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When German Shepherd Ears Stand Up

Placing The Form Roller Inside The Ear

How to make German Shepherd ears Stand Up?

Remove the plastic clip in the foam roller and place it gently against the inside skin of your puppys ears.

Do not push the roller inside the ear, it only needs to be placed inside the ear enough to support the growth of the cartilage. Ensure that there are no folds or creases in the ears before doing the next step.

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.

How To Make A German Shepherds Ears Stand Up

To ensure that the ears stand up, it is good to provide the German Shepherd dog with all the vitamins necessary for their formation and to follow simple procedures for better education. We propose to consider the most important.

  • Many dog breeders supplement the standard puppy ration with bone meal, various fish and kefir.
  • It is advisable to massage the dogs ear, which is necessary for proper blood flow and strengthening of the cartilage. But this process should be carried out carefully so as not to harm the pet.
  • The owner may make sudden noises or rustles on purpose. So the puppy will strain their ears and stand up to catch the sound.
  • Monitor the puppys health. In the event of any discrepancies that you notice , you should immediately take your pet to a qualified veterinarian for consultation.

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Why Some German Shepherds Have Floppy Ears

The number one reason is genetic. Some puppies have floppy ears due to their genes. In this case, theres not much you can do about it.

The second reason is breeding fallacy. Many people adopting German Shepherds expect their dogs to have large ears. Because of this, a lot of breeders, especially breeders of the American Showline type, try to breed German Shepherds with larger ears.

The result of this attempt is enhanced German Shepherds with ears that are too heavy and too big to hold the cartilage up, which makes their ears flop.

Those two points above show us the importance of getting our puppies from good reputable breeders. Ask a lot of questions to the breeder and meet the puppys parents before adopting them.

Have I Myself Already Messed With The Dogs Ears Myself

When does a German Shepherd puppies ears stand up?

Have you tried a technique youve read about on the internet to modify your dogs ears such as taping, ear forms or ear padding, and not consulted an expert such as a vet first?

This is particularly common in first time or inexperienced owners who are impatient or panic.

A dogs ears will generally develop naturally, but there are some things that can be done which may influence how they sit.

See a vet for your options.

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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.

Do German Shepherd Puppies Have Floppy Ears

German Shepherds are one of the most striking breeds, and their large, triangle-shaped ears are a classic feature that we expect to see. So if you have a German Shepherd puppy youre likely wondering should he have floppy ears? is this normal?When German Shepherds start life, they have small, floppy ears that fold over to the front side. So yes, German Shepherd puppies do have floppy ears. And its completely normal.It can be quite a concern for new puppy owners who see their GSDs floppy ears when they were expecting the classic upright triangle pyramids! So lets get into when you can expect your German Shepherd to have upright ears.

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Birth To 5 Months Of Age:

This is the change observed from when the GSD puppy is born until when the doggy is 5 months of age.

In this stage, Teething is the most notable occurrence. The teething process begins at around 3 weeks from birth. It is expected that when this process is over, the ears of the German Shepherd should be standing.

The cartilage in the ears of the GSD develops and strengthens during this period. When strong enough, the ears would be upright permanently.

How To Tape German Shepherd Dog Ears Up

When Will My German Shepherd’s Ears Stand Up?!

Some people recommend taping your German Shepherds ears if their ears are not still up at five months old. In some cases, tapping may work for show line German Shepherds. But it rarely works for working line German Shepherds.

If you want to tape your German Shepherds ears, you must consult with your vet first, and only do the following steps under your vets supervision.

There are several methods to tape your GSD puppys ears.

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Why Do German Shepherds Tilt Their Heads

A German Shepherd`s mouth can at times block their view when it comes to certain angles. Since a canine of this breed has a large mouth, they`ll often tilt their head to be able to get a better angle of what they are trying to see.

You`ll notice they`ll most of the time be interested in you as their owner, so that is why you might sometimes see them tilt their head while they look at you.

German Shepherd Puppy Ear Taping And Gluing

German Shepherd puppy ear taping and gluing are both methods that many breeders and German Shepherd dog owners use to help guide their GSDs ears into the adult upright position.

Yet it would be understandable if you are reading the title to this section and feel dismay or even horror. Tape or glue a puppys ears? How can that possibly be a good thing?

But understand we are not talking about doing anything harmful or invasive.

The techniques you are about to read about will not harm or hurt your German Shepherd puppy at all. They will simply support the ears to grow into the upright position without having to work so hard to get there or stay there.

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Ensure Your Dog Is Happy

A happy German Shepherd is a healthy German Shepherd. Play games with your dog because they enjoy playing with their owners. When your German Shepherd is happy, they will have little to no psychological problems, and that means that they will develop well. When playing, you might start noticing the ears perking up within no time.

In the end, whether your pet has pointy or floppy ears, we should still love our German Shepherd and avoid being picky with appearances.

Why Do German Shepherds Ears Stand Up

When Will My German Shepherd

Before dogs were domesticated, they used their pointy ears when hunting food. They needed to be perked upright so they could protect themselves from a threat. When a German Shepherds ears are pricked, it means they are alert, engaged, and listening to every sound.

Pricked or upright ears are the basic shape of a German Shepherds ears which was inherited from his wild ancestor, the wolf.

