Last Pictures Before Ear Cropping

[finn's mom]

She's a beautiful dog. Good luck with the ear cropping. It won't make her look mean, but, if you want to crop her ears, just be sure to take good care of them, it's a lot of work! People botch up those cropping jobs all the time, and, it really messes up the dog's appearance. There's absolutely nothing uglier than a dog with a jacked up ear cropping job. I'm personally against it, anyway, as I think it's an outdated practice, but, again, if you're going to do it, just make sure it's done correctly and that you put the time and effort into the maintenance. Good luck.

[Zany_girlie]

Awwww...shes so cute! I really dont understand why anyone would ever want to crop those cute floppy ears! They just give her a really innocent, cute, cuddley look!

[cyber-sibes]

Hello again. I know I already posted my support for this to be your decision, but I wanted to add to the "do cropped ears look more intimidating" debate.
I would say YES. When my husky puppy was in obedience classes, another very large breed dog (it was either a mastiff or a pyrenees) kept snarling & snapping & trying to grab her. The trainer explained that some dogs "interpret" perk (upright) ears to be a sign of aggression, so they respond more aggressively to dogs with standing ears. So, at least to another dog, she will look more aggressive. I think that with cropped ears, boxers/dobies look more "alert", you can see those ears swivel and lay back, in my opinion they just convey the dog's stance a little more clearly than flop ears. But, like mentioned, it's her teeth that will be getting the criminal's attention!

[Giselle]

Hello again. I know I already posted my support for this to be your decision, but I wanted to add to the "do cropped ears look more intimidating" debate.
I would say YES. When my husky puppy was in obedience classes, another very large breed dog (it was either a mastiff or a pyrenees) kept snarling & snapping & trying to grab her. The trainer explained that some dogs "interpret" perk (upright) ears to be a sign of aggression, so they respond more aggressively to dogs with standing ears. So, at least to another dog, she will look more aggressive. I think that with cropped ears, boxers/dobies look more "alert", you can see those ears swivel and lay back, in my opinion they just convey the dog's stance a little more clearly than flop ears. But, like mentioned, it's her teeth that will be getting the criminal's attention!

I just want to pop in and agree with you. Cropped ears DO make a dog look more intimidating (whether you want to admit it or not) because perked ears show signs of alarm and intent focus. Subliminally, when you see a dog with upright, perked ears and sharp eyefocus, you will think twice before approaching this particular dog. This is one of the reasons why Giselle is intimidated by perk-eared dogs herself. She never approaches GSDs.

Tim, once again, hope your puppy recovers quickly and thanks to you for staying so civil about this.

[Iilo]

I agree that cropped or naturally erect ears make a dog look more intimidating. Though personally I am attracted to dogs with naturally erect ears (Malamutes and GSDs being the two primary breeds in my life), I am also attracted to dogs who are usually cropped (Dobermans and Boxers). I personally think this comes back to the primary reason I have dogs: as a safety net/protection. Nobody messes with you if you've got an 80lb "wolf" walking next to you.

[Alasse]

Personally i'm against cropping or tail docking..it is of no benefit to todays dogs at all. I'm pretty sure its illegal here (i'd have to check)

My fella has floppy ears, but let me say people are scared of him. I take him for a walk and most people will cross to the other side of the road, or as far from him as possible. He makes no move toward them but he stares, i mean very very intently at anyone coming toward him and it is un-nerving obviously. His sheer size (50kg+) too is very offputting.

I don't find dogs with up ears or floppy ears any less intimidating, the thing i look at when approaching a dog is their eyes and hackles *LOL* I treat all strange dogs with respect.

[Danegirl2208]

i always hate seeing threads like this..We all have our on views and opinions, which is great.. but he did NOT ask to be criticized. If you want to debate about cropping why not start another thread? Once again good luck to you Tim, and to your baby girl..keep us updated please

[timlewis]

Awwww...shes so cute! I really dont understand why anyone would ever want to crop those cute floppy ears! They just give her a really innocent, cute, cuddley look!

EXACTLY, the cropped look is not for when someone is already trying to break in but rather just as they go by and they may see her in my yard and think how mean she looks. thank you all

[coco-bean]

People are Scared sh**less of coco and her ears are floppy! We know that she wouldnt hurt anybody but she just gets so excited to see new people that she ends up scaring them instead! I'd keep the floppy, theres no REAL reason that they need to be cropped accept for your pleasure! I understand that your family is your most important thing, but cropped or NOT cropped, when someone breaks into a house they are not looking to see who has the meanest Looking dogs, their just looking at this animal who could turn and attack at anytime if any one of the family members in harmed! So it doesnt matter if the ears are cropped, because dogs can guard a family with their ears floppy just as well as if the ears werent! Believe it or not, but theres alot of people who are scared of breaking into a house With a dog, they dont care what it looks like, all they know is "this house has A dog, stay away from it"! I just hope you dont, but i know it's your choice!

[Iilo]

Tim,

Just want to stop by and say I agree with your decision to crop her ears and also with your statement that way too many people here compare their dogs to humans. I am guilty of calling my two "kids," but I'm not under the impression that they are anything like what my own flesh and blood will be.

You've got a really cute puppy there... And as soon as she gets that goofy tape off her ears, I'm sure she'll be very intimidating. Also, even though she is a Boxer, were your wife and kids ever in danger, I'm sure she would protect them with her life.

[BC_MoM]

I think Tim has the right to do what he wants with his dog. I don't know much about cropping (like pain, if any, that the dog goes through, etc..).

Personally, I wouldn't crop a dogs' ears, but that just because I'm squeamish and just think it sounds gross! lol

Cropped ears won't make her look meaner, act meaner, etc, but it's Tim's dog, his rights.

I'm upset that PT would so strongly disagree with someone and their opinion. You can state yours, but no need to hijack the thread that was posted to just post pictures of a little cutie like this girl before she gets her ears cropped.

I'm not going to say anymore, as my opinions here are usually taken negatively or wrong. I'm afraid I've said too much already.

[Vela]

Well I don't think I was negative towards him at all, and I didn't hijack it, but I did give him very important necessary information about anesthetics in Boxers. I don't crop, I don't like it, but it's his dog. We don't have to agree with him but I think he is doing his best to learn about better foods and take good care of her, he wouldn't be here if he didn't. Not everyone feels the same about their animals, but that does not invalidate ANYONES feeling. Some see them as children, that is their right and perogative, some don't, same goes. As long as they take good and proper care of the dog, the rest is irrelevant.

I find it interseting some say cropping to show is fine, but not if you aren't going to. Well, dogs don't care about showing, it's done for the person, because they want to show. It doesn't benefit the dog, it benefits the person, so IMO it's the same thing.

I just hope Daisy comes out okay in the end and nothign happens during surgery. I'm sure Tim does what he feels is best for her and he obviosly cares or he wouldn't have come here to find out how to feed her better and make sure she's doing well.