyhood, as you will be touching and cleaning its ears a lot. If you get the ear cropping procedure done, make sure to clean the ears gently with a hydrogen peroxide solution to keep them clean. This is usually done after an initial healing period, which your vet will inform you about.

Cropping Your Dobermans Ears

In the end, the decision to crop or keep your Doberman's ears uncropped is completely up to you. There is no necessity to have the procedure performed anymore, with many people even citing it as being completely unnecessary in relation to the dog's temperament and well-being. Even dog shows have begun to allow dogs with uncropped ears to participate, though this was not the case before, because of the backlash against mandatory ear cropping.

If you do decide to have your pet's ears cut, make sure to go to a reputed and trusted veterinarian. It's very important that the procedure be done properly, and proper aftercare be taken, as their ears need to be taped properly for a prolonged period of time in order to give them the signature Doberman ears.

The procedure itself is fairly simple and simply involves trimming and stitching up the ears under general anesthesia. Most vets will tape the ears or attach some sort of support to them afterward to help give them shape. Though the procedure may cause some initial pain, a properly done surgery will have no lasting side effects or long-term pain.

There's also a high risk of contracting ear infections after the ear cropping procedure, so you should be ready to clean and change the dressing on their ears regularly to promote safe healing.

All in all, remember to love your dog no matter what, and help nurture it to become affectionate and loyal, cropped ears or not. A pet's worth must not depend on its appearance, but on how much it means to you and your family!