Ear cropping — surgical removal of part of a dog's outer ear for cosmetic appearance — is illegal in the UK and many countries but continues illegally and in countries where it remains legal.
Ear cropping is a surgical procedure performed on puppies between 6 and 12 weeks old to alter the natural shape of the ear. It causes acute pain, requires recovery involving restraint and retraining of ear position, and carries risks of infection and complications. The procedure provides no health benefit to the dog and is performed solely for human aesthetic preference. Its continued practice in countries where it remains legal, and its illegal use in countries where it is banned, reflects the persistence of breed appearance conventions over welfare considerations. The fashion for cropped-ear aesthetics in social media content also normalises the practice for younger audiences.