What's the ideal age for a dog to have its ears cropped or clipped?

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 generally done when puppies are very young, so this is likely the case. It is not usually done on adult dogs or older puppies (and the process is being moved away from on all dogs of any age) unless there is a medical necessity for it.

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.

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.

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.

Ear cropping is illegal in the UK. You'll likely not find a veterinarian to perform the procedure unless there is a distinct medical need or reason. Protection training should be done by a certified professional. It can take months to years of consistent training to properly (and safely) train a dog for protection work. Contact local trainers for more information.

Please please do not have someone who isn't a vet clip Shell's ears! This will be EXTREMELY painful for her, and the stress and pain of this could potentially lead to a miscarriage. In addition, this person will not have access to safe pain medication or anesthesia. This type of procedure should only be done under anesthesia with a vet. I cannot stress enough how painful this procedure is to a dog, and to have it done to Shell by a lay person would be cruel. I very strongly urge you not to have this done at all by a lay person, and only have it done after she has had her puppies and weaned them.