If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
German Shepherd Ears..
We brought home the new puppy on Monday and have a question about ears. His
breeder explained it to us and has since discussed it more over the phone/email, but I still dont get it. He is 9 weeks old (born Aug 4). The breeder told us that his ears should be up by 3 months, but would probably fall again (and just be all together weird) when he started teething. When we brought him home the left ear was up, right was down. Over the next day, we noticed that his ear was mostly up, but sometimes down. Then, it was down more than up and the right ear was about 3/4 of the way up. Now (Saturday) both ears are down. If we get his attention, he perks them up but they only stand halfway - divided straight in the middle. I know that its not even a week, but they are just all over the place and now they dont even prick up when he is excited. The breeder warned us of the dogs playing too rough (also have a 10 month old Lab mix) and watching that the kids didnt handle his ears roughly or it could damage the cartilage. But, how rough is too rough? The kids are easy, dont mess with his ears - pet his body. We never leave the dogs unattended, but Rayden (the GSD) is always ready to fly across the room and jump on Cypher's head. Which of course ends with the two of them wanting to wrestle. We've never observed anything like smashing of the ears or biting of the head (sometimes they will grip each others muzzle), other than Rayden occassionally rolling around on the floor. But the whole litter was doing that when we saw them.. So my question is: how rough is too rough? have we already lost any chance of him having erect ears? or should we just seperate them completely? Most of their play consits of "I can fetch the toy before you can" and tug-of-war with the rope as well as just racing around the yard like wild fools with the kids. Occassionally, Cypher will jump over him or crash into him and both will end up rolling end over end. Guess Im just paranoid, but the idea just isnt clicking in my head. Esp now that his ears arent up at all. From the breeder and the vet, it seems that *POOF* they will just stand up like magic. A lot of websites cover how to tape up ears, but no real information on what is normal as far as how they actully work. ack.. please just tell me Im being paranoid. I dont want to call and ask his breeder to explain it to me again (lest she think Im mentally deficiant). Ill post pictures when I get a chance. These guys are keeping me too busy! dainerra |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"CaptRon" wrote in message nk.net... ack.. please just tell me Im being paranoid. I dont want to call and ask his breeder to explain it to me again (lest she think Im mentally deficiant). You're just being paranoid. Google on "german shepherd puppy" in the images section. You'll see picture after picture of floppy eared GSD babies. GSD have the wierdest ear transformations imaginable - they go up, down, towards each other, flying nun - all over the place. If they don't go up by about 4 months, you may have to think about taping them, but chances are they will be fine. Christy |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
9 wks old they wont be totally up on their own yet anyway, to be on the safe side you could try taping them up, this will ensure they stay that way. Too rough generally means pulling the dog about rather like children would a toy, pulling ears, tail, etc - this is generally not a good thing to allow children to do to dogs regardless of age of pup anyway, even the most even tempered dog when riled is unpredictable on this one. Laurie http://212.67.197.157/~admin8/forum/index.php?act=idx "CaptRon" wrote in message nk.net... We brought home the new puppy on Monday and have a question about ears. His breeder explained it to us and has since discussed it more over the phone/email, but I still dont get it. He is 9 weeks old (born Aug 4). The breeder told us that his ears should be up by 3 months, but would probably fall again (and just be all together weird) when he started teething. When we brought him home the left ear was up, right was down. Over the next day, we noticed that his ear was mostly up, but sometimes down. Then, it was down more than up and the right ear was about 3/4 of the way up. Now (Saturday) both ears are down. If we get his attention, he perks them up but they only stand halfway - divided straight in the middle. I know that its not even a week, but they are just all over the place and now they dont even prick up when he is excited. The breeder warned us of the dogs playing too rough (also have a 10 month old Lab mix) and watching that the kids didnt handle his ears roughly or it could damage the cartilage. But, how rough is too rough? The kids are easy, dont mess with his ears - pet his body. We never leave the dogs unattended, but Rayden (the GSD) is always ready to fly across the room and jump on Cypher's head. Which of course ends with the two of them wanting to wrestle. We've never observed anything like smashing of the ears or biting of the head (sometimes they will grip each others muzzle), other than Rayden occassionally rolling around on the floor. But the whole litter was doing that when we saw them.. So my question is: how rough is too rough? have we already lost any chance of him having erect ears? or should we just seperate them completely? Most of their play consits of "I can fetch the toy before you can" and tug-of-war with the rope as well as just racing around the yard like wild fools with the kids. Occassionally, Cypher will jump over him or crash into him and both will end up rolling end over end. Guess Im just paranoid, but the idea just isnt clicking in my head. Esp now that his ears arent up at all. From the breeder and the vet, it seems that *POOF* they will just stand up like magic. A lot of websites cover how to tape up ears, but no real information on what is normal as far as how they actully work. ack.. please just tell me Im being paranoid. I dont want to call and ask his breeder to explain it to me again (lest she think Im mentally deficiant). Ill post pictures when I get a chance. These guys are keeping me too busy! dainerra |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Matt Hogg" wrote in message ... 