The Ears

Dr. Teeth · 07-10-2011, 01:44 AM

So I'm on the fence about gluing the ears. Breeder says don't do it, wait.
Background:
My male pup is 6M 7days. The ears feel thick and the bases are firm. He will carry them up on his own for brief periods during intense play, and yesterday two ears up ( shaky but up) for the 40 minute morning walk. We come home, he relaxes and they flop. I'm running out of patience and don't want to blow it by waiting. His demeanor is a little bit lazy for a GSD, he has some drive, but he is definately a softer temperment than I am used to. Is this part of the problem? Physically he was a big pup but has averaged out nicely, thick bones, big paws, big ears, gorgeous coat. He lost his last tooth two weeks ago. Is it time to glue?

He is a highline dog with a V father and a VA1 grandpa with V and VA as far back as the page goes. Am I wrong assuming they should go up. I'm sitting here thinking how is this possible in a gorgeous helathy pup from these lines. Am I over reacting? or is it time.

koda00 · 07-10-2011, 07:46 AM

I am also on the fence as well

Zorro is also 6m 7 days today. he has 1 ear totally erect for over a month now, his left ear will come up in the morning, then go back down. 2 months ago it was the opposite ear.

So i know it has potential.

horsegirl · 07-10-2011, 07:53 AM

I would glue , now

cta · 07-10-2011, 08:40 AM

from what it sounds like, they should stand on their own.what about his siblings were any of their ears up? i'm curious as to the actual success rate or ears standing after they are glued...does it really work or is it something that is completely genetic?

doggiedad · 07-10-2011, 08:49 AM

GET OFF THE FENCE and plant your feet
on the ground and make a decision just
kidding. Dr. Teeth; the dog i have now
is from a line with all the bells and whistles
also and his ears went up a 5 months. before that
his ears did the "ear dance", they were up, down and all around.
my last GSD was from close to ok lines and his ears went up
at 6 months. his ears did the dance also.

koda00 · 07-10-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cta

from what it sounds like, they should stand on their own.what about his siblings were any of their ears up? i'm curious as to the actual success rate or ears standing after they are glued...does it really work or is it something that is completely genetic?

For me....Zorro was from a litter of 9, ive only seen 3other sibling recently, and yes their ears are all up. i just want to know if anyone knows...is there still a chance it will stay up????? what would be the lastest i should think about helping him out??? is 7 m too long to wait?

cta · 07-10-2011, 12:22 PM

my dogs ears were up and down until about 6 months. at 9 weeks, his sister's ears were totally up, but his were as floppy as can be. i could be wrong, but i feel like if they don't go up on their own soon, they will never go up. i don't mean to rain on the parade...maybe somebody with more experience will chime in about the whole ears up/gluing thing.

PaddyD · 07-10-2011, 12:28 PM

I would wait. Some of the bigger dogs' ears go up later because they are expending all their energy growing (JMHO). Take him on frequent walks so that he has more opportunities to exercise his ears. Take him to places that are interesting to him like the woods where he can look for things to chase.

kayek9 · 07-10-2011, 12:45 PM

Why wait? What's it gonna hurt to tape? I would seriously be in a panic if I had a 6 month old with soft ears. My rule of thumb here is if they're up young and fall, wait to tape till 5 months, but if they're not up at all by 4-4 1/2 mos, I tape as a precaution. I generally have very strong ears in my line, so to have a pup who's ears are not standing by 5 months is rare, but it sure wouldn't hurt to get your pups in tape at this point. Why leave it to chance????

Dr. Teeth · 07-10-2011, 11:25 PM

I ordered the glue and the breathe right strips, they'll be here next week.

My only fear on gluing is that I turn my back for 10 minutes and he's ripping a whole in his ear with a claw. After I posted I looked up taping methods for a previous breed I owned, Giant Schnauzer they are much more into foam forms, and then both ears are braced together with tape.

