How Do I Get My German Shepherds Ears To Stand Up
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Also, try to wait until your puppy is at least 6 months old since sometimes it just takes a while for a German shepherdâs ears to stand upright on their own.
To tape your puppyâs ears, attach a large foam hair roller to the inside of them with surgical tape, making sure youâre not blocking the ear canal.
Health Concerns Associated With Floppy Ears On A German Shepherd
When a dogs ears lay flat, less air can circulate through their ears, and more moisture can build up. This can lead to a couple of issues, including:
- Need for more frequent cleaning: It is always essential to clean your dogs ears, whether they are pointy or not, but if your dog has floppy ears, they will need to have their ears cleaned more often than dogs with pointy ears.
- Higher risk of ear infections: Even with frequent cleanings, floppy-eared dogs are prone to ear infections due to the heat and moisture trapped by their ears lying down.
- High risk of ear injuries: Having floppy ears also leaves your dogs ears more vulnerable to potential harm. Their ears are more likely to get caught in something or to get bitten and torn when playing or fighting.
- High risk of hearing damage: If an ear infection or injury is severe enough, your dog could experience hearing damage and even total hearing loss.
Floppy dog ears may be cute, but they do require extra care and attentiveness than pointy dog ears.
Ideally, your German Shepherds ears will naturally become pointy as they get older, but there are some things you can do to encourage this process.
When Will My German Shepherd’s Ears Stand Up
- For some owners the worry mode can already be reached at 4 months old if their German Shepherd Dog still has floppy ears, and by 6 months it can be full on panic stations!
But some German Shepherd owners panic too early and start taping their pups ears at the young age of 3 or 4 months because theyre ears are not standing up. Stop!
- Its best to be patient and wait until the pup stops teething.
For the ears to go up, it usually has to happen when the teething has finished.
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- Some owners have experienced the ears going up as early as 4 weeks old, but it can realistically happen anytime, especially in the teething period which is the first 5-6 months.
Why does this happen? Simple. When the pup is teething the body will need to borrow some calcium for the teeth to grow well, along with important bones. The cartilage of the ear at this time is not that important overall, so they will resume using the calcium only once the teeth and bones have used it.
Now it gets a bit more complicated! You need to be aware that the ears can also go up, come down, and go up again during teething. And it sometimes isn’t even that simple!
Wait until 5 months of age and then seek a vets advice again if they are both down, or one up, one down.
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When Do German Shepherd Puppies Ears Stand Up
For most German Shepherds, their ears will stand up between the ages of 4 and 5 months.
However, it is possible for the ears to stand up later or earlier than this age.This is the standard advice and rough timeline that breeders give out.
In the early stages, it is common to see ears dancing around and you will likely see one ear standing up first and then flops back again.
When you notice that the right and left ears alternate between flopping down and standing up, there is no need to worry as this is normal.
Want Your German Shepherd To Have Upright Ears The Facts
Everything you need to know about why, and how to help, your German Shepherd Dog have upright ears.
The German Shepherd Dog was first bred just over 100 years ago, and in that time it has become one of the most stunning, distinctive and recognizable breeds. And perhaps the most noticeable feature of a German Shepherd is the ears. An adult German Shepherds ears are immediately obvious as they are upright and pointy, making them look alert and regal!
But German Shepherds are not born with upright ears. Like all puppies, German Shepherd are born with tiny ears flopping on the sides. As the puppies grow older, their ears should naturally go up, but in some cases, they dont and there are different reasons why a German Shepherd Dogs ears wont go up.
For many owners it is a big issue if the ears dont go up, after all they should, it is part of the breed standard, and breeding and showing is not recommended if they dont.
If you have, or are thinking of, getting a German Shepherd Dog, and you are concerned about their ears, then read on!
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Why Do German Shepherds Put Their Ears Back
Unlike pricked-up ears, this is a more subtle movement and is more noticeable when youre looking directly at the dogs ears. If you are attentive to details, you might have seen your dog put his ears back semi-regularly, especially in your presence. Theres a valid reason for this behavior.
