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11-30-2010, 06:21 AM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: uk
Posts: 154
| 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? |
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11-30-2010, 10:37 AM | #3 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 80
| 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! |
11-30-2010, 10:41 AM | #4 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL
Posts: 1,400
| 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. |
11-30-2010, 10:58 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 7,651
| 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.
__________________ FlDebra and her ABCs Annie, Ben, Candy Promoting Healthy Breeding to the AKC Yorkshire Terrier Standard |
11-30-2010, 11:09 AM | #6 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mt. Washington, Ky
Posts: 16
| We are getting our first floppy eared Yorkie in a few weeks. We hope they stay floppy...they're cute! |
12-15-2010, 01:28 AM | #7 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: uk
Posts: 154
| 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 |
12-15-2010, 01:55 AM | #8 |
Between♥Suspensions Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vaissades
Posts: 7,979
| 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. Last edited by concretegurl; 12-15-2010 at 01:59 AM. |
12-15-2010, 04:39 AM | #9 |
YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Posts: 492
| Haha floppy ears are sometimes cute, maybe the other ear is kind of heavy that's why it's floppy. |
12-15-2010, 06:28 AM | #10 |
Poppy's Mamma ♥ Donating Member | 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.
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12-15-2010, 06:39 AM | #11 | |
Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa
Posts: 12,552
| Quote:
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. Last edited by JeanieK; 12-15-2010 at 06:43 AM. | |
12-15-2010, 07:31 AM | #12 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 7,651
| Quote:
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.
__________________ FlDebra and her ABCs Annie, Ben, Candy Promoting Healthy Breeding to the AKC Yorkshire Terrier Standard | |
12-15-2010, 07:42 AM | #13 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 7,651
| Quote:
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.
__________________ FlDebra and her ABCs Annie, Ben, Candy Promoting Healthy Breeding to the AKC Yorkshire Terrier Standard Last edited by FlDebra; 12-15-2010 at 07:45 AM. | |
12-15-2010, 09:45 AM | #14 | |
Between♥Suspensions Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vaissades
Posts: 7,979
| Quote:
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? | |
12-15-2010, 10:03 AM | #15 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 7,651
| Quote:
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.
__________________ FlDebra and her ABCs Annie, Ben, Candy Promoting Healthy Breeding to the AKC Yorkshire Terrier Standard | |
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