ears
 

why is there an obsession with taping ears? i live in the uk and we don't do it how do ears go up naturally on there own? my little lady tilly is 4 months and one ear just shot up and the other is floppy. is there anything i can add to her diet to help the othrr one go up?

the other one will go up. Charlie's was like that and I just let it go and one day it was standing straight up. I called it his lazy ear.

I don't know if this works for every yorkie but..... Milli's ears were floppy at first and when we had her groomed the first time they shaved the hair on her ears. I supposed she thought her ears felt 'lighter' and they both just popped up straight! :rolleyes:

I think Ziva's ears would have gone up anyway but I massaged her head and the base of her ears a few times a day and they were up within 3 days. I think it made her realize they were there.

Shaving that hair off them takes a lot of weight off and they will usually rise on their own. Some genetics are involved though as some dogs just have larger, heavier ears that never stand up. The top third of the ear should at least be shaved. Some people shave more when they are having trouble with the ears perking up. But I have only done the top third corner.

I have never taped either. Seems like an ordeal for both puppy & owner. But I would probably try it if my dog's ears were not standing up on their own and with the shaving. It is part of the standard to stand erect.

We are getting our first floppy eared Yorkie in a few weeks. We hope they stay floppy...they're cute!

i was hoping tilly would have floppy ears but one up and and down is cute too lol
te head stroking sounds fun... note to self must hug her more :)

Shaving ears allows more ability to "lift" them...and then they can pout a little better, when they want something too. I have to add out of my own curiosity-why are people so obsessed with ears going up-it causes ear infections; ears naturally flap down to protect the opening from wind etc. I was shocked when adopting my Miniature Schnauzer at the process of ear cropping (common in that breed) Mini Schnauzies are prone to ear infections (they need their ears plucked often) from both water intrusion and from debris and wind irritation-why then would anyone want to unprotect their ears from their natural state of protection-it doesn't even look good! Now given it is cuter than anything when Elvis (Yorkie) puts his ears up and pouts at m or looks confused lifting his ears up and down and all around (they were just shaved so they move all over now)-but taping them to keep them up? I just don't get it and find it irresponsible if there is no need besides well a want for an unnatural and seemingly hazardous choice (the risk of infection)-is there any medical need to tape ears up or to cropping them (besides in fighting dog and the justification is to protect them from being torn and bitten off..hmmmm)? I do have the tails docked on all my dogs (well was done prior to them coming to me, but I hear it aids in the balance-?) and their dewclaws removed-actually had to have Scoobers done myself as he was a rescue and it was never done prior to being with me.

Haha floppy ears are sometimes cute, maybe the other ear is kind of heavy that's why it's floppy. :p

Poppy's ears are floppy too and I have never tried to tape them.
She will be having her first groom after Christmas, so maybe they will stand up then.
But either way I dont mind. I quite like them floppy.

Actually it is the opposite. Dogs with floppy ears have more ear infections because they stay moist. Dogs with erect ears can still put their ears down to protect from the wind. Having erect ears is not unnatural, Most of them stand on their own NATURALLY

Erect ears is the yorkie standard, so people tape them and shave them to encourage them to stand. But if you like them floppy then don't bother with it.

On the other hand there is absolutely NO reason to dock tails and many countries have outlawed it. It is for looks only.

I don't think there is an obsession here at all! The only taped ears I have ever seen are in pictures on YT. A lot of whether a dog's ears stand or not are genetic. If you have a good well-bred line, their ears are going to stand with no more help than to maybe keep the hair cut off the tips of them. I have never taped a dogs ears. All of my pups had their ears standing nicely before 12 weeks old, actually I think about 8 weeks.

Taping the ears is merely a method offered when people ask (as you are doing) what can be done when their ears are not standing on their own by this time. Before considering taping, I would definately make sure to shave the top third of the ear triangle -- both sides. That takes the weight off and ears that are not as well muscled will be able to stand. Some may still not stand and then taping may help. Soem just never stand -- as I said -- genetics.