German Shepherds put their ears back as a sign of submission or nervousness. However, this ear position isnt a guarantee of these emotions as your dog can also bring his ears back when feeling social and happy. You should look at the head position and tail for more clues.
If your dog is displaying submissiveness, his ears will go back, and he will also lower his head. In some instances, the dog puts his tail between his legs, which results in the related figure of speech. If other indicators are absent, but your dogs ears are still pulled back, you can assume he is just in a social mood.
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Below is another photo of Willow, taken moments after the first one. Notice how her ear positions have now changed from the erect position above, and she has put them back. She is feeling social and happy and is enjoying looking out of the window. I guess the interesting dog in question has passed by!
This is a breath of fresh air if youre outside and around other dogs! The last thing you want is for your dog to be too nervous about socializing.
How Do You Know If Your Dog’s Ears Will Stand Up
In a perfect world, with ethical breeders who don’t breed for looks but rather for breed preservation and barring ear trauma, your dog’s ears should stand up in good time.
But as a rule of thumb, if your puppy’s ear cartilage has perked up, even a little, this is a good sign that they are developing and the cartilage is getting stronger.
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German Shepherd Ear Tapinghelping Those Stubborn Gsd Puppy Ears Stand Up
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German Shepherd ear taping is something that many GSD puppy owners do not take seriously until it is much too late. German Shepherd puppy ears can come up on their ownanytime between 8 weeks and 6 months .
Before we get started, let me take the time to tell you right now that NOT ALL German Shepherd puppies will have to have their ears taped up – but many may need the extra help of this process.
So for those who need the extra help, here’s how to do it. Puppy ear taping is often an important procedure in the development of the GSD puppy ear carriage for GSD with weak ear carriage.
If the GSD puppy ears are not up by 4 months I suggest that you get very interested in your German Shepherd puppies ears and getting to know the whole German Shepherd ear taping process very well because they may have to do it soon.
One suggestion: help stimulate your GSD puppy to use their ear muscles to help bring their ears up faster naturally by making interesting noises, and sounds, etc. to cause the puppy to use those maturing ears and to stand them up on their own.
If you have questions about the German Shepherd ear taping process, feel free to contact your German Shepherd breeder, a local GSD breed club in your area or your local veterinarian.
Make A Popsicle Support
Now, take the popsicle sticks and place them at the top of the foam rollers .
You might need another pair of hands to help with this, so ask your family or friends to help.
Take the self-adhering waterproof tape and place a medium-size piece across and around the two foam rollers and popsicle sticks. Youre creating a bridge between your pups two ears to help align and support them together.
This ensures even and symmetrical growth.
Never, ever shove the popsicle stick into your dogs ears or youll injure them! Make a bridge across their ears instead.
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What Are Some Reasons For Permanently Floppy Ears
Some German Shepherds come from lines that carry genes that lead to floppier ears. When genetics are the cause, there is little that owners can do aside from being more conscientious about ear health, which is a more significant concern in floppy-eared dogs.
Many dogs from show lines, in particular, have larger ears that require more cartilage while the dog is growing to help support a more upright position. In many cases, these dogs will not have ears that stay upright.
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Why You Should Never Touch Your German Shepherds Ears
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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Use Breathe Right Strips
McCann dog training trainers advocate a more comfortable and even less invasive method of bracing the dog’s ear.
They suggest cleaning the inside of the pinna and carefully sticking a Breathe Right strip lengthways across the ear’s fold. They report having success with this simpler method. However, it is unlikely to work with dogs that have heavy or very floppy ears.
Why Does It Take Five To Eight Months For Your Gsds Ears To Stand Up Naturally
German Shepherd puppies need time to develop healthy cartilage that can hold up the weight of their ears. When they are finished teething, usually, youll start to see their ears beginning to perk up and flop down back and forth.
If their ears can permanently become straight just before the end of the five months , then their ears will be straight and pointy otherwise they might get floppy ears for the rest of their life.
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What Do My German Shepherds Ears Look Like
The larger and wider the ears, generally the stronger the ear cartilage has to be to support them when erect.
Smaller and thinner ears may have a better chance of standing up, but this depends.
