The Ear Cropping & Spay/Neuter Truth No One's Talking About

Hey {{first_name}} , it's Gerald.

Since I've been breeding European Dobermans, I've watched two major debates turn into absolute circus shows: ear cropping and spay/neuter timing.

Everyone has an opinion. Few have the research.

Today, lets take a look at it from the POV of what the actual science says, not what Facebook groups think, not what your vet learned in school 20 years ago, but what peer-reviewed veterinary studies published in the last 5 years have proven.

What to Expect in This Issue

Why the "6 months for everyone" spay/neuter rule is outdated and potentially dangerous
The real data on ear cropping vs. infection rates (it's not what you think)
Doberman-specific health risks that change the entire conversation
What European laws mean for American breeders
The alternative procedures your vet probably hasn't mentioned

Reading time: 4 minutes

THE SPAY/NEUTER LIE THAT’S FINALLY BEING EXPOSED

For decades, vets told everyone the same thing: spay or neuter at 6 months. No exceptions. No discussion.

Turns out, they were wrong.

UC Davis just completed a 10-year study across 35 breeds. The results for Dobermans? Males neutered before 2 years showed a 6-fold increase in joint disorders. That's 23-24% versus 4% in intact males.

Six times higher.

Let that sink in.

The problem is hormones. When you remove testicles or ovaries before skeletal maturity, you're pulling the hormones that tell growth plates when to close. Bones keep growing longer than they should, joint angles get messed up, and by age 3-5, you're dealing with hip dysplasia, cruciate tears, and arthritis that could have been avoided.

The new recommendations for Dobermans:

Males: Wait until 24 months minimum
Females: Wait until at least 6 months, ideally longer
Small breeds under 20 lbs: 6 months is still fine

This isn't opinion. This is published research from one of the top veterinary schools in the world.

The business impact: If you're selling puppies with spay/neuter contracts that say "6 months," you need to update them. You're requiring something that could harm the dog and create liability for you when that buyer's vet explains what the research says.

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“AKC position: Supports cropping as "integral to breed character"

THE EAR CROPPING DEBATE YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE

Here's what the American Veterinary Medical Association officially says: "No substantiated benefits associated with ear cropping."

Here's what the data actually shows: 17.8% of floppy-eared dogs get ear infections versus 12.8% of erect-eared dogs.

Notice something? That's a difference. Small, but real.

The AVMA's position isn't based on medical outcomes, it's based on ethics. They oppose cropping "when done solely for cosmetic purposes." That's a values statement, not a medical one.

The legal reality:

Banned: All of EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, most of Canada
Legal: Entire United States (though 9 states require licensed vets and anesthesia)
AKC position: Supports cropping as "integral to breed character"
FCI position: Allows cropped dogs from countries where it's legal

The practical reality for American breeders:

Cropping is legal here and likely staying that way
Fewer vets are willing to do it (it's not taught in vet schools anymore)
Cost has gone from $400-500 to $600-1,200 depending on your area
Timing window for Dobermans is 7-9 weeks. After that, success rates drop

I crop. I've been cropping for 16 years. But I also tell every buyer: if you want natural ears and your male has the head structure to carry them, I'm not going to argue. The dog's health matters more than my aesthetic preference.

THE ALTERNATIVE YOUR VET PROBABLY HASN’T MENTIONED

There's a middle ground most vets don't know about: ovary-sparing spay and vasectomy.

Ovary-sparing spay removes the uterus but keeps the ovaries. Result? No pregnancy, no pyometra (the #1 killer of intact females), but hormones stay intact. A 2023 study showed dogs with longer hormone exposure had fewer health problems and longer lifespans.

Vasectomy for males does the same thing - prevents reproduction, keeps testosterone.

Why don't vets offer these? Because they're not taught in vet school. Traditional spay/neuter is the standard. But if you're breeding working dogs or performance dogs, hormone-sparing procedures are worth discussing.

Cost comparison:

Traditional spay: $250-600
Ovary-sparing spay: $800-1,500
Traditional neuter: $200-500
Vasectomy: $400-800

More expensive upfront. Potentially thousands saved in orthopedic surgery and cancer treatment down the road.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM

If you're writing puppy contracts, update your spay/neuter requirements to match current research:
- Specify minimum age based on breed size
- Allow for veterinary recommendations (some vets are up to date, some aren't)
- Consider offering hormone-sparing options for performance homes
If you're educating buyers, send them the UC Davis research. Don't rely on "because I said so." Give them the data and let them make informed decisions with their vet.
If you're importing from Europe, understand that cropped dogs are banned in most of those countries now, but you can still legally crop here. Just don't plan on showing cropped dogs at FCI events in Europe.
The bottom line: The old rules don't apply anymore. The research has changed. The laws are changing. And breeders who stay stuck in "this is how we've always done it" are going to get left behind - or sued.

P.S. — For Breeders Who Crop

If you're planning to crop your next litter, I put together a Free resourece that might help.

It's the "How to Prevent Cropping Failures: 30-Day Recovery Roadmap" and it covers everything from surgery day through the first posting - medication schedules, infection warning signs, posting transitions, and when to call the vet.

This has been created after fielding the same post-op questions for years.

It's not a replacement for your vet's instructions, but it fills in the gaps most vets don't have time to explain.