Cane Corsos are well known for being excellent guard dogs and physically for their lean, muscular body frame as well as cropped ears that give them a fierce look.
The Cane Corso’s cropped ears are a very distinctive feature of the breed which gives them a striking and intimidating appearance.
A Cane Corso with cropped ears had their ears clipped to make them have this appearance.
So, what are the different Cane Corso ear cropping styles?
Read on to learn more on Cane Corso ear cropping, the different Cane Corso ear cropping styles, the cost and whether you should crop your Cane Corso’s ears.
Cane Corso Ear Cropping: What Is Ear Cropping In Cane Corsos?
Cane Corso ear cropping is the surgical partial removal of a Cane Corso’s external ear flap and the remaining part of the ears trained to stand upright by taping. The Cane Corso ear cropping age is between 7 – 9 weeks old when the puppies’ ear cartilage is still flexible and malleable for cropping.
The cropped ears give a Cane Corso their distinctive appearance by having pointed ears giving a fierce and attentive look.
The Cane Corso is among dog breeds that have their ears cropped including the Great Dane, Cane Corso, American Bulldog, American Pitbull, Boxers, Schnauzer and Boston Terriers.
Why Do Cane Corsos get their ears cropped?
Dog ear cropping procedure has a long history where it was mainly performed on working dogs bred for hunting, herding, or those used in dog fighting competitions.
Cane Corso ear cropping was considered important and the reasons for it include:
Prevention of ear infections
It was widely believed that ear cropping enhanced the health of dogs such as the Cane Corso by decreasing ear infections.
The belief behind this was that floppy ears made moisture accumulate within the ear canals which encouraged bacterial or fungal infections.
By cropping the ears, the ear canal was open and airy which discouraged moisture from accumulating and prevented ear infections.
This may have been the belief in the past for ear cropping, however, studies have shown that there is no correlation between a dog’s cropped ears and the decrease in infection or severity of the infection.
Protection
Hunting, fighting, or guard dogs also had their ears cropped to prevent their prey or targets such as bears, boars, or other dogs from getting a hold of their ears and causing injury.
Intimidation
Dogs with cropped ears are also perceived to be more aggressive and intimidating compared to dogs with floppy ears.
Based on this, many Cane Corso owners also prefer to crop their dog’s ears to have this appearance.
Related: Why is my Cane Corso becoming aggressive?
Improved hearing
Ear cropping was believed to improve a dog’s hearing ability through the lifting of the ear flap for a dog to be able to hear better.
They enhanced their ability to hear their targets or opponents, especially during hunting, or herding.
Aesthetic and cosmetic purpose
Cane Corso ear cropping was also performed to enhance a dog’s appearance by being aesthetically pleasing. Today ear cropping is done for this cosmetic purpose.
Ear cropping practice has also been passed on through many generations and it is now a breed norm for Cane Corso Pinschers to have clipped ears.
Cane Corso owners and some breeders continue to maintain this breed standard and it is the most common reason for Cane Corso ear cropping today.
Natural Cane Corso Ears
Natural Cane Corso puppy ears are typically medium-sized, triangular, floppy and fall to the side of their head. They are broad at the base and taper to a slightly rounded or pointed tip.
Cane Corso puppies are not born with upright ears, the ears can stand upright only with surgery.
The ear flap also known as the pinna is soft, pink and silky on the inside while the outside area is covered with fur.
The Cane Corso ears are made of muscles that are attached to cartilage and the position of the ear flap is controlled by the muscles.
A Cane Corso with cropped ears therefore has their ears cropped to have pointed erect ears. At the age of 7 to 9 weeks puppies are at the age of having new owners from the breeders.
You may find some breeders have had their puppies already cropped and some will still have their natural floppy ears.
You may decide to purchase a puppy with clipped ears or have your puppy with natural ears cropped by your veterinarian.
