Ear Standards For 17 AKC Registered Cropping Breeds in Five Groups
Working
Breeds
Terrier
Breeds
Toy
Breeds
Non-Sporting
Breeds
Herding
Breeds
WORKING BREEDS
BOXER: 1998 Standard — “Ears – Set at the highest points of the sides of the skull are cropped, cut rather long and tapering, raised when alert.”
2008 Standard:
“Set at the highest points of the sides of the skull, the ears are customarily cropped, cut rather long and tapering, and raised when alert. If uncropped, the ears should be of moderate size, thin, lying flat and close to the cheeks in repose, but falling forward with a definite crease when alert.“
Editors’ Note: In 1998, Stan Flowers won Best in Show with a natural=eared boxer. The breed standard was then changed not to demand cropped ears. Also, The Complete Dog Book 19th Ed. Publication of the American Kennel Club, Howell Book House, 1998, said: “Procedures that would in and of themselves be considered a change in appearance by artificial means and make a dog ineligible for shows include, but are not limited to the following:…5. Procedures to change ear set or carriage other than that permitted by breed standard…Any dog whose ears have been cropped or cut in any way shall be ineligible to compete at any show in any state where the laws prohibit the same…”
American Kennel Club 2012 Dog Registration Statistics
| Breed | 2012 ranking | 2011 ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Boxers | 7 | 7 |
| Doberman Pinschers | 12 | 13 |
| Miniature Schnauzers | 13 | 12 |
| Great Danes | 17 | 19 |
| Boston Terriers | 23 | 22 |
| Miniature Pinschers | 47 | 42 |
| Cane Corso | 60 | 67 |
| American Staffordshire Terriers | 79 | 72 |
| Bouviers des Flandres | 80 | 83 |
| Brussels Griffons | 84 | 77 |
| Standard Schnauzers | 89 | 91 |
| Giant Schnauzers | 94 | 95 |
| Neapolitan Mastiffs | 112 | 110 |
| Manchester Terriers | 121 | 119 |
| Briards | 122 | 125 |
| German Pinschers | 136 | 137 |
| Affenpinschers | 138 | 139 |
| Beaucerons | 140 | 144 |