So, consider the structure and makeup of your GSDs ears, and consider how it might contribute to ear position.
German Shepherd Puppy Ears Timeline
As we mentioned in the introduction here, when your German Shepherd puppy was a newborn, your dogs ears were floppy. All dogs are born with floppy ears, so this is totally normal.
Bt as Sequoyah German Shepherds breeder explains a German Shepherd puppys ears should start to perk up soon after.
In some cases, your puppys ears might start the process of standing up as early as four weeks old! In other cases, it may take as long as four months before you see signs of the alert ears the GSD breed is known for.
Leerburg Dog Training explains that sometimes it can take until after a German Shepherd puppy has finished the teething process for the ears to begin to stand up on their own.
The American Kennel Club expanse that teething can take as long as six months to conclude and requires a lot of your puppys resources to complete.
The critical period to watch and wait for is the period between five months and seven months. If your GSD puppys ears are still flopping over by the age of eight months, it may be too late to assist the ears to stand up straight.
Read on to learn exactly what to do to help your puppys ears grow and stabilize in the upright position.
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When Should I Tape My German Shepherds Ears
You shouldnt tape your German Shepherds ears because taping rarely works when the problem is a genetic one. However, if you want to try taping your German Shepherds ears, then you shouldnt do it any earlier than a year after theyre born.
You need to give your puppy plenty of time to grow and build the cartilage in their ears naturally. Taping prematurely may damage their ears.
Why Does My German Shepherd Always Lay On My Head
Its no secret that German Shepherds are large breed dogs. However, that doesnt stop them from trying to cuddle with you as if they were ten times smaller than they actually are! They want to build on their bond with you, and they feel comfortable and relaxed in your presence.
If you let your German Shepherd sleep with you, it might be a nuisance for him to lay on your head every night, but they do it for a few reasons.
Here are three reasons why your German Shepherd lays on your head:
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Why Do German Shepherds Ears Not Stand Up
If their ears are still not up after five months have passed, the first thing that you need to do is to consult with your vet.
Aside from genetics, there are still other possibilities that can cause your puppys ears not to be up yet, so you shouldnt give up easily.
The first possibility is your puppy might not get the proper nutrition that they need, and the second possibility is they might be sick.
You should check with your vet to ensure that your pup is in good health. Some diseases caused by intestinal parasites can halt the growth of your pups ears.
Why Is Vitamin D Important For Dogs
Vitamin D is vital for the regulation of the calcium and phosphorus balance in your pups body. The lack of vitamin D can make your pup get bone disorders rickets, heart disease when they grow up, which ultimately affects the development of their ears as well.
On the other side of the coin too much vitamin D can cause toxicity. So make sure you strike the right balance between too much and too little when giving vitamin D supplements to your puppy.
If youre hesitant in giving your pup commercially available vitamin supplements, you can alternatively substitute the commercial supplements with natural yogurt or cottage cheese.
Both cottage cheese and yogurt offer the same benefits they are a natural source of calcium, protein, vitamins, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.
Tough yogurt may be a better choice among the two since yogurt contains probiotics that help the pups digestive system stay healthy.
If you pick yogurt to give to your pup, you should only give small amounts of plain yogurt at first, preferably one teaspoon, to avoid upsetting your pups stomach.
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How Do I Fix My German Shepherd`s Floppy Ears
Before anything else, there`re a few things you`ll probably need. For this course of action you`ll require some white, thin if possible, tape. You`ll be able to find these at any of your nearest drug stores.
As soon as you have everything you need, arm yourself with a lot of patience and dive into the issue.
- Wrapping: Wrap each of your dog`s ears with foam and then use tape to form a tight vertical roll.
- Form a bridge between the ears: Then take the popsicle stick and use the tape to attach the ears horizontally. Your canine`s ears should be kept symmetrically.
- Re-tapping: Your Shepherd will start becoming suspicious about its ears and perhaps attempt to scratch or even roll over to try and get rid of it. That`s why you must be certain its ears are re-tapped.
- Breaks: Once a week get rid of the tape and try and observe if your dog`s ears will stand up by themselves. If they`ll remain up without any issue, then you know the method has worked.