Should I crop my bullies ears?
Isabella Bartlett
Updated on January 21, 2026
American bully ear cropping does not set out to make the dog look menacing or create an image of a fierce dog. This idea is a myth. Mostly, ear cropping is for performance enhancement or to decrease the likelihood of medical issues in the future, such as ear infections.
ear cropping
The procedureThe veterinary procedure is known as "cosmetic otoplasty", and involves the removal of a portion of the pinnae, the external flap of the ear. Cropping is usually performed on puppies at 7 to 12 weeks of age. After 16 weeks, the procedure is more painful and the animal has greater pain memory.
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Is it cruel to crop a dog's ears?
RSPCA dog welfare expert, Dr Samantha Gaines, says: Ear cropping is painful and completely unnecessary. Despite what some breeders will claim, cropping a dog's ears does not benefit them in any way. It can be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare in the short-term and in the long-term.Do you crop American bulldog ears?
A cosmetic procedure with no benefit for dogsEar cropping is carried out purely for cosmetic reasons, to make dogs look 'harder' or 'tougher'. I want to be clear that there is no benefit to the dogs involved. In fact, it severely compromises their welfare.