Why Aren't My German Shepherd's Ears Standing Up?
Breed Information Tips of The Week
Why Aren't My German Shepherd's Ears Standing Up?
German Shepherd Puppy Ear Stages
Many first-time German Shepherd puppy owners wonder why their puppy’s ears aren’t standing up the way adult GSD ears do.
This issue is actually more common than you think.
This week, we'll walk you through the different German Shepherd puppy ear stages, and what you can expect along the way.
German Shepherd Puppy Ears Timeline
All German Shepherds are born with floppy ears.
Some puppies’ ears might start standing up after just four weeks, while with others it can take as long as four months.
But if your puppy is six months old and you haven’t seen any signs of the ears standing up yet, it may be time to intervene.
German Shepherd Puppy Ear Structure & Anatomy
Your dog’s ears have four basic sections, including:
- flap
- outer ear
- middle ear
- inner ear
The reason a German Shepherd’s ears stand up erect is because of the rim of cartilage that gives structure and shape to each ear.
But in newborn puppies, the cartilage hasn’t had time to form and harden.
German Shepherd Puppy Ear Taping and Gluing
German Shepherd puppy ear Taping
Ear taping guides your puppy’s ears into the correct upright position without being invasive or uncomfortable. To do this:
- Insert a plain popsicle stick into the center of each piece of foam.
- Insert the popsicle stick/foam into the ear.
- Wrap the surgical tape around the outside of the ear to hold the insert in place.
Leave this in place for a week and then remove it to see if any changes have taken place.
German Shepherd puppy ear gluing
With ear gluing, you don’t need to cut off any air circulation to the inner ear canal.
- Add a dab of glue to the outside of the inner ear flap about two-thirds of the way down from the ear tip.
- Press the two ear flaps together for 30 seconds to allow the glue to set.
The glue will wear off on its own after a while and you can observe if the ears are able to remain upright and erect with this method.
Quick Brace System
There’s also a Quick Brace system that teaches you what to do to support your dog’s growing ears.
Surgical correction of flopping ears
And when all else fails, your canine veterinarian may be able to surgically prop your puppy’s ears up into the desired position.
To learn more, click here!
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ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
The King Shepherd
Meet The New King of The German Shepherd Dog Breeds
King Shepherds are a relatively new dog breed, and look a lot like overgrown German Shepherds.
This new breed got its start on the East Coast of the United States, where American and European GSD lines were crossbred.
This produced an all-purpose working dog without the genetic health issues that are commonly seen in German Shepherds.
Click below to learn more about the King Shepherd!
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FEATURED VIDEO
Best Way to Leash Train German Shepherd Puppies
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We would like to take this opportunity to raise awareness for www.newbeginningsrescue.com.
This is a rescue charity that does amazing work to raise awareness for the thousands of GSDs needing homes across the USA.
They're a national rescue of 17 years and have a sister rescue in LA that is a GSD rescue as well.
They do need help getting the word out that they're trying to find fosters in all states.
They also need drivers to get these amazing dogs from point A to point B in those areas.
They help countless medical cases and heartworm positive dogs and always need donations from other animal lovers as well.
Please visit their website for more information and to find out how you can help!
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