Dobermann ears...

[Karran]

While walking Mrs Spaniel we've noticed a young looking Doberman with his ears pinned and bandaged up with something between them supporting them.

Has he had them cropped and if so isn't that illegal in the UK?

If not would there be another reason for them to be taped up in that way? All the dobe's I've ever known have had floppy ears although I know it is done in the states but never seen over here.
The dog in question seems happy and healthy and I'm unlikely to go marching up demanding to know what they've done to them but I just wondered if there would be another reason for them to be supported upright - I know some working dogs can still have their tails docked, would there be a similar reason for this?

 

[Sprout]

I thought they only did that in the States!

 

[Bellasophia]

It does sound like the dog has been cropped,especially as it is a formerly cropped breed.
Or. it possibly could have had a haematoma,where they do bandage the ear to the head if this happens...

It's been illegal in Italy too,for many years but there are vets still docking amd cropping...I think it's just awful.My poodle is from Sweden and he has a full tail...my schnauzer also has her ears and her tail intact and I much prefer this to the hard look of the USA dogs.Im sure the dogs prefer it too LOL

 

[Copperpot]

Sounds like that have been cropped and they are encouraging what's left to stand up. But I can't imagine how they would get that done here?!! Unless they imported the dog. Is it docked as well?

 

[MurphysMinder]

It sounds as if the ears are cropped and are taped to encourage them to stand up. A fb friend has recently imported a dobe pup from Holland and she had her ears taped for a little while. The taping is something that is also done if GSDs have "soft" drop ears to try and get them to stand up, so I suppose someone could be trying to get a dobe''s ears to stand up without cropping but doubt it would work.

 

[Dobiegirl]

I suspect they have imported it like this, is the tail docked as well?

Personally I dont like their ears cropped and have had Dobes with tails docked in the past and my current 2 have tails, I still cant make up my mind which look I prefer but have to say with tails they are easier to read by other dogs and it does help them to turn better too.