When Should You Crop a Cane Corso’s Ears?

Ear cropping is a fundamental aspect of Cane Corso’s tradition, and if it’s done by a licensed veterinarian, it’s a simple, quick, and painless procedure. The time span when you can crop the ears of a Cane Corso is very short, so I have gathered all the information you need.

When Should You Crop a Cane Corso’s Ears? The ideal age to crop Cane Corso’s ears is between 8 and 9 weeks. Although, it’s okay to do the procedure as late as 12 weeks old. As the puppy grows older than 12 weeks, the cartilage in his ears hardens, and as a result, the chances of the ears standing straight after the ear cropping procedure are minimal.

Since every dog is different, you should take your puppy for a check-up when the breeder hands it to you. An experienced veterinarian can see the state of your puppy’s ear cartilage, and determine the ideal time to do the cropping procedure.

Ideal Age to Crop Cane Corso’s Ears

There are 2 reasons why you need to crop your Cane Corso’s ears in this short time span.

• If the ears are cropped when the Corso is younger than 8 weeks. The veterinarian can’t tell with certainty how the ears will look in the future. This can result in unusual-looking ears when the dog grows up. Some dogs can get cropped as young as 6 weeks old if the veterinarian determined that the structure of the puppy’s ear is suitable for the cropping procedure.
• If the ears are cropped when the Corso is older than 12 weeks. As the puppy gets older the weight of his ears increases, and they pull the cartilage down, and the cartilage also hardens with time. As a result, the ear cartilage hardens in a downright position. If you wait until that happens, there are minimal chances that the ears will straighten after cropping.

Every dog is unique, and if yours is slightly outside of these ranges it’s best to take your dog for a check-up. Your veterinarian will check the flexibility and thickness of the cartilage and determine if you can crop your dog or not.

Cane Corso Ear Crop Styles Chart

There are three main types (styles) of ear crops for Cane Corsos. You need to make sure you discuss which style you want for your Corso with your veterinarian.

Take a look at this Cane Corso ear crop style chart

• Long – This is the longest ear crop available for Cane Corsos. This type of ear cropping leaves about three-fourths of the original length of the ear.
• Show – Triangular, drooping, with a wide set on high above the zygomatic arches. Often cropped in the shape of an equilateral triangle. This is the crop you want to go for if your Cane Corso will be competing in dog shows.
• Battle – This is the shortest of all ear crops. It’s a good recommendation if your Cane Corso exceeded the 12 weeks age requirement. Because the crop is short the ears will stand up quickly and reliably after surgery.

Thousands of years ago, dogs naturally had upright ears. Over the years and millennia, humans were selectively breeding dogs to have more favorable traits (like friendliness or tameness.) Floppy ears became a byproduct of this domestication process. Charles Darwin first noticed this when he wondered why domestic animals (not just dogs) don’t have the same features and traits as their related wild animals.

So in fact, upright ears are natural, and floppy ears are a product of man-made dog breeds. It is not natural for dogs to have long floppy ears that hang over their ear canals, shutting out the airflow and light. Cropping simply restores a functional, natural, upright ear.

Why You Should Crop Cane Corso’s Ears

As the years go by, ear cropping becomes more and more controversial, and I don’t understand why. Especially as modern vets perform this procedure using numbing medication and anesthesia, so the dog doesn’t feel any discomfort.

I won’t try to convince anyone to crop their dog’s ears, I’m just going to state some benefits of ear cropping a Cane Corso.

• A fundamental aspect of Cane Corso tradition – It’s a traditional look of a Cane Corso. They were originally bred for war and protection in the Ancient Roman Times. Docking their tails and cropping their ears made it easier for them to maneuver around and harder for enemies to grab a hold of them.
• It improves hearing – Removing large flaps that shut off the ear canal of light and sound was a good way to make them even better guard dogs, as their hearing would improve.
• Reduces infections – One of the biggest causes of ear infections is moisture building up in the ears. Ear cropping has proven to increase the airflow inside the ears dramatically. So much so that studies have shown that ear cropping has decreased the chance of getting ear infections almost by two times.
• Dog shows – It gives the breed their iconic gladiator look and helps them score better dog in shows since the head shape of a Corso is very unique and important to judges.

Floppy ears are the consequence of domestication. For thousands of years, humans have bred dogs to have more affectionate and friendlier traits such as floppy ears. So there is nothing natural about floppy ears that close off the ear canal, it’s merely a byproduct of man-made dog breeds.

Finding a Good Veterinarian For Cropping

I beg you to do your own research and put in the effort in finding the right veterinarian to crop your puppy’s ears. Many vets can and will crop your puppy’s ears, but there aren’t many who have experience with a Cane Corso.

Here are some tips for choosing the vet.

1. Ask your or any other reputable Cane Corso breeder where they crop their dog’s ears. If a good Cane Corso breeder trusts that vet, he certainly has experience with cropping Cane Corso’s ears.
2. Make sure that the veterinarian has experience with Cane Corsos. Ask to see some photos of the Corsos he had “operated” on. A good vet will have a portfolio of his past procedures.
3. Ask exactly how he does the procedure. Make sure you choose a vet who uses modern, humane techniques, and that he uses numbing medication or anesthesia.

It’s best to be prepared. You now know that the time window in which you can crop a Cane Corso is very small. I strongly recommend you ask the breeder from which you are getting your puppy for the contact of the vet he trusts. Go with your puppy to see the vet in person, he can examine your puppy and determine when is the best time to get him cropped. And interacting with the vet will give you a better idea of how he runs his business and if he is the correct choice for you.

Related Questions

How Much Does it Cost to Crop a Cane Corso?

The cost of ear cropping a Cane Corso is anywhere between $350 and $900 depending on the veterinarian and what else is included in the procedure. Some breeders crop the puppies beforehand, and they include that in the price of the puppy. But most breeders don’t do that and leave that job for you.

How Long Does it Take To Heal?

It takes 4 to 6 weeks for Cane Corso’s ears to heal after an ear cropping procedure. This will, of course, vary based on the individual dog.