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Do German Shepherds Ears Naturally Stand Up

Using Calcium To Make The Ears Stand Up

11 weeks old german shepherd dog (GSD) – ears starting to stand up

Ive already touched on the next method which all relates to getting higher levels of calcium unto your German Shepherds diet. This can include additional foods such as:

  • Cottage cheese
  • Milk
  • Yoghurt

The high calcium content in these foods is said to help a German Shepherds ears to stand up given that their natural calcium is being used in the development of their teeth.

But does it work?

I cannot find any research to suggest that calcium helps to fix floppy ears, and it appears to be more of an anecdotal solution used by owners.

I would certainly exercise a degree of caution, as milky foods can be too rich for young puppies leading to upset stomachs. Bottom line is; I would not give my puppy lots of cheese and milk they may be lactose intolerant.

Does It Matter If Your German Shepherds Ears Never Stand Up Naturally

Not at all!

Its not unhealthy for them to have one ear flopped over and even adds to their fun personality.

And, most of the time, this isnt a problem. You should take your dog to the vet to have them complete a thorough vet exam if youre worried. This gives you some reassurance there arent any underlying issues.

Generally, there is no need for concern and your GSD is still totally healthy.

Development Of The German Shepherds Ear

Like all other dog breeds, the German Shepherds ears are not fully developed from birth. At an early age, they are quite soft cartilage that is very firm to the puppys head.

After a while, their ears begin to grow with them and get bigger and bigger. We cannot miss the moment when the ear is formed, because after reaching a certain stage of development the cartilage is transformed into an elastic plate that can no longer be changed.

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Improper And Poor Nutrition

German Shepherds need balanced nutrition during crucial growing stages, including vitamins and minerals that aid in cartilage and muscle development of their ears.

Improper or poor nutrition doesnt provide the right building blocks for growth and can hinder their ear development. You should ensure your dog gets the right nutrition from the start to avoid any issues.

Along with Vitamin D, calcium helps strengthen the cartilage to aid in building a strong foundation for the ears to stand up later.

Why You Should Never Touch Your German Shepherds Ears

33 Best Photos German Shepherd Puppy Ears Stand Up

You can accidentally damage the ears cartilage and make your puppy has partially or floppy ears if you touch their ears.

Therefore, you, your kids or other puppies should never ever rub or touch their ears during the teething period as any significant trauma that the ears get during this period can cause permanent damage and droopy ears.

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How To Fix A German Shepherds Floppy Ears

If you notice early enough that your german shepherd has floppy ears, then you can often work to get them to stand up straight.

Here are some of the ways you can fix a german shepherd with floppy ears.

The Tape Method

One of the most common ways to fix a german shepherd with floppy ears is the tape method. Its been used by hundreds of german shepherd owners in the past with great results, and its relatively easy to do!

Here are the steps you need to take for the tape method to be effective.

Find Foam Rollers, Tape, And Popsicle Sticks

The first thing youre going to need to do is to find foam hair rollers, tape, and a popsicle stick. These are the only three tools youll need. If you cant get your hand on foam rollers you can normally get them off .

And remember, when youre using tape, you dont want to use tape thats too sticky, otherwise it will hurt your german shepherd when you want to remove it. Heres a great tape to use.

Place The Foam Rollers Inside Your German Shepherds Ears

Now the next step is to place the foam rollers inside your german shepherd ears. When theyre in his ears wrap his ears around them and then tape them in place.

Just make sure there arent any creases or crinkles in their ears. When theyre straight and looking good, you can tape them.

Place The Popsicles At The Top Of The Foam Rollers
Remove Once A Week
When To Stop

If you get to the 9-month mark and your german shepherds ears still havent stood up on their own then its time to stop.

German Shepherd Ear Stages

As a new owner of a German Shepherd dog, you may wonder if your puppy is developing typically. If you read books or manuals and your puppy doesnt quite fit the descriptions, dont panic. If you also see that your dogs ears remain wobbly after some stage, be patient. You should let the ears develop on their own and after some time, if you dont see any difference, know that you can help in the process.

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My German Shepherd Puppys Ears Were Already Up But One Or Both Went Down Again

During the teething period , their ears can go up and down frequently. One day their ears can tilt sideways inwards leaning against each other, and the next day the ears can tilt outwards.

This unpredictable behavior, quite often, confuses first-time German Shepherds owners. If this is happening to your puppy, you dont need to worry too much as it is completely normal.

Other Causes Of German Shepherd Floppy Ears

How to make German Shepherd ears Stand Up?

The aforementioned cause can easily be handled, but there are some cases where GSD floppy ears remain after the teething stage.

Such cases are caused by many triggers, and some of them are unpreventable. There are, however, those that you can avoid by taking proper precautions. Heres a look at such causes of the German shepherd floppy ears.

