EARS-: Once up ALWAYS up:TRUE/FALSE? - Page 1

I read once on this database that if a GSD pup's ears were once all the way up, they will go back. Is this true? Also saw that the pup dshould not be dominated by another dog - what the heck does THAT have to do with ears standing up? If nutrition is right and bad ears aren't genetic, should be ok, right? My pup just turned 14 weeks one ear up and strong - other ear up down up down up down.

False!!!!!!!! DJ

A confident dog will help keep his ears in the desired erect position until they are strong enough to do so on their own. A worried, submissive dog keeps his ears down and folded; not what you want. ~Tips from the "ear perker." lol!

Heh heh! DUH - THAT was too easy...thanks beetree LOL! Next thing you know, they'll be telling me I better not yell at him for peeing on my carpet...(:) )

False! I read that also and didn't worry when my boy' ears went down. I got the beautiful floopy ear dog now.

At 14 weeks the ears are often down. No way to be sure that ears will stay up forever at this age. Smaller pups with smaller ears tend to go up at a younger age. Give your 14 week old a knuckle bone and don't worry about it at this young age. At 5 to 6 months; after teething is finished; you can become more concerned and consider setting them. During teething the ears often go up and down. I do not believe that you can determine confidence based only on if a 14 week puppy already holds the ears up.

FALSE. Speaking from experience, just because they are up at 8 weeks does NOT mean they will stay up! I had been told this (ears that have been up will always go back up), and had passed on that false information previously. Fortunately, at 14 weeks, they are teething, so ears up and down is completely normal! :) The things that DO work to help ears go up? Chewing on big bones (works the muscles), building confidence in your dog (yes, no SCREAMING at or HITTING them!), someone said gelatin, but I have never seen proof of this..... These are all things that will help progress a normal pup's ears standing. A dog that has floppy ears? Possibly taping/gluing them up, but then they should not be bred. Ears that are meant to hang will probably always hang. JMHO.

Re: I do not believe that you can determine confidence based only on if a 14 week puppy already holds the ears up. (trysil) I never said that! I said confidence HELPS, ... blah blah blah... The context was to why someone would suggest the pup not be dominated. ~the ear perker. LOL PS: And it is way cheaper than anything else. But I agree 14 wks is way to young to say you have an ear perking problem. I used to ask my black GSD rescue pup, each day at that age, so do you wanna be a Labrador, or a German Shepherd Dog? Anything but the dreaded mixed-up! In the end he was all for GSD!

You should let them stand by genetics only.. If some lines are breeding floppy ears and you have to use something to keep/make them stand up, I do not like this!!! I think this may not be best for business but it is best for the GSD!!!! Best Regards, Dennis Johnson www.johnsonhaus.com

Hundguy, While I understand your position, I do not agree. If someone has a PET puppy GSD, and they want to tape the pup's ears up, I see absolutely no problem with that. Who wants a GSD with floppy ears????