question about great danes

[lovemyhershey]

Hi! I was surfing through the web for pictures of Great Danes, and I noticed there are some Great Danes with their ears up while others have them down, what's the correct pair of ears for a pure-bred Great Dane? Thanks!

[xocharxo]

I know that some people like the ears up, so they go and get the surgery done, but others prefer the "natural" I guess you could say look.

[Roz]

It depends on what you mean by "correct." Dog shows insist that Great Danes have their ears done. A floppy-eared Dane is not allowed in shows. However, floppy-ears are natural.

All purebred Danes are born with floppy ears. It's up to either the breeder or owner to decide whether to give a Dane show ears or leave the natural ears. Both are correct, but both are not accepted by all groups.

[lovemyhershey]

All purebred Danes are born with floppy ears. It's up to either the breeder or owner to decide whether to give a Dane show ears or leave the natural ears. Both are correct, but both are not accepted by all groups.

What do you mean by "both are not accepted by all groups?" What groups?

[ferretfan]

Actually now Danes are accepted in show rings with natural ears and more are starting to win in the shows. It is all preference. Some people believe that Danes with natural ears are not "true" danes, but that is not true. I have a dane and she is show quality, canadian kennel club registered and she has natural ears. I love their big floppy ears and do not see a point to cutting half of that off and forcing them to stand. But that is my own opinion.

[Roz]

What do you mean by "both are not accepted by all groups?" What groups?

Those who believe cropped ears are apropriate do not think well of Danes with floppy ears. Those who like the natural look and think cropping is cruel don't care for Danes with cropped ears.

[Roz]

Actually now Danes are accepted in show rings with natural ears and more are starting to win in the shows. It is all preference. Some people believe that Danes with natural ears are not "true" danes, but that is not true. I have a dane and she is show quality, canadian kennel club registered and she has natural ears. I love their big floppy ears and do not see a point to cutting half of that off and forcing them to stand. But that is my own opinion.

That's EXCELLENT! Are you sure that isn't just the CKC? Because I've never seen a floppy-eared Dane in an AKC show.

[HugAPug]

All great danes start out with floppy ears. But some people crop the ears, because they like the looks of it. I'm not sure if the floppy ears are excepted in show though.

[fullamef]

danes are allowed to be shown with natural ears. ear cropping is purely a vanity preference. it'a painful and unneccessary and sometimes doesn't work on the puppies. ear cropping is even outlawed in europe. i'm pretty sure on this. hopefully the us will soon follow

[ferretfan]

Yes it is definately accepted for danes to now have natural ears and more danes with natural ears are winning in the rings. It is only for look. They used to crop a danes ears long ago when they used them for hunting, but it is now not necessary. I love danes with natural ears as opposed to the cropped look. Their ears are so velvety soft, why would you want to get rid of that?!

[Shahoa]

I have Dobermans and I prefer cropped ears to natural ears. Natural is deffinatly still a doberman(or in this case a dane) because they were born like that and they are pure. Cropping is not as painful or cruel as people think it is. They are cropped for the serious look, which makes them look smarter, drop ears make them look a lil on the dopey side. But yes its a matter of preferance, and it costs about 200 to 250 to get the procedure done so it is easier to keep them natural. It does not make them more pure to have their ears cropped.

[MyPetFinder]

It's more a matter of preference. I prefer floppy ears my Great Dane "Bogie" has floppy ears. But if you plan on showing them you need to have the ears done.

[ferretfan]

You do not need to have the ears done if you plan on showing. They are accepting natural ears now as well as cropped. Natural is also winning in the ring against cropped dogs.

[iluvthegirls]

I prefer cropped ears. I think when they are at attention and one ear stands up and they have the other one down that it is the cutest thing on earth!!