Cane Corso Cropped Ears: The Best Cane Corso Ear Cropping Styles
There are three different Cane Corso ear crop styles. The ear crop styles vary in length and shape, giving a Cane Corso the distinctive wolf-like appearance.
The best Cane Corso ear cropping styles are:
Battle crop
The Battle crop style is the shortest in length with a white base crop. This means that a lot of the floppy ears’ area is cut off to have a short length with a short wide triangular base.
The edges of the remaining ear tissue are often left jagged or uneven, resembling a rougher, more “battle-worn” appearance.
It is a style that is commonly seen in Cane Corsos that do not participate in dog shows.
This gives a Cane Corso an intimidating appearance. It is often recommended for Cane Corso owners who desire a fierce appearance for their dog.
The style takes a short time for the ears to heal and stand.
Short crop
The short crop style of the Cane Corso ears is a little longer with a small base compared to the Battle crop style.
The ears are medium sized length. It is a style whose length is between the Battle crop and the Show crop. This cropping style takes longer for the ears to heal compared to the Battle crop style.
Show crop
For a conventional presentation of your Cane Corso, especially in dog shows, the show crop is the optimal choice. The ears are designed to enhance the appearance of a Cane Corso in conformation shows.
This style showcases a complete set of ears that are meticulously trimmed, and being longer than the Battle crop and short crop.
The ears are usually shaped with a more pronounced curve or bell shape, tapering to a point.
Long crop
The long crop style gives a Cane Corso the longest cropped ears. The style is narrower than the other ear crop styles.
This is achieved by retaining most of the ear length, maintaining the ear’s length. The ears look like long curved silhouettes.
The disadvantage of this style is healing takes a long time and has no guarantee that the ears will stand as desired after healing.
Cane Corso Ear Cropping Process: How are Cane Corso ears cropped?
Ear cropping is usually performed on Cane Corso puppies aged 7-9 weeks with underdeveloped ear cartilage. The procedure takes 30 – 45 minutes to complete.
A puppy should be kept from eating at least 12 hours before the surgery is done.
During the procedure, a puppy is put down with general anesthesia. The ears are then washed to disinfect the area before surgery.
Depending on the ear crop style selected, measurements and marks are made on the areas of the ear that will be cut.
The veterinarian then cuts away the unwanted ear tissue and closes up the incision with sutures. The ear is then taped to a hard surface to train them to stand upright and heal.
Cane Corso ear cropping aftercare: What does it involve?
The Cane Corso ear cropping aftercare has a high impact on whether the ears will stand up properly or not.
The aftercare involves time and commitment on the part of the owner to ensure proper care for the ears to allow them to stand.
The first 7 days after the procedure, a Cane Corso puppy is usually in their metal rack or cup which helps to keep their ears upright as they heal.
After these initial 7 days, that is, between day 7 and 10 after surgery, the sutures are removed by the veterinarian, and the rack replaced.
Having ears on a rack or cup allows easy cleaning of the ear edges to keep them clean. This is done by using hydrogen peroxide.
The puppy’s ears stay up with a rack until the ears are completely healed. Posting and taping of the ears is only done when the surgery scabs are completely healed.
Posting should be done every 4 days by removing the old taping, cleaning the ears and again wrapping the ears with racks.
Consistency is important in the process and ears should never be left unwrapped for a long period of time.
They should momentarily be left to breathe and dry up for a few minutes on every posting and immediately posted right up again.
Posting and taping is done until a Cane Corso’s ears fully stand up on their own.
Overall, Cane Corso ear cropping aftercare involves:
- Ensuring the wrapping tape on the ears stays in place
- Wrapping the ears when they become unwrapped
- Always keeping the wrapping tape dry and clean
- Looking out for signs of infections such as foul smell or discharge from the ears
- Proper nutrition to keep them healthy and which also allow quicks recovery
How long does Cane Corso ear cropping take to heal?
Generally it takes 10 – 14 days after ear cropping surgery for a Cane Corso’s ears to recover, and another 5 – 6 months for complete recovery with taping to have ears that stand upright.
