PUPPY EAR DOESNT WANT GO UP - Page 2

Very pleased to hear it Paris, you sound like a sensible person.

marge,these people are not covering anything up as most are naming the stud,and passing on any information and help to the origanal thread.If it is being openly discussed over the internet then how is it covering up?For the record Urban has many fine progeny around the globe and is a fantastic male with a superb temperment.

I had to tape my females' ears. I believe my other dog was to blame, he messed with them alot. But don't worry Marge, she was spayed, I just didn't want her to get laughed at by all the other GSD's, lol. I began taping at about 6 months per the breeder, when all her adult teeth were in. I had to tape and re-tape them for about 4 months, but in the end they both stood. At first I was very discouraged, I was not prepared to have to tape them for so long. But the breeder encouraged me to keep at it, and it finally worked.

How can someone love and care for a dog for 6, 7 or more months and then give it away because the ear doesn't go up? My dog would be devistated if I just gave him away to another family. I don't care if his ears ever go up. Even if he has HD I would NEVER give him back to the breeder... we will get him surgery, if he's a candidate. I paid $2500 for him and he is cryptorchid and shy. Am I dissapointed? Yes. But I would never give him back, it's not his fault. I will just do things differently when we get another puppy. So, we wont be breeding him and probably wont do Schutzhund either, but he's a sweet, smart boy and we just love him.

Melissa, when I first started I would have totally agreed with you, my dogs are treated like family. However I also started with showing/competing and eventually breeding in mind. 5 years later I am stuck with limited space and 2 pets: (1) cryptorichid male that had to be neutered, with no drive and questionable temperament and (1) Dysplastic female who although has great drive and temperament, but is very gun shy. I finally suceeded with my third dog who was acquired as an adult (figures). Point being, I kept both of the first two because I felt like you. However in the future If I purchase a puppy again will prepare myself to return the dog or find him/her a home if things don't work out. It is something that must be done if one decides to get serious about Training/showing/breeding. No doubt it will be difficult, but I agree, it is best for the dog. Much of my spare time is spent training, therefore the dogs that are not eligable to be titled do not get as much attention as the one who does.

No, I would rather see him/her go to a nice home. I just look at my puppy and it would kill me to give him away. I do understand people wanting the pup for specific reasons. I just think that the puppy sees this as his home... but his ear doesn't go up so he has to leave. It just seems sad to me. Sure, they get over it. When I realized that I had a shy puppy, I was pretty upset. I figured he wouldn't have the temperment for schutzhund and considered giving him back. THEN I found out he was cryptorchid - and I was REALLY upset. But, after a few weeks he just grew on me so much that now I would never consider giving him up. We may get another puppy when this one is a little older, and will be more careful with our selection process :) That was a kind reply, Wisc, thank you.

GSDfan, thanks for the response, I would like to know more about when you had your dog neutered. I've heard conflicting things. My dog is going to have a nice, big head, and I don't want him to lose that due to neutering. His testicle is in his abdomen. When did you have your dog neutered and how is his head? Thanks!

Melissa, the puppy in question is almost 9 months old and NO we are in no rush to rehome him at this moment in time, we bred the pup and retained him along with his litter sister, this puppy was spotted at 3 weeks old as pick of males, so YES we will be devastated if we have to rehome him, but not even going to think about that yet as his ear WILL COME UP i am so confident (and hoping and praying), we are a show kennel and cannot keep everything, we already have 2 pet GSD's and the rest are for showing as GSDfan and WISC said much of our time is training the dogs for the ring so if the pup is not eligible for the ring NO he wont get as much attention so therefore a good pet home is the best for him, although he does get to go out for walks.

Melissa, I had him neutered around 7-8 months old by recommendation of my vet. I didn't know any better so I listened to them. If I had it to do all over I would have kept him intact until he turned 2 yrs. old. In one of the last threads concerning cryptorchids someone posted saying the retained testicle may have caused behavior problems in their dog. They said the heat from being inside the body made the testicle produce more testosterone causing the dog to become aggressive. It's the first I have heard about it but it made sense to me, so I would probably have the retained one removed earlier and leave the other until 2 yrs. old. It seems to me that my boy stopped maturing, mentally and physically (not in size but masculinity), when I neutered him. I strongly feel that a male NEEDS his hormones to reach full potential, which other members confirmed in threads concerning this matter. Yes his head also leaves something to be desired, it is not big or very masculine. Maturity wise he acts like a child, even the other dogs sometimes look at him like "grow up" when he pesters them. I also have a 6 year old intact male, and the difference between them is huge. It may just be genetics, but I can't help to wonder what if... Take care, Melanie

When I was referring to his "questionable temperament", here's why. He has a "thing" for ladies with white hair. He shows aggression only to ladies with white hair, other than that he's actually sort of a wuss, but very outgoing and friendly. I dunno what to make of it, its weird, lol.