The Importance...

[RussiansOwner_MszPoochie]

Hey guys!!!
So I have to admit, i didn't know that the ears standing up was such a vital part of GSDs. I mean, i had a pitbull mix back in JA whose ears usually stood up and fall back down so i thought that it was just a dog thing until today

Russian's ears stood up last night and I woke up this morning and they were still up there...came home from school and those bad boys were reaching for the sky. So i just thought it was cute and was saying, "oh they'll be down by tomorrow" (me being completely ignorant about GSDs). So now my mom came home and started freaking out, "Shereena why Russian doing dat to his ears " (lollol poor us huh) So i immediately came on here and realized we should actually be celebrating not worrying

So i googled and didn't find anything, I even went on Cesar's site. So can anybody tell me whats the importance of the ears standing up plz?

[sportsman1539]

I dont know if it's necessarily important. I think its more that when people think of a german shepherd, one of the first things they think of is those big erect ears. It gives the dog a more alert look. Also when the ears are in the floppy stage, alot of people who dont know alot about shepherds think your pup is mixed with something.

[GSD_Xander]

Originally Posted by RussiansOwner_MszPoochie

So i googled and didn't find anything, I even went on Cesar's site. So can anybody tell me whats the importance of the ears standing up plz?

It helps when picking up the local cable stations! LOL

But, really - the only thing I can think of is that maybe it helps them hear a little better but - I don't know.

It does make them look very alert - and sometimes when they're going through those wonky ear stages it makes them look downright goofy.

I know there are a lot of breeds - like great danes and dobermans - that, when born, their ears are "down" and it's only through taping that the dogs ears stand on their own.

Wikipedia says this about Dane ears:
" In the past, when Great Danes were commonly used to hunt boars, cropping of the ears was performed to make injuries to the dogs' ears less likely during hunts"

But Wiki also says that it is now done almost purely for cosmetic reasons.

A shepherd's ears (usually) will stand naturally so - I'm sure that was a trait bred into them early on but I'm not sure why.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by RussiansOwner_MszPoochie

So can anybody tell me whats the importance of the ears standing up plz?

It's part of the breed standard - GSDs are not supposed to have floppy ears, it's a fault.

But other than that, if you don't care and don't plan to show your dog it's not important at all.

[RussiansOwner_MszPoochie]

lol okay, thanks guys