Im often asked why my German Shepherd looks like a wolf, especially by young children as I pass them by on my walk. To find the answer, check out my article which explains the breeds bloodline and history.

All German Shepherds have floppy ears when they are born which is caused by a lack of strength in the puppys ear cartilage. As they grow, their cartilage becomes harder, thicker, and stronger. Eventually, it becomes capable of supporting the weight of their huge ears!

Typically, when a German Shepherd puppy reaches about 20 weeks, and when they are coming to the end of the teething phase, their ears should stand up. Often there is variation each day and some days the ears may remain down before consistently standing upright.

This time may be dramatically different in each dog andmay occur sooner than 5 months or may take as long as 8 months in some cases.

Related:German Shepherds Ears Meaning: 4 Examples with Pictures!

Earlier, I referred to the German Shepherd breed standard concerning their ears. The below quote is from the American Kennel Club:

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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/

    Taping Your Puppy’s Ears

  • 1Obtain the necessary supplies. Fortunately, you will not need many supplies to tape your German shepherd puppy’s ears. In fact, you may already have some of the supplies at home. One of the supplies you will need is women’s large foam rollers.XResearch source Rollers are available at your local pharmacy.
  • The large size of rollers is usually pink, but do not rely on color to choose the correct size.
  • Alternatively, you could use small pipe insulation tubing, which is available at home improvement stores. If you choose to use tubing, it should be about the same diameter as a large foam roller.XResearch source
  • You will also need tape. The type of tape to use is very important! The best type of tape to use is white surgical tape , which is available at your local pharmacy.XResearch source Masking tape is another option, but is less preferred than surgical tape.
  • Do not use duct tape or electrical tape. These types of tape are too adhesive and could damage your puppy’s ears.
  • You will also need glue and one or two unsharpened # 2 pencils.XResearch source False eyelash glue is not recommended.
  • A popsicle stick will be needed to serve as a ‘bridge’ between your puppy’s ears after you have taped them.XResearch source
  • If you are uncomfortable with the glue, you could cover the roller with tape, sticky side out. If you prefer to use the tape, you will not need to put the pencil in the roller.XResearch source
  • Even if one ear is already standing upright, it is ideal to tape up both ears.
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    Is It Bad If Your German Shepherds Ears Wont Stand

    Its not bad if your pups ears cant stand up on their own. Sometimes genetics causes one ear to stand while the other tends to flop over. A German shepherd puppy might even have two floppy ears. However, this doesnt impact your dogs hearing or indicate that anything is wrong with their health.

    Floppy ears are very common for a puppy in their teething phase. This phase usually goes on while your pup is between the ages of 16 and 20 weeks old. After that, their ears start to become stronger and begin to perk up.

    If you have concerns, make sure to talk with your local veterinarian.

    The breeder also might offer some insight. For parents with floppy ears, your German shepherd might inherit them too.

    Ear Infections & Parasites:

    When Will My German Shepherd’s Ears Stand Up

    Ear infections indeed cause a lot of pain for shepherds. It could result in more complicated issues if not treated properly and swiftly.

    Doggys that are suffering from one ear problem or another would find it hard to raise their ears to prevent more pain.

    In the case of parasites, the parasites would strip the doggy of vital nutrients needed to develop their ears properly.

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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.

    Are Surgical Ear Implants Safe For A German Shepherds Ears

    Ear implants to get your German Shepherds ears to stand up are a last resort that you should avoid.

    There is absolutely nothing wrong with a German Shepherd that has floppy ears and putting them at risk to have any unnecessary surgery to get their ears to stand up can cause them pain.

    Speak to your vet about the side effects and pain associated with ear implants.

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    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.

    Do Some German Shepherds Have Floppy Ears

    German Shepherd 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.

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    Tapping German Shepherd Dogs

    Tapping is a common practice to make the ears of a German Shepherd. This method is mostly used for the dogs used for shows and competitions.

    The German Shepherd kept as a pet at home is not experimented with by this method. People just love to have a dog like German Shepherd. Floppy ears dont make any difference for them.

    So there is no reason for using the taping method for your dogs ears if you have no concern about how the ears of your dog look like.

    Why Has My Puppy’s Ears Suddenly Started Drooping

    Puppy ears change as they grow. In many cases, ears standing up perfectly before three months will start to droop again when the puppy is teething. This is because nutrients being sent to the ears are now being diverted to the growing teeth.

    Usually, after the teething process is done, the ears will stand right up again at around six months.

    On the way to fully erect ears, the puppy may go through many very natural stages. What starts with tiny floppy ears in a German Shepherd might evolve into ears that flop to the side.

    This may turn into “flying nun” ears, where one ear is down and one looks like it wants to fly away. Flying nun ears are usually followed by the comb-over stage, where they may be flopping over the top of the head. All of this is a normal part of the process of getting perfectly erect ears.

    If you are concerned about a puppy having one ear up and one ear down, have your vet check for any trauma or inflammation in that ear, which may cause it to droop. If there is nothing physically wrong with it, check your puppy’s sleeping patterns.

    They may always be lying on one side and squashing one ear. You can encourage them to lie on the other side to balance things out.

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