Those D*mn Ears....

[SET Yorkies]

I need a few creative suggestions...... I sold a pup several months ago whose ears are just not coming back up.... They were up when he was placed around 15 weeks. She's taped them....ect... but nothing seems to work... She sent pics to me today and is quite frustrated..... Beyond the tape, I have no idea what to do.... We just don't work with dogs who do not produce free standing ears, so I haven't had to do a lot of taping, etc... Any ideas would be great..... She's pretty upset and as you are breeder, you understand the absolute importance of happy buyers.....

[tiggerr36792]

How old is the puppy now??? If he's teething the ears can and do often drop but after they are done teething they do come back up. Also shaving the tips of the ears will help the weight of the hair from pulling the ears down. How long has she kept them taped??

[SET Yorkies]

He's almost 5 months..... She says (they live in Austin so I haven't seen the puppy personally) she has kept the ears free of hair and she has had them taped for the entire time she has had him...... I've contacted all of the buyers of that litter and no other puppy in the litter has had this problem.... Everyone's ears are straight and there was no need to tape.....

[tiggerr36792]

He is starting to teeth and his ears will flop but they should come back up. I wouldn't have her tape them the entire time as his ears need some airflow or he can get an ear infection. I usually tape them for 5 days and then 1 day off for airflow, cleaning and shaving and re-tape if needed. Some puppies despite our efforts have ears that do stay down.

[EmrldShdwQueen]

You could also try mixing in a little cottage cheese with his food. The calcium restores cartilige to the ears.


Maddie's ears didn't fully stand until she was about 8 months old. One was up, one was down, then they switched, then they were both down, then both back up. The most important thing is keeping the hair off the tips and sides.

[PrestigeousYT]

I would say his skin on his ears have to need a break.
You can't keep them taped up all the time.
I would allow his skin on the ears to breath and sometimes when you give up on the constant taping they will come up.
His skin on his ears has to be allowed to breath.

deana
Prestigeous

[MyFairLacy]

some ears just aren't going to stand....if it's not working, it's not working

[ButterflyYorkie]

Originally Posted by PrestigeousYT

I would say his skin on his ears have to need a break.
You can't keep them taped up all the time.
I would allow his skin on the ears to breath and sometimes when you give up on the constant taping they will come up.
His skin on his ears has to be allowed to breath.

deana
Prestigeous

I agree. I have had a pup that had one ear that we struggled with for months. I taped it often, then finally gave up because it can be such a mess on the ear. The ear finally went up within 4 weeks, probably from getting more air flow and circulation. I think in many cases taping can speed them along but they are either going to stand or they aren't.

[Ladyhawk]

The pup would be cutting his incisors about now so give him time and a break from the tape. The muscles need to be able to have free movement to strengthen and develop properly for a good earset anyway.