Why is ear cropping practiced on pit bulls?

Ear cropping is often done on pit bulls for cosmetic purposes. The pit bull is one of several breeds of dog whose ears are cropped to create ears that are more elegant for show ring purposes.

Pit bull ear cropping dates back to the days when dog fighting was a common sport. The dog's ears were cropped to prevent damage from its opponent. Today, the practice of ear cropping is done to give certain breeds a distinctive appearance. Pit bulls may have their ears cropped very close to their head, in a "battle crop," or in "short," "show" or "long" crop lengths. The ears are typically cropped when the pit bull puppies are between 8 to 10 weeks old.