Why Caucasian Ovcharkas have their Ears Cropped Short?

J: Why do Caucasian Ovcharkas have their ears cropped short?
Is it because they fight wolves?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Audrey Kohly
They are Livestock Guardian Dogs; their ears are cropped short to prevent predators from grabbing onto them.
As a side note, I love these dogs.

Answer by Rayven ~ Here we Go
Livestock guardian dogs often have their ears cropped. Some don't but those that do have short crops known as shepherd cross the lower the odds of an ear-related injury while protecting livestock. Anyone who has even had a minor head injury will tell you that area bleeds like a bitch sometimes even over the small stuff.

This is one breed where the crop is OPTIONAL within the standard.

Answer by Jasmer
They are a flock guarding dog, meant to fend off predators. Closely cropped ears meant little chance of a predator getting a good latch onto the dog's head and inflicting serious injury. In the long run, a one-time crop saved many dogs repeated exposure to potentially severe pain and serious infection.

Since there is a decreasing need for such types of working dogs, the need to crop is diminishing. Some may still crop because it's traditional for the breed, but I just don't see the point if it's not a working dog where in-tact ears may pose a greater risk of pain and infection than cropped ears ever would.

Answer by Ted Cole
Ear cropping! and fiddling with this bit and then that bit !! The poor dogs if some of us had our way will end up looking like Joan Rivers… Leave mother nature alone as she probably knows best. Just love your dog for what it is. On a lighter note, Predators usually go for the throat ! as any newly divorced bloke will tell you.

Answer David Blackmore  (in reply to Ted Cole)
Great response.

Answer by Emmanuel
Ear cropping is important to a Shepherd dog. The dog’s ear has major blood veins under a tiny layer of skin. If you have ever witness a dog bleeding from the ears it’s always profuse considering if the dog is well exercised at the time of the injury. So cropped ear helps to protect this breed from excessive blood loss in case of injury to the ears when fending off predators.

Answer by Mitchel
I don't think their ears should be cropped. It's not a must but a personal option. Ear cropping is traditional (as a flock guardian, dogs are at an advantage if the prey have no ears to bite at) but not required even for show dogs. Although a cropped ear is preferred, many European countries have banned cropping for humane reasons. The cropped ear does change the expression, however, and some feel it makes the look of the dog.

Answer by Annonymous
I would be glad to answer. You probably know this breed was created by Georgian shepherds in order to protect sheep from dangerous predators, such as jackals, wolves and bears, with wolves being the main opponents. So, Caucasian shepherd dogs often have to fight them, and Shepherds crop their ears so that the wolves can’t bite the dogs’ ears. This happened for centuries. So, the dogs’ ears have deformed and they are supposed to be cropped.

Answer by KHAAAAN!
The Ovcharka's ears are cropped because it's tradition. Once upon a time, those ears were just one more spot for a wolf or other predator to latch onto and shred. It was less traumatic in the long run to just snip 'em off when the dog was young than to subject a live-stock guarding dog in frequent contact with wild animals to repeated damage. Ear cropping is obsolete for most dog owners today.

Cropped ears tend to stand upright and thus also give the dog an appearance of alertness. This is something people particularly take note of and may give that slight intimidation factor a guard dog needs.
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