I set the clock by the rise and fall of his ears!

rcase · 11-18-2010, 01:55 PM

My seven-month old GSD has a funny pattern of ear behavior.
1. Mornings begin with the flying nun.
2. He sleeps for a few hours in the kennel while I am at work. I come home and both ears are up.
3. By about 8:00 pm, only the right ear is up.
4. At 10:00, we are back to the flying nun.

He is a big boy, weighing in at 60+ pounds and just now 7 months. Also, he has some big honkin', Bugs Bunny-lookin' GSD ears on him. I know that the up-down thing is normal, but does it take this kind of pattern?

GSDAlphaMom · 11-18-2010, 01:58 PM

It is normal but at 7 months he is in the 'iffy' window. I know it's possible for ears still go up at that age but if they aren't up by 5 months I use forms.

There's a ear stage pictorial in the puppy section.

PaddyD · 11-18-2010, 02:35 PM

Take him on walks and put him in situations where his curiousity or alertness will put his ears up, those exercises will help.
I believe that big boys mature more slowly so don't start worrying yet.

GSDAlphaMom · 11-18-2010, 02:36 PM

Here's the link: Ear Stages - a pictorial

rcase · 11-18-2010, 02:45 PM

Paddy D., I have never thought about how gender differences influence the ears. I wonder if that is true. Our friend's female GSD's ears went up at 3-4 months. I think that he has his adult teeth, but he is still chewing a lot of bones and toys. Also, he is one big galoofy, clutzy dog with feet the size of dinner plates. I wonder if he is just still maturing. Interesting...

11-18-2010, 01:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
rcase Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 37	I set the clock by the rise and fall of his ears! My seven-month old GSD has a funny pattern of ear behavior. 1. Mornings begin with the flying nun. 2. He sleeps for a few hours in the kennel while I am at work. I come home and both ears are up. 3. By about 8:00 pm, only the right ear is up. 4. At 10:00, we are back to the flying nun. He is a big boy, weighing in at 60+ pounds and just now 7 months. Also, he has some big honkin', Bugs Bunny-lookin' GSD ears on him. I know that the up-down thing is normal, but does it take this kind of pattern?

11-18-2010, 01:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
GSDAlphaMom Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 2,228	It is normal but at 7 months he is in the 'iffy' window. I know it's possible for ears still go up at that age but if they aren't up by 5 months I use forms. There's a ear stage pictorial in the puppy section.

11-18-2010, 02:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	Take him on walks and put him in situations where his curiousity or alertness will put his ears up, those exercises will help. I believe that big boys mature more slowly so don't start worrying yet.

11-18-2010, 02:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
GSDAlphaMom Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 2,228	Here's the link: Ear Stages - a pictorial

11-18-2010, 02:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
rcase Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 37	Paddy D., I have never thought about how gender differences influence the ears. I wonder if that is true. Our friend's female GSD's ears went up at 3-4 months. I think that he has his adult teeth, but he is still chewing a lot of bones and toys. Also, he is one big galoofy, clutzy dog with feet the size of dinner plates. I wonder if he is just still maturing. Interesting...

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