Some Cane Corsos may take upto one year for the ears to stand upright.
During the healing period, a Cane Corso’s ears are kept upright with a metal rack and afterward, when the stitches are removed, they are kept upright with tape and posts.
Why is Cane Corso ear cropping controversial?
The topic of ear cropping has been controversial with the debate whether it is animal cruelty to have Cane Corsos and other cropped dog breeds go through the procedure.
Animal activists hold this opinion which is supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), because it puts a dog through unnecessary pain and discomfort post surgery.
The American Veterinary Medical Association is against both ear cropping and tail docking which is the reduction of a dog’s tail size, especially if it is for cosmetic purposes.
There are also no health benefits associated with ear cropping, therefore it is deemed unnecessary
On the other hand the American Kennel Club still views ear cropping as an acceptable practice.
These conflicting views bring the conflict around the subject.
Is Cane Corso Ear cropping legal?
Currently, ear cropping is not illegal in the United States, however in many countries, and in Europe, the practice is illegal.
Most states in the United States allow the practice to be conducted by a licensed veterinarian.
Is ear cropping needed for Cane Corsos to compete in dog shows?
No ear cropping is not necessary for a Cane Corso to compete in dog shows. Cane Corsos with uncropped ears can still participate like Cane Corsos with cropped ears.
The American Kennel Club approves both Cane Corsos to compete in conformation shows.
A Cane Corso with cropped ears does not have a competitive advantage over their uncropped counterparts. They both have an equal chance of winning as long as they meet the breed standards.
Cane Corso ear cropping is not a requirement for participation in dog shows, however, many participants choose to crop their dogs to enhance their appearance as a common practice.
How much does it cost to crop a Cane Corsos ears?: Cane Corso ear cropping price
Cane Corso ear cropping price ranges between $650 to $850. The price varies greatly depending on the veterinarian who performs the procedure.
The cost includes the cost for the procedure, after care medication, that is, antibiotics and pain medication as well as follow-up visits.
A breakdown of the cost:
Average cost | |
Pre-surgery examination and blood work | $ 110 |
Ear cropping procedure (Follow up examination included) | $ 650 |
Ear postings (some clinics include this cost in follow up examination costs) | $ 15 – $ 65 per visit |
Can you crop your Cane Corsos ears yourself?
No, you cannot crop your Cane Corso’s ears by yourself. Ear cropping is a surgical procedure that requires a licensed veterinarian who is a medical profession experienced in carrying out the procedure.
Without this professionalism and doing it on your own, it would inflict excruciating pain on a Cane Corso without the general anesthesia required and also it could lead to post surgery complications such as infections.
State laws also only permit the procedure to be carried out by licensed veterinarians.
Should you crop your Cane Corsos ears?
Cropping a Cane Corso’s ears is optional and it is a decision made by their owners. Veterinary science has shown that there is no physical or medical advantage of ear cropping and it is deemed unnecessary.
Therefore you do not have to crop your Cane Corso’s ears. The decision rests on you if you want to raise a show dog or if you prefer to have a Cane Corso with clipped ears for their unique look.
Other factors to consider include the financial cost, the pain a Cane Corso experiences due to the procedure, the potential risks and the lengthy aftercare involved.
These are the considerations to think about when deciding whether to have your Cane Corso cropped or not.
In summary: Cane Corso Ear Cropping Styles
Cane Corso ear cropping is an optional procedure that Cane Corso owners decide whether they will have their dog’s ears cropped.
It is not necessary to have your Cane Corso’s ears cropped. Today, dog ear cropping is performed for cosmetic purposes to enhance a dog’s look or to participate in dog shows.
There are four different Cane Corso ear cropping styles to choose from. These include the military, medium, the show crop and long crop. The three styles give a Cane Corso their distinctive striking appearance and fierce look.
If you decide to have your Cane Corso’s ears cropped, ensure that a licensed veterinarian performs the procedure to ensure the safety of your dog.