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Why Do Some Dog Breeds Have Floppy Ears

Some dog breeds such as the Beagle, English Cocker Spaniel, and Poodle, have floppy ears. In the late 1800s, the English geologist and biologist Charles Darwin concluded that:

The incapacity to erect the ears is certainly in some manner the result of domestication.

Heres a really interesting animated video that explains why some dog breeds have floppy ears and how scientists believe centuries of domestication is the cause. Its only 3-minutes long and explains it in a helpful and fun way:

As dog breeding trends move further away from abiding by strict breed standards, floppy-eared dogs are being bred more due to their extreme desirability.

Some people admire their large, floppy ears because they are cute but I think the opposite. There is nothing quite like a German Shepherds pointy ears.

Having floppy ears also comes with some health issues which we will discuss in the next chapter.

Floppy Eared German Shepherd 3 Easy Fixes

A floppy eared German Shepherd dog is an adorable sight to see. With one ear upright and the other down cuteness abounds!

But you might worry about when will your German Shepherds floppy ears stand up?

And

How can you fix those floppy ears?

Dont worry

Its natural and Ill tell you exactly how to help fix a German Shepherd with floppy ears.

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Ears Standing And Relaxed:

This German Shepherd Ears Meaning is most common. One of the reasons German Shepherds are recognized and highly regarded is because of their big pronounced ears. Before they are a year old those big floppy ears start to stand up. People even go as far as taping their German Shepherds ears to get that familiar look we have all grown used to.

The most common position for a German Shepherds ear to be in is standing up and relaxed. This normally means that they are calm, friendly and relaxed in their environment. This is a good sign that your dog is comfortable with his surroundings and happy in general.

Can You Tell If The Ears Are Going To Stand Up Ahead Of Time

When Do German Shepherds Ears Stand Up?

Its not really possible to tell if your pups ears will stand up when they are mature until they are at least a few months old, as this time is necessary to allow the firm cartilage in the ears to develop enough to support them. However, pups dont simply go from being floppy eared to having pointed ears overnight, and your pups range of mobility and ability to control the movement of their ears develops over time.

If your pup can prick their ears up or if the tips of them are very mobile by four to five months old, the chances are that their ears are developing normally, and will become pointed at the normal time without any intervention. If your pups ears have not begun to do this by the time they are around eight months old, it might not be going to happen.

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What To Do When Your Gsd Pricks Up His Ears

When your GSD pricks up his ears, you should prioritize this ear position above all others because it can mean your dog may be about to become aggressive towards another person or dog he feels threatened by, especially if he displays other body language referred to above.

Use a Leash

If you take your German Shepherd for a walk and notice his ears perk up even momentarily, you should put him on a leash. You most likely already have him on a leash as per dog walking best practices. If thats the case, make sure youre holding it tightly, and he cant feel free to chase or succumb to his prey drive.

Pause and Disrupt

Your GSD might act as an alarm and alert you to something he finds threatening. In some cases, this can be to protect you and your property. But in other instances, it can simply be a false alarm. You can interrupt your dog by engaging him whenever he pricks up his ears.;

I wouldnt advise using treats to hack your dogs alertness, as that only incentivizes him to give false alarms. Simply changing the direction of your walk or bringing up a new activity can interrupt your canines focus sufficiently.

Why Does This Process Delay

In many cases, the process of ears standing up straight delays for a while. The process is different for different dogs. Even the puppies of the same litter can have different times for the ears to stand up.

Some puppies take seven months to stand up their ears straight. The ears of a German Shepherd take a permanent shape till the 8th and 9th months. If the ears of a puppy do not stand up till the 9th month, then they wont stand up ever.

75% of the German Shepherds make their ears stand up during the first 3 to 10 months. Out of every 5 German Shepherds, one dog never gets its ears to stand up which makes it almost 18% of the total German Shepherds. This percentage is quite high and shocking.

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Why Does It Take So Long For A German Shepherds Ears To Stand Up On Their Own

A German Shepherd puppy must develop the cartilage and muscle structure to help its ears stand upright. Having their ears stand up takes properly developed muscles and strong cartilage

Young puppies bodies simply arent mature enough to have the strength that keeps their ears upright.

You might notice that sometimes your GSD puppys ears stand up when they hear an interesting noise.

But, then the ears go down after a bit. This is all part of their ear development stages.

What If My Puppy Has Floppy Ears Longer Than 5 Months Old

German Shepherd|At What Age Do German shepherd Ears Stand Up Straight ?|My Client Pets#8

Its totally fine if your GSDs ears dont stand up around this time!

In fact, some puppys ears flop over for up to 8 or 9 months. A German Shepherd puppy with floppy ears at 9 months isnt anything to alarm yourself over.

Instead

Stay calm and take lots of pictures!

