Doberman Pinscher Ear Cropping

This page is dedicated to learning more about ear cropping for Dobermans.

What are the Doberman standards regarding ears?

The official breed standard set by the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) and recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) describes the ears as normally cropped and erect.

However, AKC does allow Dobermans with natural ears to compete in conformation and preference events with no penalties.

Should I leave my Doberman’s ears natural or not?

Ear cropping should not be an option without considering all the factors.

(1) Ear Infections. A family should not decide to have their Dobe’s ears cropped just to prevent ear infections. Ear infections are a common issue. Leaving the ears natural does not increase the risk of ear infections. The same goes for ear cropping. Cropped ears do not decrease the risk of ear infections.

(2) Ear cropping is a financial commitment. Ear cropping is not cheap. They range from $450 to $1,500. This is only the ear cropping fee. Unfortunately, for Dobermans, cropping their ears does not equate to erect ears immediately. Dobermans’ ears are naturally down. Therefore, one must tape them every week or two to help them be erect. This process can take from 3 months to 12 months, depending on the type of crop, consistency, and method of ear taping. If you wish your vet to tape the ears (not all vets offer this option), it can range from $30 to $60 per visit. Let’s do the math.

If you go every week for 5 months (the average it takes for the ears to stand), it will range from $600 to $1,200.

Of course, you can tape the ears yourself. However, it can be difficult for someone who does not have experience. Some families do proceed with this route to cut costs.

(3) Ear cropping does not guarantee that the ears will stand.

Unfortunately, going through all the above does not mean the ear will stand up. Sometimes families are not consistent with the ear cropping, or the ear “breaks”. Breaking is common. Breaking for ears means the ear can flap halfway. This occurs when ear taping is not done consistently or/and properly.

There are times ears won’t stand due to genetics as well. Hence, it’s recommended to see if the parents’ and/or other family members’ ears are erect.

Overall, ear cropping does not guarantee that the ears will stand. Therefore, before deciding if you wish to have your dog’s ear cropped, please consider the information above.

Age Recommended for Ear Cropping?

Ear cropping should be done at 8 to 12 weeks old. The ideal age is 8 to 10 weeks old.

After 12 weeks old, the puppies’ ear cartilage has hardened. This decreases the possibility of their ears standing.

Before 6 weeks old, it will be difficult for the veterinarian to see the future proportions of the ear. This can lead to unusual ears when the puppy is older.

Recommendations:

This button is to our Google spreadsheet of recommendations. It shows a list of ear-cropping vets our families recommend.

Ear Cropping Recommendations

This button is for our Google Doc of recommendations. These are vet clinics to stay away from.

Stay Away

Warning Signs:

During the healing process, please watch out for the following:

Redness, swelling, or warmth around the crop line
Yellow, green, or foul-smelling discharge
Strong odor from the wound
Excessive scratching, whining, or signs of pain

If you notice any of these symptoms, remove the ear taping and clean the wound. In addition, contact your veterinarian. Early intervention is the best way to prevent complications and ensure proper healing.

Materials Needed for Ear Cropping:

TORBOT Liquid Bonding Cement.

This is commonly used for ear taping for Doberman Pinschers. We have been using this since 2010.

Porous Athletic Tape

This ensures the skin can breathe and decreases the chances of infections.

This is commonly used for ear taping for Doberman Pinschers. We have been using this since 2010.

Goo Gone Skin Adhesive Remover

This helps remove any of the glue from the previous ear taping.

We have been using this since 2025.

Tip: Once you remove the ear taping, add this to the ears that have the adhesive. Leave it for 5 minutes. Then gently pull the adhesive. It will fall off.

Uni-Solve Adhesive Remover

This helps remove any of the glue from the previous ear taping.

A family member recommended this.

Durvet 3 Bottles of Chlorhexidine Solution

This is a powerful antiseptic and disinfectant used to kill bacteria and germs.

A family recommends this option instead of the wipe.

Chlorhexidine Wipes

This is a powerful antiseptic and disinfectant used to kill bacteria and germs.

We have been using this lately and enjoy it.