Several breeds of dogs routinely have cropped ears. The most common of these are the Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Boxer, Schnauzer, Miniature Pinscher, Pit Bull Dogs, Cane Corso, and Presa Canario. Although most people have their dog’s ears cropped for cosmetic reasons, cropped ears that stand erect are less likely to develop infections due to improved air circulation.
Owners of potential surgery candidates should be aware that not all cropped ears stand erect. Often corrective surgery can be successfully performed on non-standing cropped ears. The three factors that contribute to the ear’s ability to stand are genetic predisposition (did the parent’s ears stand), after-care (training period), and the size and shape of the cropped ear. Because of so many variables, no guarantee can be given that cropped ears will stand. However, in the majority of cases, if the client diligently follows after-care instructions, most ears will stand erect.