Author: Hannah Armour, BSc (Hons), RVN, MSc

ABSTRACT Ear cropping is a surgical procedure that alters the natural appearance of a dog’s ears. It is considered desirable by some breed organisations, dog breeders and dog owners, who argue that it has husbandry and health benefits. In contrast, many veterinary and animal welfare professionals consider that ear cropping is done solely for cosmetic purposes and that it negatively impacts on the health, welfare and behaviour of dogs. The procedure is illegal under animal welfare legislation in the UK. However, there has been a marked rise in ear-cropped dogs presenting to veterinary practices in the UK within the past 6 years, alongside increased reports to animal welfare charities concerning both the procedure and the dogs affected. This raises the question of what is driving the demand, despite the procedure being illegal in the UK and in several other countries. This article describes what ear cropping entails and what influences owners or breeders to request that their dog undergo this as a cosmetic procedure. It also highlights the welfare implications of ear cropping and how it can potentially affect dogs throughout their lives. Furthermore, the global challenge of achieving consistency and cohesiveness in legislation and veterinary standpoints, and the progress made in this regard, is discussed.
Keywords ear cropping, dog, welfare, awareness

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56496/RKVA3438

To cite this article: Armour, H. (2026) The welfare implications of ear cropping in dogs. VNJ 41(1) pp18-26.

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