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German Shepherd puppies have flappy ears, and as they grow, their ears will eventually stand up. However, not all German Shepherd dogs’ ears stand up at the same time others would, and a delay can be caused by various reasons.
So, exactly when do german shepherd ears stand up?
Age of Your German Shepherd
Averagely, German Shepherds’ ears stand up straight around the 20th week when they finish teething. Floppy ears are common on your German Shepherd, which is still teething. Before teething ends, the puppies have weak cartilage in their ear. By the time week 20 reaches and teething ends, the cartilage has grown tough enough, and the ear can stand up straight.
Between the time when a German Shepherd is weening itself out of the teething stage, as an owner of one, you might notice their ear changing between floppy and pointy. In response to noise, your dog’s ears might rise, and then immediately after, dropdown.
When you notice up and down movement of your dog’s ears, you do not need to panic. This is happening due to the development of the temporal muscle. Therefore, you should begin taking notice and wait for the day when they will stand up for good.
The Process Can Take Longer
As much as most German Shepherd ears stand up around the fifth month, it is important for you to note that some ears take more time to stand up. Dogs develop differently, and sometimes even puppies from the same litter will progress differently.
Some German Shepherds’ ears stand up early and others later. However, if the ears do not stand after eight months, there is a high probability that they might never stand up. This is because between the eighth and ninth months many German Shepherd ears begin taking up a permanent form.
What to Do to Help Your German Shepherd
German Shepherd dogs are quite famous and a favorite of many dog owners. German Shepherd dogs are not only service dogs and heroes but are also beautiful and amazing dogs. Other amazing facts about German Shepherd Dogs include their different coat types and variety of colors.
Let us not forget their large ears that stand up, showing their fierceness and alertness. Their ears make people believe that these dogs are always ready to strike even when they only want to play. However, your puppy’s ears may take time to stand up, and here’s how you can help them:
Take Care of Your German Shepherd’s Health
If, after five months, your German Shepherd’s ears have not begun standing up, you should ensure that your dog is in perfect health. Visit a vet and seek professional help. Do not be tempted to diagnose your dog or assume that the ears will never stand up.
Feed Your German Shepherd Healthy Food
You need to make sure the dog receives quality food regularly. Feed your dog with food abundant in vitamin D, protein, and calcium. There are many dog food options available in the market, but it is highly recommended that you carry out intense research before deciding what is best for your German Shepherd.
Do not stress yourself trying to feed your dog what your friend or neighbor advised you to feed it, yet it is expensive for you. Research and purchase available and affordable healthy food for your dog.
Sometimes, when a German Shepherd’s ears refuse to stand-up, it is a case of genetics and not nutrition. Some owners might try to make the ears stand up by taping, but sometimes that does not work because it is difficult to correct a dog’s genetic makeup. Taping also annoys or irritates pets.
Do Not Allow Other Dogs to Bite Your German Shepherd
Have you ever seen puppies or dogs biting and tugging on each other’s ears and thought that it was cute? Well, as much as dogs biting on each other’s ears looks cute and normal, the action can harm their cartilage. A damaged cartilage cannot support pointy ears, and they might end up remaining floppy permanently.
Handle Puppies Gently
Some people, especially children, handle puppies roughly. Talk to such people and ask them to handle your puppy in a gentle manner.
Clean Your Puppy
Whenever you see dirt inside your puppy’s ears, make sure you clean the ears carefully. You should use a gentle cleaning item such as a wet cotton ball so that you do not harm the ears. Avoid sticking anything down the ear canal as that can damage the dog’s ear. If you think you cannot clean the ears gently and in a safe manner, avoid trial and error. Take the puppy to the vet and seek professional help.
Ensure Your Dog is Happy
A happy German Shepherd is a healthy German Shepherd. Play games with your dog because they enjoy playing with their owners. When your German Shepherd is happy, they will have little to no psychological problems, and that means that they will develop well. When playing, you might start noticing the ears perking up within no time.
In the end, whether your pet has pointy or floppy ears, we should still love our German Shepherd and avoid being picky with appearances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my German Shepherd’s ears not standing up?
There are various reasons why your German Shepherd’s ears are still not up. One of the reasons could be your dog is unhealthy and lacks proper nutrition. Another reason could be its genes; the parents did not have pointy ears. Consult your vet to find out more reasons why your dog’s ears are still floppy.
Is taping effective?
Taping is often painless when conducted carefully and properly but causes irritation and annoys your pet. Sometimes taping works and sometimes it fails. Fixing or changing genetics is difficult and that is why it fails many times. Visit a vet for more information on the effectiveness of taping.
Is taping safe?
Consult a vet to find out whether or not taping is safe.