Ear Petting

VegasResident · 08-20-2010, 06:43 PM

Today I was socializing Rom with some people cause well he just LOVES people and a few of them were so enamored by him that they pet his ears straight back on his head a number times (about 30 seconds or so when they did)......do y'all think his ears will end up having a problem from this?

They did not fold them back where they bent inside out (such as where you see pink), they just pet them in the direction they were laying back on his head at this time. He is currently kinda holding them towards the rear so the petting just kinda flattened them in that direction

We try to be so careful, but they mauled him and his head before I could catch it.

Wolfiesmom · 08-20-2010, 06:48 PM

He should be ok. I have had people do this to Wolfie before I could say anything. I always make sure to tell people to not touch his ears.

Ryder&SophieSue · 08-20-2010, 06:54 PM

See that is one thing we make sure we do...pet and rub the ears all the time...My dogs love it...We will pull on their tails, not hard by any means just do stuff that kids or others may do b4 you can catch them...

selzer · 08-20-2010, 06:58 PM

His ears will stand if they are going to. What is much worse for ears is if they get a hematoma from shaking their heads during an ear infection -- that can break the ear so that it never stands again.

Gentle petting of the ears should not cause any problem at all. I pet my dogs' ears all the time, and that includes puppies.

Elaine · 08-20-2010, 07:26 PM

It's fine to pet the ears the way you describe. It's the folding and bending that can damage the cartilage.

VegasResident · 08-20-2010, 11:12 PM

Thanks everyone!!!!

dianak105 · 08-20-2010, 11:30 PM

I'm too paranoid maybe, because I make sure I tell everyone not to pet my pups ears. He' s 13 weeks and his right ear has just recently started standing up straight. Most of my friends and family already know not to touch his ears (because I constantly remind them LOL) but even with like strangers, I say "Oh, not his ears please" LOLOL. I'm sure they think I'm a rude b* but hey, whatever. LOL

gsd_lover · 08-22-2010, 12:46 AM

Our 4 month old's ears finally stood up last week and we are jumping for joy.....definitely no petting of her ears are allowed! She was squishing her ears while sleeping in her crate, making them flop. At night we gave her a much bigger enclosed spot in the house so she wouldn't do any more damage. Within 1 week both stood up straight. Worked like a charm - whew!!

Good_Karma · 08-22-2010, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryder&SophieSue

See that is one thing we make sure we do...pet and rub the ears all the time...My dogs love it...We will pull on their tails, not hard by any means just do stuff that kids or others may do b4 you can catch them...

Same here, I loved the soft floppy puppy ears so much I couldn't leave them alone! I was almost sad when they stood up...

doggiedad · 08-22-2010, 01:01 PM

i think your dog will be ok. when my boy was young
i didn't let people pet his ears. when people wanted to pet
my pup i would tell them you can pet him anywhere
except for the ears.

i really don't know if ear petting is harmfull. rather
than take a chance that ear petting could be harmfull
i didn't let people touch his ears.

08-20-2010, 06:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
VegasResident Master Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 919	Ear Petting Today I was socializing Rom with some people cause well he just LOVES people and a few of them were so enamored by him that they pet his ears straight back on his head a number times (about 30 seconds or so when they did)......do y'all think his ears will end up having a problem from this? They did not fold them back where they bent inside out (such as where you see pink), they just pet them in the direction they were laying back on his head at this time. He is currently kinda holding them towards the rear so the petting just kinda flattened them in that direction We try to be so careful, but they mauled him and his head before I could catch it. __________________ Dogs Teach Us Unconditional Love Bindi - GSD (standard coat)- High School Jingles Bell Doyle - (12/1993 - 08/2004) Binky - my soulmate GSD dog (12/19/99-11/16/09) I miss her.. Romeo Bär - Long Standard Coat GSD Last edited by VegasResident; 08-20-2010 at 06:48 PM.

08-20-2010, 06:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wolfiesmom Crowned Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3,810	He should be ok. I have had people do this to Wolfie before I could say anything. I always make sure to tell people to not touch his ears. __________________ Mom to Chases Wolfgang Heinrich Von Ryan aka Wolfie born 12/20/09 Waiting for us at the bridge is Chases Chieftain aka Chiefy Left this earth and left a hole in our hearts July 2000

08-20-2010, 06:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ryder&SophieSue Master Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Southern, IL Posts: 585	See that is one thing we make sure we do...pet and rub the ears all the time...My dogs love it...We will pull on their tails, not hard by any means just do stuff that kids or others may do b4 you can catch them... __________________ Andrea..... Love all my kids 2 and 4 legged.

08-20-2010, 06:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	His ears will stand if they are going to. What is much worse for ears is if they get a hematoma from shaking their heads during an ear infection -- that can break the ear so that it never stands again. Gentle petting of the ears should not cause any problem at all. I pet my dogs' ears all the time, and that includes puppies. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

08-20-2010, 07:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Elaine Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,784	It's fine to pet the ears the way you describe. It's the folding and bending that can damage the cartilage. __________________ Elaine and the herd

08-20-2010, 11:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
VegasResident Master Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 919	Thanks everyone!!!! __________________ Dogs Teach Us Unconditional Love Bindi - GSD (standard coat)- High School Jingles Bell Doyle - (12/1993 - 08/2004) Binky - my soulmate GSD dog (12/19/99-11/16/09) I miss her.. Romeo Bär - Long Standard Coat GSD

08-20-2010, 11:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
dianak105 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 47	I'm too paranoid maybe, because I make sure I tell everyone not to pet my pups ears. He' s 13 weeks and his right ear has just recently started standing up straight. Most of my friends and family already know not to touch his ears (because I constantly remind them LOL) but even with like strangers, I say "Oh, not his ears please" LOLOL. I'm sure they think I'm a rude b* but hey, whatever. LOL

08-22-2010, 12:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
gsd_lover Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London, ON Posts: 57	Our 4 month old's ears finally stood up last week and we are jumping for joy.....definitely no petting of her ears are allowed! She was squishing her ears while sleeping in her crate, making them flop. At night we gave her a much bigger enclosed spot in the house so she wouldn't do any more damage. Within 1 week both stood up straight. Worked like a charm - whew!!

08-22-2010, 01:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,846	i think your dog will be ok. when my boy was young i didn't let people pet his ears. when people wanted to pet my pup i would tell them you can pet him anywhere except for the ears. i really don't know if ear petting is harmfull. rather than take a chance that ear petting could be harmfull i didn't let people touch his ears. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

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