Been told by a few guys who own dogs with cropped ears that they have a hard time locating a bay sometimes and it takes them longer to get to it...doesn't really matter unless it's a big hog and you got two bulldogs and then it spells trouble for the bulldog caught and the other trying to figure out where the bay is...never owned a bulldog with cropped ears but I listen and try and leRn from some good dogmen and was just trying to pass it on for what it's worth.