07-10-2011, 01:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dr. Teeth Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Denver Posts: 51	The Ears So I'm on the fence about gluing the ears. Breeder says don't do it, wait. Background: My male pup is 6M 7days. The ears feel thick and the bases are firm. He will carry them up on his own for brief periods during intense play, and yesterday two ears up ( shaky but up) for the 40 minute morning walk. We come home, he relaxes and they flop. I'm running out of patience and don't want to blow it by waiting. His demeanor is a little bit lazy for a GSD, he has some drive, but he is definately a softer temperment than I am used to. Is this part of the problem? Physically he was a big pup but has averaged out nicely, thick bones, big paws, big ears, gorgeous coat. He lost his last tooth two weeks ago. Is it time to glue? He is a highline dog with a V father and a VA1 grandpa with V and VA as far back as the page goes. Am I wrong assuming they should go up. I'm sitting here thinking how is this possible in a gorgeous helathy pup from these lines. Am I over reacting? or is it time.

07-10-2011, 07:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
koda00 Master Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NH Posts: 523	I am also on the fence as well Zorro is also 6m 7 days today. he has 1 ear totally erect for over a month now, his left ear will come up in the morning, then go back down. 2 months ago it was the opposite ear. So i know it has potential. __________________ Jo Kitty 10/1990-10/23/08 kitty rip Koda 1/20/00-10/03/09 gsd rip. Kassie 6/1/08 kitty Zorro VomTraumhof-1/3/11-gsd,Ob101,CGC,RN Ryker 2/20/10-gsd "Poseidon VomTraumhof" VP5 3-6 mo. conform.VP16-9 mo.confrm. AKC S.T.A.R pup,Obed.101, CGC.

07-10-2011, 08:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,846	GET OFF THE FENCE and plant your feet on the ground and make a decision just kidding. Dr. Teeth; the dog i have now is from a line with all the bells and whistles also and his ears went up a 5 months. before that his ears did the "ear dance", they were up, down and all around. my last GSD was from close to ok lines and his ears went up at 6 months. his ears did the dance also. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

07-10-2011, 12:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
kayek9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 359	Why wait? What's it gonna hurt to tape? I would seriously be in a panic if I had a 6 month old with soft ears. My rule of thumb here is if they're up young and fall, wait to tape till 5 months, but if they're not up at all by 4-4 1/2 mos, I tape as a precaution. I generally have very strong ears in my line, so to have a pup who's ears are not standing by 5 months is rare, but it sure wouldn't hurt to get your pups in tape at this point. Why leave it to chance???? __________________ Kathy www.kayeshepherds.com]

07-10-2011, 07:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
horsegirl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 306	I would glue , now

07-10-2011, 08:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
cta Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Just outside of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 637	from what it sounds like, they should stand on their own.what about his siblings were any of their ears up? i'm curious as to the actual success rate or ears standing after they are glued...does it really work or is it something that is completely genetic?

07-10-2011, 12:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
cta Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Just outside of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 637	my dogs ears were up and down until about 6 months. at 9 weeks, his sister's ears were totally up, but his were as floppy as can be. i could be wrong, but i feel like if they don't go up on their own soon, they will never go up. i don't mean to rain on the parade...maybe somebody with more experience will chime in about the whole ears up/gluing thing.

07-10-2011, 12:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	I would wait. Some of the bigger dogs' ears go up later because they are expending all their energy growing (JMHO). Take him on frequent walks so that he has more opportunities to exercise his ears. Take him to places that are interesting to him like the woods where he can look for things to chase.

07-10-2011, 11:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dr. Teeth Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Denver Posts: 51	I ordered the glue and the breathe right strips, they'll be here next week. My only fear on gluing is that I turn my back for 10 minutes and he's ripping a whole in his ear with a claw. After I posted I looked up taping methods for a previous breed I owned, Giant Schnauzer they are much more into foam forms, and then both ears are braced together with tape.

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