How to tell GSD floppy ears? White on back feet, genetic? - Page 1

I bought a 9 week old german shepherd puppy for the purpose of training her in Schutzhund and showing. I had planned on breeding her to pay back for the cost of training and titling. I have been looking for the right dog for over a year before I found the puppy I bought recently. I contacted the breeder about her puppies and told her what I was looking for. The breeder told me the puppy she was selling would be perfect for schutzhund, showing and breeding. The puppy I bought, does have great bloodlines with some world champion show dogs. All her backround is titled besides her mother and father, the breeder never had them titled. She showed me her grandparents bloodlines and titles and I had the impression it was her parents, so I bought her. I didn't realize until later her parents were not titled, but I was already attached and couldn't bring her back. She has a little bit of white on her back feet and her ears are going up and down, one goes up and down more then the other. But, most of the time they are down (kinda of hanging to the side). She will be 16 weeks (4 months) in two days (may 30th). Do you think she has floppy ears? What about the white on her feet, genetic? Should I not tape her ears and see if they stand to be sure she doesn't have floppy ears before considering breeding? Can I still show her? She does have an high ball drive and I have already started her on bite work, she is doing very good. She also has canine distemper, I hate to say I bought a sick puppy, I didn't know she was sick until I brought her home and the breeder told me it was normal and from stress. But, all the early symptoms was canine distemper, so I had her tested and she was positive. I have been treating her and she stopped showing the bad symptoms about a week ago, she is just on a prevetion for several months just to protect her brain. It never spread to her brain, spinal cord or foot pads. I started treatment before of any of this. She is on a raw hamburger diet and this actaually helped her improve faster from distemper. She also gets rose hips (Vitamin C) three times a day, as well as many herbs that I used to treat canine distemper. Should I give her calcium as well? I did hear calcium is not good for a growing puppy. Just concerned I bought a puppy and I cannot breed her, due to floppy ears and small white spots on her back feet.

OK, to start off with, some white on the pup can actually be fairly norml. It is caused by the white spotting gene. As far as the ears, those will go up and down during teething. If they were up already, chances are they will go back up. Have the pup chew on safe toys, knucklebones, etc to strengthen the muscles.
As far as the distemper, you should have returned the pup to the breeder. However, I do commend you for taking care of the pup.
Now, as far as the pup's parents not being titled, that is all on you and not doing your homework before buying.

Sounds like a baited trolling post to me....... and what a surprise 1 of 1.  I have to admit though and just had to comment that I have never seen a puppy with distemper started on bite work and doing good! You have way too many more reasons not to be breeding than white toes or floppy ears on a puppy. Yikes....

I bought a female distemper survivor at 8 months old, she's 8 years old now and plays like a freaking puppy. She has more energy than any dog that I have. She can hit a sleeve like a lion too. She is generally quiet but protective as the devil. I never bred her but she has played with ever pup born here like she was  their mother. She's pretty much been a biscuit eater for me but no one could offer enough money to buy her from me.

German shepherd 3, Forget your worries, i bet, even without seeing your puppy that all will be fine. Firstly, the white on her back toes will fade away or disappear beneath. Secondly, her distemper will increase her natural immunity, so she'll never know, sick or see distemper again-real goodnew 4 u. Thirdly, at 4 months old she still have one month plus to firm-up her ears. Mine had ears i'd never thought would see the skies, but after i dewormed her, the following day her ears began to spring-up. But after a couple of days they fell back and were floppy; today she has excellent set of ears. Note, though that i mentioned "deworming", it had nothing to do with her ears, apart from the fact that she was heavily infested that her nutrition is seriously compromised. Now, once your pup fully recovers her ears will stand up at attention. Quote me in this pdb. Expect erected ear before her sixth months of age. Just continue with your good works on her. Good luck.

I bought a 9 week old german shepherd puppy for the purpose of training her in Schutzhund and showing. I had planned on breeding her to pay back for the cost of training and titling. the ods are you will only spend more money trying to recoup by having a litter the costs of titling and the rest...dont bother.


All her backround is titled besides her mother and father, the breeder never had them titled. She showed me her grandparents bloodlines and titles and I had the impression it was her parents, so I bought her. I didn't realize until later her parents were not titled, but I was already attached and couldn't bring her back. -you got screwed - did the perents at least have their hips and elbows checked?

She has a little bit of white on her back feet and her ears are going up and down, one goes up and down more then the other. - ears go up and down while teething...

But, most of the time they are down (kinda of hanging to the side). She will be 16 weeks (4 months) in two days (may 30th). Do you think she has floppy ears? What about the white on her feet, genetic? - yes genetic - will cause more white feet.

Should I not tape her ears and see if they stand to be sure she doesn't have floppy ears before considering breeding? Can I still show her? Not with floppy ears.

She does have an high ball drive and I have already started her on bite work, she is doing very good. -How does a sick puppy have any drive?

She also has canine distemper, I hate to say I bought a sick puppy, I didn't know she was sick until I brought her home and the breeder told me it was normal and from stress. -should have handed it back ASAP.

She is on a raw hamburger diet and this actaually helped her improve faster from distemper. She also gets rose hips (Vitamin C) three times a day, as well as many herbs that I used to treat canine distemper. I did hear calcium is not good for a growing puppy.  - lack of a BALANCED DIET is not good for a puppy of any age!

Just concerned I bought a puppy and I cannot breed her, due to floppy ears and small white spots on her back feet. the majority of dogs should not be bred, purchasing a puppy is a long shot......if you want to breed, purchase a top quality female with certified hips and elbows and show and working titles and breed surveys......it will be less expensive in the long run.