Is It Cruel To Tape A Dogs Ears
The American Veterinary Medical Association states that ear-cropping and tail-docking are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient. These procedures cause pain and distress and, as with all surgical procedures, are accompanied by inherent risks of anesthesia, blood loss, and infection.
Quick Answer: How To Make German Shepherd Dog Ears Stand Up
The other way to train a German Shepherds ears to stay up is to use tape. Wrap each ear around foam or something similar and then tape them into a tight roll, in a vertical position. Now take a popsicle stick or something similar and use tape to attach it to both ears horizontally.
Ear Stages Of German Shepherds
The stages mentioned below are not set in stone stages. As puppies have ears that are unpredictable, different puppies have different body shapes and growth rates. If your puppy does not fit into any of these categories, do not worry at all and be patient. You should give ample time to your puppys ears to develop and mature.
Different German shepherd ear stages are as follows:
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How Long Do German Shepherds Ears Stay Floppy
If youve seen them up, theyll stay up. Most breeders and veterinarians will tell you that floppy ears are common while your German Shepherd is teething, which usually ends between 16 and 20 weeks. By then, the cartilage in the ear has become hard and strong enough for the ear to stand permanently.
How Long Do German Shepherd Ears Stay Floppy
As stated, there is a gap for when your German Shepherds ears stay floppy. In reality, though, your dogs ears will probably stand up when they are 20 weeks old.
German Shepherd owners are given the above interval because this process isnt straightforward. Not only is each puppy different, but a German Shepherds ears arent going to prick up all at once. It happens in stages and you may find them fluctuating between floppy and standing up.
Most owners notice their German Shepherds ears beginning to stand up permanently as they reach the end of their teething period. The reason for this is simple:
German Shepherd ears are made up of cartilage. As a puppy, this cartilage isnt very strong, causing the ear to droop. When the dog grows and develops, the cartilage in the ear strengthens. Eventually, the cartilage in your GSDs ears will be strong enough to stay in a standing-up position.
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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.
Video Answer: Pet Care
German shepherds are born with floppy ears. Puppies have not yet developed their cartilage, and so, their ears are still not matured enough to hold up their ear’s weight The German shepherd floppy ears are also referred to as a result trait of the domestication of dogs since their wild counterparts have straight ears.
German Shepherds ARE born with their ears down. They should have their ears up before they each 4-5 months of age. Some puppies have their ears up by 4 weeks of age If their ears are up before 4 months of age, they often will come back down, temporarily, starting at 4 months.
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Is Taping Dog Ears Safe
When done right, taping is a painless and safe method that can help your dogs ears to stand up. The idea behind taping is to help the cartilage to form properly and become strong enough to hold the weight of a dogs ears.
While painless, taping can cause discomfort and irritate your dog, so you should consider if its really worth it. Bear in mind that nothing is stronger than genetics and that taping might not work for your pooch.
Do German Shepherd Ears Stand Up Naturally
It’s quite usual for a dog to have one floppy ear and one ear which is erect. Your German Shepherd may have one floppy ear and one upright ear on occasion. If they’re a little German Shepherd puppy, they’re probably still growing, and the one ear that is down will take some time to naturally stand up.
It’s not always a drastic shift but rather a steady process. Before going down, their ears will rise up when they hear a noise or respond to anything. However, the more this occurs, the more likely that the ears will learn to stand up on their own. If you see a GSD’s ears sticking up within the first five months of life, it’s a strong indication that they’ll stick up at maturity.
The cartilage in your GSD’s ears is still developing, which is why it takes so long for them to stand up. It’s not very strong while they’re pups, but as they get older, it becomes strong enough to support the weight of their ears. Between the ages of eight weeks and six months, German Shepherd puppy ears develop. If they aren’t up after the dog has finished teething, which varies from dog to dog but generally occurs between the ages of 16 and 20 weeks, the first thing to check is that your German Shepherd puppy is in good health.
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When Do German Shepherd Ears Stand Up Heres What You Should Know
The large erect ears make every German Shepherd remarkably unique. It is a physical trademark that makes them quite noticeable among all the other large breeds. Whether you own a German Shepherd or not, those ears could be one of the distinct traits youll first see.
But if you are reading this article right at this very moment, you probably have got a German Shepherd of your own and youre wondering when those ears really stand up.
How long should you wait before their ears stand up? Should you worry too soon or should you do something about right away? Dont worry. Weve got you covered.
What Kind Of Ears Will My German Shepherd Have
Anyone who has seen an adult German Shepherd dog can tell you that this breed is easily recognizable for its erect ears and noble expression. However, its a less known fact that all German Shepherd puppies are born with floppy ears.
According to the breeds standard, German Shepherds should have erect ears of medium size, which are carried upright and aligned. The ears should also be pointed and with the auricle facing forward .
Although the standard calls for erect ears, its not uncommon for adult German Shepherds to have dropped or floppy ears. Keep in mind that dogs with cropped or hanging ears will be disqualified and wont be able to compete in dog shows .
If your GSD puppy has been obtained from a reputable breeder and not a puppy mill, you can expect your pups ears to stand up and remain erect after he finishes teething.
On the other hand, bad breeding practices, trauma, or health problems can account for floppy ears in German Shepherds.