9 wks old they wont be totally up on their own yet anyway, to be on the safe side you could try taping them up, this will ensure they stay that way. Too rough generally means pulling the dog about rather like children would a toy, pulling ears, tail, etc - this is generally not a good thing to allow children to do to dogs regardless of age of pup anyway, even the most even tempered dog when riled is unpredictable on this one. Laurie http://212.67.197.157/~admin8/forum/index.php?act=idx thanks for the info. Im not worried about the kids as they are never alone with him. Plus, even at 3 the youngest knows "what not to do" when petting the dog. Mostly, I was worried about the 2 dogs playing too rough. And I know that the puppies played rough amongest themselves. Margaret said that she only had one pup whose ears NEVER came up (even after taping). She said not to worry about it until after 3 months. dainerra |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
"Christy" wrote in message ... "CaptRon" wrote in message nk.net... ack.. please just tell me Im being paranoid. I dont want to call and ask his breeder to explain it to me again (lest she think Im mentally deficiant). You're just being paranoid. Google on "german shepherd puppy" in the images section. You'll see picture after picture of floppy eared GSD babies. GSD have the wierdest ear transformations imaginable - they go up, down, towards each other, flying nun - all over the place. If they don't go up by about 4 months, you may have to think about taping them, but chances are they will be fine. Christy Thats what his breeder told me.. And if he DID have floppy ears, we'd love him just the same. I just dont want it to be something that we have done wrong. hehe We've been waiting for 8 years to have a place where we could get our dream dog. I am posting a picture to www.geocities.com/kepytan/My_Photos.html dainerra |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Rayden's ears are fine, he's a very good looking puppy I am sure he (and his
ears) will live up to your expectations as a perfect family pet. There is something I would share to with you concerning his ears. They are very susceptible to infection. This is do to the way the ear canal is shaped. If you hold your hand in front of you palm down, then lower your thumb as far as possible, that is the angle of the ear canal and hence they become infected very easily. If this is not properly ands regularly attended to you could have very serious complications including surgical removal of the ear flap or with infection that close to the animals brain death is possible. Contrary to what you've been told I have never met a GSD that doesn't appreciate having his ears rubbed. And that lends itself to easily caring for the protection from ear infections. By all means ask your Vet to instruct you to proper cleaning techniques of the ear canal. The medicine is not expensive and the dog doesn't mind it at all. A properly cared for ear will make a unique kind of sucking or popping sound when the ear canal is clear. Good luck with Rayden, I am sure he will make a very good addition to the family. Rick -- "Always do Right - This will Gratify Some and Astonish the Rest" Mark Twain "CaptRon" wrote in message ink.net... "Matt Hogg" wrote in message ... 9 wks old they wont be totally up on their own yet anyway, to be on the safe side you could try taping them up, this will ensure they stay that way. Too rough generally means pulling the dog about rather like children would a toy, pulling ears, tail, etc - this is generally not a good thing to allow children to do to dogs regardless of age of pup anyway, even the most even tempered dog when riled is unpredictable on this one. Laurie http://212.67.197.157/~admin8/forum/index.php?act=idx thanks for the info. Im not worried about the kids as they are never alone with him. Plus, even at 3 the youngest knows "what not to do" when petting the dog. Mostly, I was worried about the 2 dogs playing too rough. And I know that the puppies played rough amongest themselves. Margaret said that she only had one pup whose ears NEVER came up (even after taping). She said not to worry about it until after 3 months. dainerra |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
New pics of Chad German Shepherd | Brian | Dog activities | 2 | November 7th 03 11:21 AM |
Going stud fee's for German Shepherd | me | Dog activities | 1 | August 4th 03 12:41 PM |
German Shepherd, or Not? what sort of dog is it? | Sasha | Dog breeds | 3 | July 11th 03 06:29 PM |
German Shepherd, or Not? what sort of dog is it? | Sasha | Dog breeds | 3 | July 7th 03 06:26 AM |
German Shepherd, or Not? what sort of dog is it? | Sasha | Dog breeds | 3 | July 6th 03 06:12 PM |