May 18, 2011
The ears on my 14 week old German Shepherd pup were up. 2 days ago one went back down. Should I be worried?
Full Question:
I have a German Shepherd (not from you), he is 14 weeks old. After 9 weeks both of his ears stood up, not straight up, they actually leaned towards the middle quite a bit. However, a few days ago his left ear just went down and has not gone back up. Does this mean that he has a broke or lame ear now? This has me really worried since both ears were up, but now one won't stand. Is this normal, or did he hurt it some way? Will it ever go back up or not? Thanks for your help, and answers.Otto
Ed's Answer:
My experience is that if the ears of a shepherd stand one time and go back down they will always come back up. There is nothing to worry about here. What you are seeing is normal. It is not uncommon for the ears to be up for some time and then when the pup goes through teething they will come down for awhile and go back up again.
If a pups ears are not up by the time it is 18 weeks old (and they have never been up) it’s time to tape them. The best way to do this is to take a woman’s tampon and put it down the ear canal. Let it bottom out in the bottom of the ear and then pull it up 1/2 inch. Wrap the ear around it and tape it with the real thin surgical tape. The stuff that looks like thin paper. Tape both ears like this and then tape a pop cycle stick between the two.
Every pup is going to rip the tampons out the first few times that you put them in. They will eventually get used to it and leave them. I recommend leaving them in for several days, then let the dog go a day without being taped and then tape them again until the ears stand.
If people wait until the dog is 6 or 7 months old to tape ears it's too late. I can almost guarantee you that the ears will not stand because you waited too long.
If a pups ears are not up by the time it is 18 weeks old (and they have never been up) it’s time to tape them. The best way to do this is to take a woman’s tampon and put it down the ear canal. Let it bottom out in the bottom of the ear and then pull it up 1/2 inch. Wrap the ear around it and tape it with the real thin surgical tape. The stuff that looks like thin paper. Tape both ears like this and then tape a pop cycle stick between the two.
Every pup is going to rip the tampons out the first few times that you put them in. They will eventually get used to it and leave them. I recommend leaving them in for several days, then let the dog go a day without being taped and then tape them again until the ears stand.
If people wait until the dog is 6 or 7 months old to tape ears it's too late. I can almost guarantee you that the ears will not stand because you waited too long.
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