Floppy ears in German Shepherds - genetical issue? - Page 3

Pedigree Database

Premium classified

This is a placeholder text
Group text

Premium classified

This is a placeholder text
Group text

Premium classified

This is a placeholder text
Group text

Premium classified

This is a placeholder text
Group text

Hundmutter

by Hundmutter on 16 April 2021 - 01:04

Klossbruhe there's a heck of a lot of those around ! I think the best thing we can do in all 'matters dog' is keep learning. If we make a point of keeping up with current info and research, whether its feeding or training, we may not agree with everything we hear but at least we avoid people calling us out as dinosaurs ! (What did your great-granny suggest for colds ?).


by Klossbruhe on 16 April 2021 - 12:04

My great grandmother who was alive until I was 9 claimed a mustard cloth on the chest help get rid of colds...no idea if it worked, my mother would have no part of it and my grandmother had died in the Spanish Flu of 1919 so I do not know if she used it either...

by jillmissal on 16 April 2021 - 18:04

berate every poster 

I don't think you know what "berate" means. 

99.9% of your posts tell us how stupid we all are and how intelligent and well informed you are.

No, YOU just said that. I didn't.

I think you're very sensitive to being disagreed with, especially by women. 

And I don't need to "reform" anything, I'm not anyone's mommy. Adult discourse is not for the meek, disagreement is par for the course. And I've provided sources EVERY TIME someone has challenged anything I've said. I made a factual statement and you flipped out completely. That's just...not my problem. It's yours. 

Few things seem to get dog people all worked up than being presented with simple scientific evidence and the input from veterinary professionals, so let's move on to that part. I don't have to be a vet to find out what they say on a given topic and most vets say that ear taping is useless (caveat, as I said before, no idea what they think on whether it works after you slice off part of the dog's ear). People want to apply all sorts of snake oil idea and anecdotal evidence against observable phenomenon and science.  It is also a FACT that supplementing a growing puppy with un-needed calcium can create very bad problems. Here is a source with lots and lots of other sources contained therein: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2010/01/nutrition-in-large-breed-puppies/

 


Hundmutter

by Hundmutter on 17 April 2021 - 02:04

"And I don't need to 'reform' anything, I'm not anyone's mommy."

What's being a mum/mom gotta do with anything ? You are getting a rep with many regulars on this board as somebody who cannot post without knocking whatever anybody posts if you don't agree with it, and doing so in less than polite terms. Its not that difficult to make a point WITHOUT name-calling or telling people they are talking bullshit. Its offensive and unnecessary. Not that I think Rik is always polite and reasonable, and when he or others are harsh I protest THEIR remarks too.

Not my business ? But if no one ever says anything, nothing changes. Or its just brushed aside as the Admins trying to moderate / do their job !

mrdarcy (admin)

by mrdarcy on 17 April 2021 - 04:04

C'mon peeps don't be so sensitive, don't like a comment? say so and move on not drag it on, thanks.

Rik

by Rik on 19 April 2021 - 20:04

hund, you made me LOL. I certainly can't under under any circumstances plead "not guilty".

so, let's go to the typical process that lead "newbies" to PDB.

1. they have an issue that vet can't resolve, or just interest in the GSD.

2. they do a GOOGLE and end up here, probably the largest site for GSD in the world.

3. they just want some opinions on the issue, or maybe some guidance on what direction they are interested in.

4. a few people are kind enough to offer their experience, we are all assumed to be adults and capable of making decisions to live with.

5. always and forever somebody shows up so infatuated with themselves that they think their opinions are "proven facts". all I did was ask jill of any evidence that posting doesn't help. not my experience.

this process is exactly what I followed in my very amateur excursion into GSL, including a very memorable trip to Germany.

as always,

jmo,
Rik


Rik

by Rik on 21 April 2021 - 17:04

Here is a veterinarian, I assume that means "qualified" and also looks to breed some nice GSD and her recommendations for posting. Pretty sure she also posted here a few times in the past.

Posting of GSD ears

a couple direct quotes:

"There is a lot of information and apparently mis-information out there about German Shepherds and their ears.":

"If their ears are not up by 4-5 months of age, they need to be posted."

"German Shepherd ear taping is something that many GSD puppy owners do not take seriously enough until it is too late."

so I do agree, don't just take any advice offered on a chat board. it might be legit and good or it might be from a fruitcake.

Rik


Hundmutter

by Hundmutter on 22 April 2021 - 03:04

So that website didn't cover much more than my (non-vet) earlier post already did. Its very detailed and clear tho, so Rik should be thanked for sharing it. Hope the OP finds it useful; hope any passing newbie finds it useful too (if they bother to read it all).  Some words of caution, however:

ROFL at some of the things the good Dr / breeder says  -  (not the factual points) !  EG What are "lop-sized kids" ? I take it she meant lop SIDED, given their non-appearance despite having their ears pulled ... What a strange analogy !

Like many experienced breeders I have known and who I have seen 'post' ears &/or talked with about ear taping techniques, I notice she is not so forthcoming on two points:  1]  is where ears are supported at the appropriate, timely 4 months, by someone who is practised at doing it - but then still fail to stand ( and I mean at all,  I'm not talking about a few days wobbles) i.e. it didn't work. As it sometimes does not.

2] How the new or amateur breeder who is first faced with this problem is supposed to tell by 4 months (especially given the imminence of teething) whether their pups ears will need posting - its all very well to castigate folk for not getting on and doing it quickly enough to (probably) get a good result, but I can entirely understand why some are hesitant and prevaricate about doing it. (Or delay asking someone else about doing it).

Plus IMO she underplays the importance to puppies' development of being free to play with littermates etc, without having to be restricted in case they destroy the carefully applied ear supports.

As Klossbruhe posted earlier, you'll never get soft ears entirely out of the breed because some of the dogs of the original stock naturally had dropped ears; those old genes have a habit of turning up somewhere.  Show Breeders who either fail to consider this in their breeding programmes, or get caught out despite attempts to avoid breeding with stock that carry it, will no doubt always try to 'put it right' according to the Standard so that they can go on Showing an otherwise good dog. But like other 'tricks of the trade', should they be doing that ? Should we disguise a natural fault ? Ever ?

 

 

 


Rik

by Rik on 22 April 2021 - 10:04

I do think the "lop sized" was just an over looked error, probably auto correct and I did spot one other.

And I don't think it was an article on how to, as I don't think any medical professional would offer much "how to" advice, just that it is sometimes necessary/beneficial.

There is also an article on her recommendations on feeding, which I found to be very interesting.

as far a lop sided ears, I have had two, one an ASL from many years ago and the second, more recent a GSL. both had normal sized, strong ears with one ear leaning a little side ways. neither I was able to correct.

as far as not breeding dogs that produce a high % of bad ears, I agree and most people I know do try to avoid it, as it can be a real pain in the ass. but sometimes it's too late before the issue is recognized.

I guess I won't talk anymore about that as personal/anecdotal experiences seem to put undue stress on some folks.

best,
Rik

Hundmutter

by Hundmutter on 22 April 2021 - 15:04

That's an awfully detailed article if it ain't supposed to be a "how to" one, Rik ! Frankly I'm glad to see it; if anyone wants to indulge and does not (as many here say they don't) have access to a more experienced GSD person, at least being able to access quite good & full instructions is one up on some of the rubbish available online.

I would be happier if those who use, or have used, such methods would be prepared to debate the ethical issues though. (Not stressed, just intrigued).





 


Contact information  Disclaimer  Privacy Statement  Copyright Information  Terms of Service  Cookie policy  ↑ Back to top