Not really because the judge can see the ears when they go over the dogs head, any incorrect carriage will be seen, and of course the judge can always ask you to let go of them, seen that done with Dobes and handlers propping their tails up to disguise a poor tail set.
Dawn.

My thoughts exactly.

I've seen this in the line up but when the dog is been gone over by the judge the exhibitor stands clear. I don't think it is cheating. In my breed, some, myself included will lift the ears in the line up. I'm not hiding anything and there's nothing wrong with my dog. He's just so laid back in the ring he doesn't use his ears. When the judge is going over him I stand back, so any decent judge can see I'm not hiding anything. Then when I'm standing him for the judge I will throw a bit of sausage on the floor so his ears come up (well away from other exhibitors) I won't do this in the line up as to me it's not fair on other exhibitors having food chucked near their dogs. That to me is cheating and goes on too much in the ring.

I voted against cropping. Am I going mad or is it against the rules and law over here anyway. Dogs should be as god intended

It's a big NO from me.... leave em intact, the way they were intended... Cut yer own ears off if ya think it looks great... but mind ya don't drop yer specs

I voted NO I dislike them, as I never really like cropped tails, maybe thats why I have always had dogs that are shown as nature intended? well apart from the competitors that use substances on coats and clip them when they shouldnt be clipped

Mo

The ear flaps are there as you say "as god intended" or as a result of evolution, they protect the inner ear from ingress of dirt/foreign bodies etc, cropping IMO is just another method of making the dog look more Macho.

Acually there are no drop eared wild species of animal!
Becky

I can just see it now Ian, everybody lookin like Mr Spock.

Explain, define, what made you come to that conclusion ?

can you name one?
Becky