WHAT is up with Kane's ears??????????????? PICS ADDED

[gritsar]

Kane is now 15 weeks old (a long haired GSD), almost 16 (4 months old). His ears were up for weeks, but they went down about a week ago and haven't come back up. They aren't completely down. They have a "peak" to them.
When will his ears go up? I'm so worried that they won't! DH says that because his ears are heavier than Jax's (from the extra hair), it's going to take him longer. People on the GSD forum tell me not to worry until he is 4 1/2 months old, but that is quickly approaching and he seems to be going backwards!

I am going to be so sad if his ears don't go up.

None of the dogs in his bloodline have had a problem with their ears standing - I've checked with the breeder. His sire has one ear that's a bit off center, but it's from an injury to the ear as a pup and not genetic.

 

[Julie_A]

Any pics? Which breed LGD is he?

 

[OccamsTazer]

Could you tape 'em up until his cartilage matures?

You could make an ear-shaped thingy out of foam, and use that and some medical tape to hold them erect until they harden up. I'd think if they're too heavy during a key stage, they could end up permanently floppy...

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I'll get pics later. He's a german shepherd, long haired from excellent bloodlines.

 

[Crazyland]

Change shepherd forums... lmao PM me if you want a smaller group with not so many big mouths.

You will find that some take months to settle.
Mace came home with his ears up, and they stayed up until 5 months when they fell while teething. His brother on the other hand was nearly 6 months before they stood. My first GSD had his ears up from birth and they never went down.
I wouldn't worry to much if you are giving him a lot of oral stimulation to work the ear muscles and that his pedigree doesn't have soft ears dogs. If you are bothered at 6 months of age THEN tape them.
Also the long haired don't take longer than a stock coat.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I thought of that and/or glue. I know how to do it, I've researched doing it. I don't want to rush into it though. Plus, he's with his brother Jax part of the day and there's no way Jax would be able to resist anything on Kane's ears.
He hasn't started teething yet; he's been slow to mature. I'm hoping once he does start teething, they will go up. He gets plenty to chew on, besides his raw food he had toys. He just hasn't started yet. Has a mouth full of baby teeth.

I forgot to mention. Jax is from the same bloodlines. They are brothers on their sire's side, and cousins on the dam's side - their dams are sisters. Jax's ears were up when we got him at 13 weeks old and have stayed up; never once going down even a little, even through the teething stage.

 

[Julie_A]

GS are so beautiful!!!

 

[Julie_A]

Duh, got my acronymns confused. Was thinking LGD when you meant GSD. LOL Sorry!

 

[gritsar]

This is what Kane's ears looked like roughly a week ago:

This is Kane's ears now:

 

[Crazyland]

It is just the puppy ear dance.

You will have a lot more worries about them. Since they already stood like in the first picture you don't need to worry.