EARS-: Once up ALWAYS up:TRUE/FALSE? - Page 3

I saw a dog with wires permanently implanted in its ears once. It looked really stupid, not to mention what the dog went through. A lot of time and injury will damage the ear so it won't stand up, and older dogs' ears sometimes flop towards the end of their lives.

I've always thought it was cute on an old dog... with the graying muzzle, just a bit more character. 

SS 

The surgical procedures and calcium injections not only don't work, they often leave the ears mishappen and cause pain/discomfort to the dog. My theory...JMO.....is that since cartilage grows faster than bone, and ears are cartilage, the ears grow faster than the cranium.....and we all know that shepherds grow in fits and starts. The skull has to grow large enough to support the cartilaginous base of the ears. I am not sure if it is the teething that makes them come up and down, or the growth spurts that also occur between 4 and 6 months of age. This theory also adds to the observation that chewing can aid in the standing of ears. The use of the massetter muscles, especially during growth, will increase boney formation of the skull and the poll....the points of insertion for these muscles. 

I have not seen this "temperment" issue with ears. A shy dog will tend to hold their ears back when feeling threatened, but if the dog has genetically normal ears, they will come up in a non-stress situation (in kennel etc).

If I see one more shepherd puppy come in on calcium supplments for their ears, I will scream. 

K