How to get Doberman ears to stand up & train for protection?

Ear cropping is not necessary and is considered a cruel and unethical practice by most veterinarians these days. For more information about this procedure, I recommend you read the link below from the American Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/LiteratureReviews/Pages/Welfare-Implications-of-Ear-Cropping-Dogs-Backgrounder.aspx I would also consider adopting a doberman rather than buying one. It appears that there is more than one doberman rescue in IL. Below is a link to one. http://www.ildoberescue.com/ I hope that helps.

Hello, if the surgery is done well, with proper pain management, then there will be no noticeable changes to his behavior, height or health. Make sure the surgeon that does the ears has a good track record & has lots of referrals. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The ideal age for ear cropping varies by breed. 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. In the USA, ear cropping is a personal choice of the dog owner; in some countries the practice is banned. Cropping is an elective surgery with no medical benefit. Its only purpose is cosmetic.

Cute pups! There's a possibility that Tucker can have his ears tapped in order to make them stand up straight. There is a lot of variability in how ears are cropped and thus what methods are used to tape ears. You may start first by having Tucker examined by his vet to make sure the ear is not laying down due to a healed ear hematoma or other injury to the ear. Your vet may know about taping or they may know someone to refer you to. Another resource would be to reach out to a Cane Corso or an American Staffordshire Terrier breed association/club. They may be able to provide information about how to properly tape the ears for their breed standards. I hope this helps to get you started. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Ears are usually cropped between 8-12 weeks. Some vets won't do it because it is an unnecessary procedure. Surgically changing the conformation of a dog's ears is expensive, painful, and is not always successful. If you aren't going to show him in confirmation shows, there's no reason to put your puppy through ear cropping. Please consult with your veterinarian before putting your puppy through this elective procedure.

Ear cropping is not something I, or many other veterinarians recommend, because it is a painful procedure with potentially serious complications that provides no medical benefit. Ear cropping is only for aesthetics, which has led to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to have the position that it is an unneeded and cruel procedure. Below is a link to more information about ear cropping. https://www.vetinfo.com/dog-ear-cropping-procedures.html Given the strong opposition to ear cropping, it will be difficult to find a vet to do it. If you do find a vet to do it, then you can expect to pay anywhere from $300-$600 for the procedure. I hope that helps and all is well with the puppies.

Lulu is so adorable! Ear taping is when you actually tape the ears up into position to help them stand up straight. Ear cropping is a surgical procedure (for cosmetic purposes) to get the ears to stay straight up. Typically as dogs age their ears stand up the older they get. Sometimes you will have a dog whose ear may not stand up the way someone will want. If Lulu is just a family dog and just for you and your family to enjoy I wouldn't recommend either procedure since there is no medical reason for doing either of them. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.