Youre going to make yourself smile later when you look at their adorable floppy ears!

Especially if one ear is up and the other is down. Those ears not standing is considered cute and adorable by most owners.

Even in the same litter the pups ears may stand at different times from one another. And, some puppys ears dont naturally stand at all.

According to research, about 1 in 5 German Shepherds will have floppy ears throughout their life.

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When Do German Shepherds Ears Stand And Stay Up

The answer to this question may vary. But if were going to generalize, the time it takes for a German shepherd to finish teething is 20 weeks or 5 months.

In addition to this gradual change, you may also notice a difference in their behavior right after the teething stage. For example, their floppy ears may suddenly stand up when hearing a book fall into the floor.

Proper Diet & Nutrition:

Cheap, commercial food could be the culprit if your puppys ears refuse to stand.; Make sure youre feeding high-quality dog food.

Its worth noting that some people recommend using supplements for your puppies to help with their ears. However, this isnt necessarily a good idea.

For example, many people think calcium will boost those ears but it can also have a negative effect on your pups joints and bones, causing permanent skeletal problems. Its just not worth the risk!

Stick to a high-quality, natural diet instead. Some ideas for foods that may help boost your pups ears include cottage cheese, yogurt, and chicken feet.; Cottage cheese and yogurt both have plenty of calcium , and chicken feet are a natural source of glucosamine, which helps strengthen cartilage.

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How To Get A German Shepherd’s Ears To Stand Up

    • Do not despair!
  • Give your GSD quality food Cheap commercial food is definitely a no-no. High-quality dog foods with no corn or wheat are ideal.
  • Give your pup good and strong toys to chew on Giving your German Shepherd strong toys like Nylabones, antlers, Kongs, and bully sticks can help strengthen his muscles that support the jaw and ears.
  • Have your puppy checked by a vet This is to make sure that your pup isnt suffering from ear, or any other, infections. You will also need to have a fecal test done on your pup to make sure that he doesnt have intestinal parasites because worms can also be an underlying cause of your German Shepherd pups ear issue.
  • Shave the hair on the ears, the hair can make them more heavy and harder to stand up.
  • Avoid calcium supplements. You may give too much which will cause problems in the long run such as bone spurts, arthritis and joint problems in a growing pup.
  • A better idea is to give only 1 tablespoon of cottage cheese or yogurt.
  • Taping the ears is the last resort and should only be done after consultation with your veterinarian.³
  • . . .

      • Like everything in life, getting a German Shepherds ears to go up is not always simple. If everything is done right, from breeding, to care, to diet, and there is no unnecessary interference, then those ears should go up.
    ¹ http://thedailyshep.com/german-shepherd-ears-12-commonly-asked-questions-answers/

    How To Tape Your German Shepherds Ears:

    When Do German Shepherds Ears Stand Up?

    It is recommended that you tape stubborn ears before they reach the age of 7-8 months. By then it is too late and the cartilage is most likely already formed.

    If you are certain that taping your German Shepherds ears is right for you, a few basic materials will be needed that can be purchased at your local pharmacy.

    Materials Needed:

    • Thin white surgical tape such as 3M Micropore 2 Tape
    • Large pink foam hair rollers for womens hair
    • Wooden Popsicle stick
    • Glue
    • Couple of #2 pencils that are unsharpened

    1. Prepare Pink Foam Roller

    To prepare the pink foam hair roller, remove the plastic rod that came with the roller and discard. Take the #2 pencil and push it into the middle of the roller about an inch. Put a conservative amount of glue approximately 3/4 of the way around the girth of the roller.

    Note: DO NOT USE too much glue! You do not want the glue to drip down into your puppys ear canal. It could damage their hearing.

    2. Place the Roller inside the Ear Flap

    Holding the pencil from the top, place the pink foam roller inside of the German Shepherds ear flap. To be completely safe, leave two fingers worth of space between the bottom of the roller and the dogs head.

    Note: It is extremely important to leave enough room between the roller and the puppys head. You do not want it to cover their ear canal causing them to lose their hearing.

    3. Tape the Ears

    4. Connect Both Ears with the Popsicle Stick

    5. Divert Your Puppys Attention

    6. Keep Them Taped for Two Weeks

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    When Will My German Shepherds Ears Stand Up

    I got a lot of emails asking about German Shepherd ears, more specifically a question about when their German Shepherds ears do stand up.

    Most GSD parents become anxious and worry when they dont see their GSDs puppy ears go up right away.

    If your puppy is just barely 3 or 4 months old, you dont need to worry too much. On average, German Shepherd ears stand up when they are finished teething or around week 20.

    But you need to note that some German Shepherds need a longer time, they need seven to eight months time frame before their ears starting to perk up.

    When eight months have passed, and their ears still do not stand up, then they are probably never going to go up forever.

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