A crop question for those who know

[Kat09Tails]

A friend of mine recently got their am staff pup cropped at an age that surprised me (almost 6 months old). Now I admit I know little about cropping but it seemed bizarrely late - or does it change from breed to breed and crop type? Also is there a reason that a short crop (with less concern about the ears being taped up) would need to be done at an early age vs an older pup?

 

[Saeleofu]

I think at such a late age, the only crop that has a chance of working is a short crop like for an amstaff. Just feeling Gavroche's ears, if his were to be cropped like an amstaff even now they're probably look like the crop intends. But 6 months does seems really late.

We had a dobe come into the clinic for a crop at 8 months old before. They wanted them super tall too. There's no way that would have actually worked, so we never did it.

We had an APBT come in a few weeks ago that had suture in the ears leftover from a crop, and the dog was 2 or 3 years old. I don't know if the dog was cropped very late, or if they just never had the suture taken out :yikes: It looked like the latter situation, though.

 

[noodlerubyallie]

I know in Bostons they wait until the dogs are older before cropping - they wait to see if the ears will stand correctly on their own.

Dobes are before usually done before 9 weeks.

Those are the only two I'm sure about....but I'd assume the younger the better if the ears are floppy. If they are floppy, the cartilage will start to "set" with age, making it much harder to get the ears to stand at a later date.

If the ears are upright, then cropping would work out better at an older age.

It depends on the breed, length of ear, type of ear, and the type of crop.

Rocket has a long show crop....it has to be done very early and posted correctly afterwards to get the look desired.

 

[colliewog]

I've seen quite a few "late" crops in the APBTs and all have stood nicely (they were show dogs whose natural ears weren't laying right).

 

[SizzleDog]

Long ears (i.e. dobes, danes, boxers etc.) are done at before 8 weeks. Any later and your'e asking fro trouble.

Boston crops - as NRA said, they're done at 8-9 months IIRC.

APBT crops - I've seen some pretty late ones, like what you describe. Some stand really well, some don't.

 

[MericoX]

I could be remembering wrong, but I was told no later than 16 weeks for a schnauzer (I was considering it with Stryder with his hound-dog ears).

 

[stafinois]

Grant's brother was cropped a bit later, probably around 6 months. They were going to leave his ears natural so that he could show in Europe. But then, this happened...

Much better!

He wouldn't have had much of a show carrier with those ears. After the crop, he became an AKC champion and UKC Grand Champion. Later he went to Europe and became a champion in Luxemburg and Belgium.

 

[CharlieDog]

THAT is the kind of AmStaff I would love to have.

 

[Saeleofu]

OMG those ears are adorable :rofl: Granted I don't think the judges would agree...

 

[SisMorphine]

Grant's brother was cropped a bit later, probably around 6 months. They were going to leave his ears natural so that he could show in Europe. But then, this happened...

Much better!

He wouldn't have had much of a show carrier with those ears. After the crop, he became an AKC champion and UKC Grand Champion. Later he went to Europe and became a champion in Luxemburg and Belgium.

As picky as I am about ears (because I will admit that I can't STAND the dropped ear look on bully breeds), I think that his prick ears were ****ing AWESOME and ADORABLE! It's too bad that they had to crop them to be able to show and get anywhere. I always find it absurd that a dog can be judged on natural ear set, but if the dog's ears are cropped the ear set judgement can be thrown out the window. Absurd.

 

[Kat09Tails]

The stitches and the tape came off today and they are ears that stand lol. I do admit, I miss her natural ears which were a balanced half prick but alas, not my dog and my opinion matters not in this case.

 

[stafinois]

The stitches and the tape came off today and they are ears that stand lol. I do admit, I miss her natural ears which were a balanced half prick but alas, not my dog and my opinion matters not in this case.

Curious, where did the dog come from? I'm from your neck of the woods and know most of the Staf people up there. Were they hoping to keep the ears natural?

 

[Kat09Tails]

I'm not one to identify people without their permission but I can say she came from a local breeder. I can't speak to the quality of these dogs, I assume they're good because the pedigree is mostly champions for whatever that's worth.

I know her intent was conf and that likely had something to do with the decision. I was just surprised she waited so late to crop. The more I checked into it though the more it became apparent that it doesn't matter as much in am staffs when you crop.