I've read Ed's comments and searched the site prior to posting this.

At six months old our vet (who's a GSD owner) told me Arrow's ear is not going to stand, period. His twin sister has an identical problem.

I went to the web and found this product Ear Viagra. Has anyone used this, or had any knowlege of it's use in another's dog?

I know it's all vanity on my part but Arrow is to be a replacement service dog for Jager and I don't want to have six years of everyone asking what breed he is and then saying that the one floppy ear means he's got to have something else in him. All of the puppies and the mother are being sterilized to eliminate this genetic flaw. At seven years old Jager simply will never be offered for stud.

Have you tried taping the ear?
If an "up" ear helps him in his job, helps him be a better partner for you, it's no worse IMO to have this surgically implanted then it is to take your daughter with buck teeth to the orthodontist.
Just get someone to do it who is on top of their game, who has used the product before, has had good results. And I might not do ear work on a dog with a suspicious reactive temperament --- ear jobs are painful, and there is some fooling with them post-op, which for some dogs (like mine) would make them not an ideal surgical candidate.

I'd have to ask if vanity on your part is worth the pain and risk on your dog's part. No human is "perfect" neither is any dog... Ahem.

Maybe consider telling those who would inquire as to his being "pure blooded" or not that he comes from your wife's side of the family, and then enjoy watching the expressions on their faces as they process this info and then to figure out the polite response.

I think men with scars are a bit... Attractive. . Why must everything be "perfect"?

I am heavily conflicted on this issue as It is. It's worse than nagging one's wife into a boob job because she can say no. I don't think you can make me feel like a bigger looser than I do for wanting this so bad.

I realize I'm subjecting my future constant companion and PPD, the little fellow (45 lbs four month birthday 20 May; seventy-two two today) who makes it suck a lot less to be me to a surgical procedure where he could die simply because I want him to have that classic look.

OTOH being over fifty and disabled. I'm ambulatory and unless you're looking I can usuially pass a normal folks. Constant pain and the resulting fatigue make ke a prime target for trouble as I'm not as attentive as I should be. He alerts on persons of interest and is a visable deterrent that they won't have the element of surprise.

Perhaps just tell people that his ear was damaged and that's why it's not standing? Or, if asked if he's a "pure blood" tell them "no, he's a muggle" (sorry....I JUST saw the stupid movie XD)

My professor knew someone who did the procedure on their dog, I'm not sure if it was this particular company's implant though it was in the same conversation as "neuticles" so it may have been...his ears healed fine in the long run but he was miserable for a VERY long time and healing was rough. She mentioned it wasn't like an ear cropping done for a young puppy, her dog had a lot of trouble bouncing back from it (he was older though, 5 maybe?). I'm curious about the part where it encourages cartilage to form around it....I have a more experimental and extreme version of that in my foot which is the reason I can walk and run normally. It was very effective however getting full cartilage growth took a LONG time and wasn't at all comfortable even now poking at it it feels a bit odd, cartilage growth can be a little unpredictable I'm told...

Personally I wouldn't do it to my dog....however I would buy a cropped puppy from a breeder (I'd like a doberman one day)....I'm not sure how different the two are.

I can sympathize with your conflict. I prefer the 'classic' ears, but tend to feel badly when considering cropping or implants.
How tolerant is he to discomfort and ear grooming? If it doesn't really seem to bother him, maybe you can turn this into some sort of bonding thing with extra treats/attention during surgical aftercare, etc.

Working as a vet tech for years with a vet that did an abnormally large amount of ear crops, etc. I noticed that the dogs with cropped and properly tended to ears were much more tolerant of ear care later in life. Many, many uncropped dogs were touchy, some even dangerous about ear care as adults. Maybe a strange little trade off for the 'trauma' of ear surgery.

Best wishes in whichever you decide.

This was my dog before

Take the cardboard from the inside of a toilet paper roll and cut out the shape of the dogs ear, take the time to get it right. Once you get it correct as a template make a few more. Apply tear mender glue to the cardboard (cover all the cardboard)and fit it in your dogs ear, hold it in place for a minute or so, tearmender is just a white glue that dries fast. Replace it as needed. My dog didn't know it was in there and didn't mess with it. This is the easiest way.

Here's how his came out

Can you address the taping theory Betty L. mentioned? I know other breeds can be taped prior to a year, but is he past the point where it would help?

Edited by Amy VandeWeerd (07/29/2011 11:24 PM)
Edit reason: ETA: Al was typing great plan to try while I was trying to come up with the correct procedure. I like his idea a lot.

Is he wearing his Doggles?

Here is a picture of a Vadas,psd.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=118738&id=100001840963274