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What If My Puppy Has Floppy Ears Longer Than 5 Months Old
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.
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.
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Preventing Damage To Your Puppys Ears
Damage to a puppys ears can prevent the ears from standing on their own, and this type of damage can occur in more ways than you may think.
Pay attention to how your puppy sleeps, especially if he sleeps in a crate. Sometimes puppies will sleep with their ears propped up against the side of the crate that they are in.
Over time, this may damage your puppys ears. If you do notice that this is happening with your puppy, then try waking your puppy up. Make a noise or even reach in the crate to pet him. The idea is to just do something that will grab your puppys attention enough for him to readjust himself.
Another behavior to watch out for may be prevalent if you have another dog in the house especially another puppy. Puppies often get into the habit of nipping and biting at each others ears. While this behavior may seem harmless and just a part of natural play, it can actually be detrimental to your puppys ears developing properly.
This type of play can damage the muscles to support the growth and development of your puppys ears. So if you have more than one dog in the house, or even if you allow your dog to play with others , make sure to keep a close eye on how they are playing together. Your awareness is crucial here, and it is your responsibility to intervene if you witness this type of play happening.
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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Vitamin D For German Shepherd Ears
Unlike vitamin C, vitamin D is a different story. Your pup can produce some of their own vitamin D by basking in the sun, but thats not enough to meet their nutritional requirements.
To help meet their vitamin D requirements, you need to add vitamin D to their foods. Most commercial dog foods nowadays add vitamin D to their formula to ensure that dogs get the required amount of vitamin D that they need.
If you resort to feeding your pup with 100% natural diet foods, you need to add vitamin D to your pups diet since vitamin D deficiency is quite common in German Shepherds that eat home-prepared foods.
When Should I Tape My German Shepherds Ears
If you feel that your dogs ears are constantly going down or flapping towards the ground, then try taping them up for a few weeks to see if they perk right back up .Keeping them up for a few weeks at a time can also help prevent your dogs ears from getting used to being down all the time.Taping your German Shepherds ears should be a last resort though as there are other things you can try first to encourage them to stand.
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Can Purebred German Shepherds Have Floppy Ears
German shepherds are born with floppy ears. Puppies have not yet developed their cartilage, and so, their ears are still not matured enough to hold up their ears weight. The German shepherd floppy ears are also referred to as a result trait of the domestication of dogs since their wild counterparts have straight ears.
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.
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Ways To Fix Floppy German Shepherd Puppies Ears
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get compensated if you buy through these links this is at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.
I receive a lot of questions from worried GSC readers and from the clients I work with about floppy German Shepherd puppies ears.
Since it’s such an important topic, I decided to address this issue in a post to answer all the questions. And give tips on how to solve this problem all in one place.
One of the most distinctive features of the German Shepherd Dog is their signature pointy ears. It’s part of what gives them their regal looks and is a symbol of the alertness they are famous for.
Of course, the German Shepherd isn’t born with upright ears. When they’re born, their ears are floppy and over time, as they grow, their ears develop.
And eventually, the cartilage perks up giving them their signature pointy structure.
So it’s only natural for German Shepherd owners like you to want the best for your German Shepherd’s ears.
Other Methods In Making Your Dogs Ear Stand Up
Although many German Shepherd owners use taping to correct their dogs ears, there are many less invasive, but highly effective methods that you should try first. Lets take a look:
Chew Toys
Chewing on safe puppy chew toys is the easiest way you can help your dogs ears to stand up. Not only will chewing help with teething, but it will also help your dog to exercise his jaw, head, and neck muscles, thus making them strong enough to hold the weight of his ears.
Supplements
Many owners believe that supplementing their German Shepherds diet with calcium will help their ears to stand up. However, your dogs ears are made from cartilage, not bone, and calcium doesnt have any effect on the development of the cartilage.
If you want to supplement your pups diet, its much safer to supplement it with Glucosamine which lubricates the joints and supports healthy cartilage. As always, you should first talk with your vet to see if your German Shepherd puppy can benefit from using supplements.
Diet
Feeding your puppy with high-quality dog food is essential for his overall well-being and proper development. Make sure that you are feeding your pup with the highest quality food you can afford, and steer clear from brands that use fillers such as wheat, corn, or soy.
Check For Parasites
So, do routine fecal tests and keep up with deworming treatments to keep intestinal parasites at bay. Furthermore, get your dog tested for heartworms and talk with your vet about a preventative care plan.
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The Anatomy Of A German Shepherds Ears:
Like most dogs, a German Shepherds ear is a sophisticated organ that consists of three main parts: The pinna, or external ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. This intricate system allows a dog to hear at double the frequency of human beings.
Humans can hear sounds approximately within the frequencies of 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Anything below 20 Hz, typically cannot be heard although it can be felt.
The frequency range of dog hearing is approximately 40 Hz to 60,000 Hz, of course depending on the breed of dog as well as its age.
To put this into perspective, dogs can hear approximately 4 times better than humans on average. Part of the reason for this, is because dogs have deeper ear canals which translates to more surface area for the sound waves to travel through.
Tips For Getting Them To Stand Up:
Here are some good tips to help increase the chances of them standing.
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