My husband and I got our first Dobe 8 months ago (she is 10 months now). We didn't really care if the ears were cropped or not but preferred not. We got her natural ears and docked tail. We have so many laughs at her expense. Her ears are like helicopter blades, always twirling around. Sometimes she looks like the 'flying nun'. I can see why people cut 'em off! But we wouldn't change a thing.
Love my Dobe,
Lynn

It's true; those natural ears ARE "floppers" for sure! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I don't think the average person realizes just how large they can be <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />. Not all of them are the same, but if someone is involved in any competitive sport with their Dobe it really IS more difficult to do well with a natural-eared dog; at least in this country. They were a cropped breed even before their type was fully established. At least now the crops are much longer and are more expressive. My bias is what it is because I know that the breeders that don't crop tend to skimp on other things as well. Cropped ears are almost an indicator of how much the breeder cared. Not always though, for sure. We've had puppy customers ask if we'd be willing to leave the ears natural on their pup and we were willing; but they always seem to change their mind right at the last minute and have it done. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I must be 'conditioned', because I never, ever, saw a cropped Dobe, in UK or abroad, until I was in my 20s and saw 'em as vicious guard dogs on US television 'cop' programmes.
(And Dobes were not exactly uncommon.)
I assumed they were cropped to make 'em look scary!

To me they looked horrible then (regardless of any ethical considerations), and, not surprisingly, they still do... and the longer, the 'horribler' <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
And Great Danes...... even worse, if that's possible.

There's not going to be agreement on this, and that's fine. If everybody agreed with each other it would be a pretty boring world. With an issue this polarized, it seems there can be no middle ground. Food for thought though: How many WILD canid animals have floppy ears? None. Nature selected upright ears. People are the reason that floppy ears exist. As a former groom, I can attest to all of the ear problems the longer-eared dogs have. I know of a Spaniel that went deaf because of cronic ear infections. But my; those ears sure were pretty. Floppy ears just aren't practical on a working dog.

"Floppy ears just aren't practical on a working dog" <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

So are none of the gun-dogs, hounds, herding dogs, etc, "working dogs"?

The majority of them, I think, have 'folded', or 'pendant' ears.
I agree that spaniels' and other 'dangly' ears are often a problem, but not, surely, Labradors, foxhounds, pointers, Weimeraners, (Dobermans!), etc ??

Of course we won't agree about the desirability of cropping, but I really don't think such a sweeping statement as quoted above is valid.

I agree that my statement was perhaps too "sweeping"; my reference was intended to mean the guarding/schutzhund breeds. These dogs tend to have naturally upright ears, cropped ears, or small folded ears for a reason. And yes; I saw MANY problems with the breeds you mentioned; less with Labs, but lots of Weims, and foxhounds (hounds in general, actually) and Goldens. Spaniels were the worst, for sure.

 Quote:

"Floppy ears just aren't practical on a working dog" <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />.......So are none of the gun-dogs, hounds, herding dogs, etc, "working dogs"? .... The majority of them, I think, have 'folded', or 'pendant' ears. ....... I agree that spaniels' and other 'dangly' ears are often a problem, but not, surely, Labradors, foxhounds, pointers, Weimeraners, (Dobermans!), etc ?? ..... Of course we won't agree about the desirability of cropping, but I really don't think such a sweeping statement as quoted above is valid.

That one kinda struck me, too. I definitely consider my working earth dog granddogs as "working." They are Border Terriers with pendant-type ears.

Just one small example to add to your list.

NEVER saw any ear problems on terriers <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yep, I grew up with Standard Dachshunds for 25 years & never once did any of them have an ear infection -- But my naturally prick-earred Akita has waged an on-again-off-again battle with yeast otitis for almost a year, so there's a double stat-buster (go figure!)...

It can happen that way; for sure <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> When I make my "sweeping" generalizations they are only based on stats and what I personally have seen. In truth, ANYTHING is possible. I have a rescue Dobe with cropped ears (she came that way) who STILL gets ear infections all the time. The only bonus there is it's easier to treat. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />