Ear Cropping
The historic Value and the Current Whys
All About Me
The Crop
Beaucerons are born with floppy ears, similar to a Labrador or Catahoula Leopard dog. The ears are cropped so that they achieve the upright standing ear. There can be a lot of controversy surrounding this topic so we want to be as educational and sensitive as we can. It is prudent for all Beauceron owners and prospective owners to be fully educated on this topic so they can make the best choice for their dog and so that they can educate others who inquire (people always ask questions when they see a natural eared Beauceron or a puppy with tape on its ears).
We are in favor of maintaining our right of choice on this elective surgery and respect that others may choose differently than us. Extreme activists are lobbying to take away our choices and ban all cropping and docking. Please read and research for yourself. Don't just assume it is cruel or assume it looks better so it must be better. Find out why or why not. Some countries do not legally allow these practices but that does not mean they are unethical. Many of those same countries have exceptions to allow cropping and docking on dogs meant to do working sport/competition such as Schutzhund.
Aesthetics or Looks
First reason, let's talk aesthetics or looks... The look between the cropped and the un-cropped Doberman is very different. The cropped Beauceron has a more alert and impressively striking look. A Beauceron with floppy un-cropped ears is more the look of a hound dog with Beauceron markings - cute or goofy. If we compare the responses of cropped Beaucerons to un-cropped, we usually hear "gorgeous, beautiful" versus "cute, silly."
Puppies can look pretty cute with those floppy ears of theirs. But as they grow up it is likely the ear set will change. Some ear settings can result in complimentary style, but there is no way to predict or promise what type of ear setting may result as an adult dog. Often, the ear set will result in long hanging ears that droop, which detracts from the look of the chiseled head. Or they may mature into what is known as "rose ears." They stick out from the side or perk up from the front. The first thing that comes to mind may be "what a cute and goofy dog," which may fit the personality, but darasticaly changes the appearance.
Functional Consideration
Let's consider a more practical and functional side of things. When dogs play with each other, they go for the ears. The ears can be grabbed, bitten, torn, or impacted. If they are, it is very painful and they bleed a lot. This is why, even in a herding dog, the ears can be a huge liability. They may need to go through the thicket after a runaway sheep or even during a weekend hike.
If the ears are caught or torn or pulled hard enough, they are likely to bleed very heavily. The amount of blood alone could be a danger, but usually, wounds to an ear are not fatal. The vet would need to repair them in surgery and give antibiotics to prevent infection. They are likely to scar and the healing may result in unsightly abnormality of shape. Hemotomas can develop and require persistant. It could cost a lot to repair if the damage was serious enough.
Health Concerns
We can be concerned about ear infections. Floppy-eared dogs are notorious for having constant reoccurring inner ear infections due to restricted airflow. With daily care of cleaning the ears thoroughly, this risk can be reduced. Areas with a lot of humidity or moisture are more prone. Bacteria, mites, and ticks seek after dark, moist, and warm environments. The perfect home for these undesirables would be the inner canal of an ear covered by a flopping ear. These infections are painful and could cause hearing loss, even a ruptured inner ear. The cropped ear helps to allow more airflow and light which not only reduces or eliminates ear infection, but some studies show it intensifies their hearing as well.
Nature vs Natural
There is a lot of debate whether un-cropped ears are considered "natural" or not, because in nature there is no canine or animal that has naturally occurring floppy ears that close off the ear canal. The definition of natural is, "existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind." Look at the wolf, hyena, fox, coyote, etc and you will consistently see that mother nature has adapted these animals in the wild to have upright ears, or if the ears do come downward they are not closing off the canal in such a way that the man bred breeds of dogs of today do.
Un-cropped ears are often referred to as "natural" but that does not mean it is actually natural. Look at the English bulldog for example, not being able to mate or birth without human assistance. If we used the "natural" logic, this breed would be eliminated because it would not be "natural" for us humans to alter or assist the way they are.