As far as diet -- not sure about adding anything -- just be sure the pup is on a premium puppy food. I have read that calcium supplements, even adding a TUMS (for yorkies it would probsbly be more like a 1/4 of a tums a day), adding glucosomine, can possibly help -- but I would ask your vet before giving anything other than puppy food to a 4 month old yorkie. I have my suspicions people say these things work because the ear stood up when it would have also stood if nothing was added. Teething can make their ears flop even if they were previously erect-- so maybe there is something about calcium being redirected to teeth. IDK.

The yorkie standard is to have erect ears. (See YTCA.org or AKC.org) As I explained before, well-bred lines are going to stand on their own for the most part. But sometimes genetics gives weaker muscle, heavier ear leather, or too much ear hair and they tend to flop. I can't see how it would be irresponsible to give them a little help as long as nothing was done to hurt the dog. Taping properly does not hurt them. Most people want a yorkie to look like a yorkie and erect ears are a part of that look. I love the floppy-eared puppy dog looks too -- just not what a yorkie is supposed to look like, so I would not want floppy ears on mine. Many others do not either. Nothing wrong with seeking ways to help them look more like a yorkie is supposed to. I think of it as grooming ideas -- and always suggest shaving the top third triangle before anything else is done.

I also have to agree with JeanieK that a floppy-eared yorkie is going to have more infection problems due to the moisture retention. Wind does not cause infections but providing a nice dark, moist environment definately promotes bacteria and yeast growth. So keep those little ears up if you can. :)

One question -- how old was your dog when dew claws were removed? Did they put them to sleep or use local? I was asked about this once and had to refer to a vet as I have always done my pups' dew claws with their tails on day 3. Wasn't sure about having them done later.

Scoobers was 7 months-I think about then-it was done more so on an emergency basis though-he had one snagged on something I forget what we were jogging and a bit later he was bleeding still, not sure it can be done anytime on a just because basis-I think it has to be an emergency like his but we did have both done at that time. It was pretty scary but he did fine, he was given a shot in each leg and one is his neck to "calm him" so I'm guessing it was a sedative and two locals-? Not sure that's how it should be done though I was shocked when people on here talked about their dogs getting put under for teeth cleanings and the vets and groomers are all very against it here-seems by and large California is against any sedation for dogs.
WOW I feel silly after going back and reading about ears and infections on here and double checking-everything I had been told prior was wrong! Well opposite I guess...I thought I had the safer option for my dogs with their ears and apparently not-good thing we do ear plucking and regular cleanings, always making sure they are dry! I was always told that with floppy ears you only worry about yeast, and them getting dried but having ears up was so much worse...so glad I read this and there are so many informed people on YT-not that anything can be done all my dogs are well over a year old now so...but I'll worry less on those rare occasions when their ears go up and they're out in the wind! Glad the AKC standard was posted with this explanation-I wondered why ears up and pointed completely erect was part of the standard if it was bad for them! So are docked tails unnecessary then? I went all over a bunch of links and the only things I can find are unfactual points of argument on both sides but only one link listing studies and facts Tail Docking | Should it be done? anyone?

Thanks for the info on removingdew claws later on. I guess it would probably be better to leave them alone if they weren't causing any problems. So maybe Emergency is about the only way it is done later in life.

As for the tail docking being necessary or unnecessary.......that is a debte for another thread. :) I love the way mine look with docked tails but I did feel a little stab when I took the pups in for their docking & dew claw visit. They didn't do more than a tiny little squeak though. None cried or acted like it hurt them other than that one little peep. So, my guilt feeling went away quickly. I think it would seem to be easier to keep them clean under a little stub of a tail instead of a full one and I can see it would be a little safer as to not getting shut in doors or gates. But how often that happens with full tails, I am not sure. I doubt we could justify it purely on a safety basis. As long as the standard requires it, I will have it done. But I would not fight against having it taken out of the standard. I would miss the look though -- personally, I prefer the look of that little nibben of a tail -- it is so demonstrative! :) I also have a strong affinity for "tradition." The docked tail is definately part of yorkie tradition.