Ears not held right?

[Meegs]

Hello!
I have a question for all you show people!

My puppy (8 months) seems to hold her ears back against her head quite often..when she was younger I was told to massage them to help make them fall in the right way, i did this but nothing changed. She stills holds them nice and alert when shes playing and when shes alert but seems to fold them back when shes tired etc...is this just a submissive thing?

And also, she has a bit of curly fur down her spine...is this normal? I think its cute.

Im not plainning on showing her I just wanted to know for interest sake.

Any suggestions would be great, thanks :)

[CanineCoach]

I'm not a show person, but I think what you are seeing is normal. Handlers in the ring know how to get their dogs to look alert (ears up and lots of other stuff I don't understand). My breeder told me today that she has seen dogs do badly in the ring simply because the handler didn't show the head properly. But when they are just hanging out, I think it is normal for them to lay back. As long as when she is alerting to something they prick up, I wouldn't worry.

[Terri Lambert]

In a relaxed state the ears can be held back, as long as when she is alert the lay flat against head. The ears that are not properly held are folded ears or creased ears. And with her coat if she is going to shed soon that maybe normal. But if it is always curly that is not correct,.

[Meegs]

Thanks!

Her fur isnt really curly its just got a bit of a wave. i looked up the NZKC standards and it says that some curls are seen and accepted but excessive curls are not. Hers are quite slight but our old male didnt have any. Was just wondering.

Thanks for all the info :)

[Ayoka]

A friend of mine has a rottie who always "hides her ears" we worked quite hard one day to get pics of her with her ears up. I think it's just part of their own individual "expression" if you will.

[CanineCoach]

Well, put Ayoka! I agree!