Taping puppy's ears
 

Hi, my puppy is 16 weeks old and his ears are still floppy (only the top 1/3). Initially, I was against taping his ears because I feel it is cruel to do it to him (this is just my opinion). Then I started doing a lot of research on taping yorkie's ears and I found out that not every yorkie's ears will stand on their own. I found a site (now I forgot the link) that said most yorkies' breeders tape them when they're about 4 weeks old. So by the time when they sell them, their ears are standing.

Most instructions I saw said use tape but his instruction was less painful for my puppy.

The 1st step is:

1) Trim the hair inside and outside of the ear (top 1/3 portion). Wet it and trim the ear. I find this safer because you can see the rim of the ear.

2) Cut a piece of gauze and fold it into square shape.

3) Cut the medical tape (about 10 cm long) and tape on the gauze.

4) Put the gauze on the front ear (in the middle) and tape around the ear.

Tape the ears for 3 days, remove it for a day, then tape it for 3 days. Keep doing this for 2 weeks. If the ear still flop, leave it for a week and then repeat the procedure.

If you puppy is more than 6 months and his/her ears are not standing, this procedure might not help the ears to stand.

The 1st few days, you'll see your puppy trying to shake or scratch it off. I've to tape 3 times on his left ears (because he kept scratching it off). Today is the 3rd day, I took it off and I do see a little difference. The ears are not as flop as previously. When I remove the tape, he didn't scream and I didn't rip any hairs off his ears. Don't use masking tape/scotch tape, these tapes will rip their hairs when you remove it. Medical tape is more expensive but it doesn't hurt them.

At 16 weeks your baby is still teething and more the likely this is the reason the ears are down. This happened to Tigger and I did exactly what you are doing now, but I gave it some time and They are now back to normal and standing perfectly erect. There's nothing wrong, Don't tape them right now. Give them a few weeks and if you don't see any improvement talk to an experienced breeder, groomer or vet. I'd suggest going to the vet first and then the breeder. best of luck

Both of my Yorkies ears was down at that age Minnies stayed down alot more then Mickeys so we trimmed hers and it helped alot, She had a lot of long heavy hair on her ears. But we never taped them and they are standing good now.

trimmin
 

I had her ears trimmed today. The ears look stronger.
Hopefully this works