In countries such as the U.S. where cropping is legal, it used to be the norm for breeders to have a pup's ears cropped at a young age
before having the puppy go to his new home. However, recent trends have many breeders keeping ears natural. A large number of owners choose this and those that do not can opt to have the procedure done to their Boxer once they obtain the puppy.
We urge anyone who is considering to have this done to their dog to choose an experienced veterinarian, as a bad cropping can lead to infection and aesthetic issues such as too much of the flap being removed, etc. which once done, is a life long feature that can ruin the dog's appearance.
Please check with a veterinarian to see if he or she has experience not only with cropping but specifically with the Boxer breed since each breed (that does traditionally have the ears clipped) has different shaping and size.
Some refer to this clipping as a "show crop" and by that, it is meant that per AKC conformation standards, the Boxer's ears should not be an outstanding feature or focal point. Rather, the
size, set and shape should flatter the facial features, adding balance and lending to the overall appearance of the head.
A couple of issues that can occur are often due to the thickness of the ear flap. Boxer ears with very thick leather may be too heavy too stand and a good veterinarian will be able to let an owner know in advance.
In some cases, not wanting to take off too much of the flap, a vet will err on the side of caution, which can lead to needing a 2nd cropping down the road to gain the desired appearance.
The price to have this done runs between $300 and $600, and additional costs may be checkups to see how the ears are healing, etc. In some locations, the cost for this procedure is tiered based on the dog's
weight.