german shepherd dog ears

[animal-lover]

to whom it may concern,
by any chance has anyone ever have or know anyone that has had a german shepherd with ears that were floppy and not stand up right away and after a while did stand up, if so let me know as to how long it took.
trish

[Chrisanne]

My German Shepard had a floppy ear all his life. The one ear didn't stand until he was about 12 weeks old. The other never stood due to an ear infection that caused him to scratch which broke down the cartalidge.

[Vanilla_Rat]

Our old neighbours had a purebred GS whose ears never ever stayed upright,they were floppy the whole time! She was sooo cute tho.

Maybe you can use tape or something to help them stand...I dunno.I love them with upright or floppy ears!

[animal-lover]

was really just asking out of curiosity yjays all.
thanks
trish

[ChinnyMom]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vanilla_Rat Maybe you can use tape or something to help them stand...

[storminstaffs]

my friend's gran has one with a ear the stays up all the time and the other is floppy

[Leo]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChinnyMom "....Maybe you can use tape or something to help them stand..."

Actually the use of tape when forming ears is a common practice. Especially in breeds that are usually cropped (GSD's are not normally cropped).


I know that when GSD's are puppies and are teething a lot of times their ears will flop over... so depending on the age of your dog this could be a possible reason why. How old is your dog? If it is over a year then it's ears will probably stay that way.... if it is still young I would ask someone in your area (or your dogs breeder), if they recommend taping the ears.... I know one of the GSD puppies in Leo's puppy class had his ears taped up.

Also calling your vet might be a good idea to rule out a medical issue like an ear infection causing them to flop.

[Carissa]

When I was little my female german shepards ears wouldnt stand up... we used these foam things and taped them in her ears. but I dont know the results..someone stole her from my home in 98 during the ice storm...and took her puppys to. but I know it works i have see it done on other dogs.....Then last year i had a german speapard..and I kinnda made her ears that way. I have a problem..and I haev to play with animals ears..weather it is mice or dogs or anything. and i played with them so much they never stood up... lol but She was cute.

[chocolatepuppy]

My Layla is a German Shepherd mix, and her ears were up by three-four months. They did go from up to floppy a few times, the vet said it a had something to do with teething.

[TLC in Chi-Town]

GSD ears usually go up between 3-5 months of age. I have 2 and their ears were both up by 5 months. If not, your vet can tape them for you. Sometimes they never go up. The AKC considers this a fault, but who cares if you are not showing them. They are still cute.
This may be a myth, but my breeder said to give my puppies 2-3 spoons a day of plain yogurt to help their ears go up. Asked the vet and they said it couldn't hurt and has other benefits...so I did. Maybe they would have been fine on their own.

[Labman]

I have heard of the ears coming up as late as a year. I don't know that taping or anything else does much good. I have also seen Shepherds with their ears up at 7 weeks.

I don't know about the ears, but switching to an adult chow early, 4 months, helps the hips.

[HappyDancer]

I grew up around GSD's...my papa always had a few, my 2 Puddles and TuTu, their ears never stood all the way up lol...papa taped his dogs to help them, I just never wanted to, I figured that maybe thats how they were meant to look lol like puppies for ever, the vet said it was a matter of prefrence...I kinda like the one ear standing, one ear flopping lol