To take or not to tape?

[k_sep]

Luna's ears have been doing the ear dance for about a month now and she's about five months old now. They've both been fully up before, but only for two days. Mostly, one ear is up, then the other ear comes down. It's very strange, but overnight she'll change ears and they very rarely are up at the same time. They both zoom straight up when she's alert and focused on something and can keep them like that for a time, but when she's not interested any more, which ever ear is being lazy for the day will flop back down. Lately they've been doing a kind of "half mast" sort of thing that looks hilarious, like this:

Now, I've been to different websites about taping and gluing, and I really don't like the idea of gluing, call me weird. I'd rather go the taping route and plan on doing it how this website says: Leerburg | Taping German Shepherds Ears. But I've also read that if the ears come up (both, that is) at some point, then they should come up naturally after the teething. I'm just wondering whether I should be proactive and tape them just in case? Opinions are much appreciated!

[sagelfn]

I wouldn't tape at least not yet. Ask your breeder if soft ears have happened in their lines or if ears have required taping.

Give raw knuckle bones to help strengthen those muscles and wait.

[k_sep]

She's a rescue, so I have no idea about her background. And she gets lots of raw knuckle bones, lots of things to chew on! How long do you suggest I wait if there is no change?

[Lyz]

One of my rescue Shepherds ears didn't go up until he was a little over six months old. They took a variety of shapes and directions until that day, but they eventually did go up on their own.

I had one breeder who swore by rubbing the base of the ears daily, for a few minutes or seconds. It was said to increase bloodflow to the ears, and thus increase the standing time. I'm not sure if this is true - but I've done it to all my dogs and never had a problem.

5 months seems a bit too early for me, though.

[brandeeno]

Lyz,

I have read else where not to touch the ears at all. I have no clue what is true. Does anybody else have any thoughts on this? Has anybody tried the rubbing ears "method"?