Ear cropping has been a method of making dogs apear more intimidating.
Often used on guard dogs and as a cosmetic requirement in certain show breeds, ear cropping is the procedure wherein the size of a dogs ears are significantly reduced surgically to prevent drooping.
Early Use
According to a 2003 article by Amy L. Broughton published by the Michigan State University College of Law, the early Romans believed ear cropping and tail docking prevented rabies.
Inherited Traits
During the Middle Ages and through the end of the 1700s, many people believed that by cropping a dog's tail and ears, its offspring would be born with those characteristics, said Broughton. This was in line with Lamarck's theory of acquired characteristics, the precursor to Darwin's theory of evolution.
Work-Related Injuries
Long-tailed or floppy-eared dogs used for hunting, fighting, or watching flocks were considered to be at greater risk of injury, said Robert K. Wansbrough, whose article on docking was published in the Australian Veterinary Journal in 1996. Ears were cropped to reduce a fighting or hunting dog's vulnerability.
Dog Shows
According to a paper by Alice Crook, hosted by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, dog shows cannot allow animals with cropped ears to compete in the United Kingdom under kennel club rules established in 1898. In the United States, standards still encourage --- and sometimes require --- certain breeds to have cropped ears in order to be shown.
Debate
In the late 1990s a debate warmed over whether cropping was cruel or simply a cosmetic procedure that the dog wouldn't notice. The American Veterinary Medical Association released a statement in 1999 saying veterinarians were required to inform pet owners of certain risks associated with the procedure.
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