i need help ,my dog has not erected ears!!!!!!!!! - Page 2

Hi you all! On this metter, I belive the truth is somewhere in the middle - it's definitely not ethic or permitted to perform this kind of cosmetic surgery on a dog; no matter what the reason was for his ears not to be erected , the judge would penalize it if discovered. On the other hand it's so very easy to be ethic and correct when it's about somebody else's dog, but when it comes to your own... If the dog is a good one, with good bone structure, temperament, pigmentation and so on and thinking (or hoping) that the reason for the defect is other than genetic, it seams right and motivated.

Jackpot, you cannot be serious!!! So now we should go out and videotape all the dogs with pasted forms in their ears and wait for them to earn a top show or Kore rating and jump out with proof that they don't deserve this and certainly should not be bred? And maybe we should contact the SV and share with them all the progeny of their top dogs that have "soft" ears. I can understand a problem with "surgical alteration" because that is immediately a tabboo. But I can not believe that gluing a support in the ear of a young pup renders the pup uneligible for any formal show (in fact, I read about that method in Winifred Strickland and James Moses book "the GSD"). But I do hereby nominate you ear warden for the breed. (By the way, your invitation to visit any of the top breeding kennels in Germany and the USA is now revoked)

"Ear Warden".... That is the funniest thing I have read on this message board in a long time! I love it.....L. M. A. O.

Hi Keeper, I'm very serious. The only way we can eliminate problems is by being honest to our self, about our dogs breeding capacity and revoked the dog, which for one reason or another is not suitable for breeding. If we don't do it, what will be the next, maybe operations because the hips are bad? Where will you draw the line? To your information I live in Europe and visit top breeding kennels almost every week.

If this is a pet and no plans for breeding, I see no reason why she can not help her dogs ears stand. Deb

Surgery is not an option. That is a direct alteration of a dog. But putting a form in to support the pup during growth periods should not be considered an alteration. They are many forms available but most are simply marketing ripe-offs and can actually do harm to the pup's skin if it burns the area. I do not recommend intervention unless the pup is over 8 months old. At that point I would suggest that you read the German Shepherd Dog (by Winifred Strictland and James Moses) or purchase the "german forms" from a breeder that deals directly with German Kennels.

I believe that intervention to help the ears stand is not a "sin". Surgery on a breeding dog? NEVER. But on a companion animal, if the owner wants to pursue that route can be beneficial. GSDs with erect ears seem to have fewer ear infections and infestations in my personal experience. I use a very lightweight German form to help through teething time if the ears are very large or the ear leather is heavy. In most cases, I'm sure the ear would stand without the form, but I'm totally paranoid. The most it seems to take is 7 days with the form, usual diet that includes unflavored gelatine and lots of recreational chewing. I'm loving the new forms. They are ventilated which I think leads to fewer problems with irritation. They are very lightweight and don't drag the ear to the side and if you only need one form, you don't have to use two just so you can brace the ears upright. JDN

Janis, please tell me where you get the ear forms, OK? Thanks.

Kerry, a friend of mine in Germany sends them directly to me. Email me if you would like some. I'm not in the biz of "selling" ear forms, but I have some extras. JDN

I don't need the ear supports at this time. I've had problems with ears in the past, and I was curious about the construction and procedure. Thanks for your thoughtfulness!