Fixing Ears

[Rottierule]

I was lookin at some pics on here and was wondering how I would go about fixin my 12 week olds ears there just floppy now was wantin to fix em were they would hang I'm sure you know what i am talkin bout no sure of the correct term but I know theres taping and massage seems like tapin would be easier anyone can give me input? and maybe how to do both?

[Rott-Wiley]

There are many different ways to tape an ear. You really need someone who knows what they are doing to evaluate your dog and determine if taping will help. That is really not something you can do over the internet.

[Rottierule]

Ok I'll try and find someone around here....Any ideas on who I might be able to ask? Maybe the Vet?


I was looking at this page and was going to go this way if need be
Ears

[Rott-Wiley]

What about the breeder of your pup, can they help you? That should be your best bet. They may even know if this is common in their line and if anything does need to be done.

[Rottierule]

eh she may but I think both of them have the floppy ears so I dunno if she would know or not.....do you think the vet might know be able to give any advice

[rotts and roses]

At 12 weeks a pups ears are floppy, they are big and flimsy. Both of my dogs ears turns inside out on many occasions, when they would lay down mostly,I was very diligent about correcting the ears immediately and usually spent an hour or two a day, a few minutes here a few minutes there, massaging the dogs ears into proper position, Now that they are 6 months the ears are becoming less flimsy and lay perfect. The plus side is my dogs ears are their "OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH" spot now. They go almost comatose when they have their ears rubbed or scratched.
Makes for effortless ear cleaning and vet checks. :D Unless it is severe I wouldn't resort to taping. Just my opinion


As per the link you posted"How to fix incorrect carried ears...
by: Gerard O'Shea
layout: Lotta Syvertsen
The following article is only relevant to show-dogs. If you intend to keep your dog only as a pet, it's not necessary to do this... Are you going to show your dog?Or is is a family pet?

[rotts and roses]

Originally posted by Rottierule

I was looking at this page and was going to go this way if need be
Ears

Upon further looking at this site I am mad! pictures of pliers, a hammer caulk duct tape, wrenches tape measure level etc! and a caption saying "all you need are these tools and a "PARE" of hands. It's translated from swedish or dutch? I believe( hence the abundance of misspelled words. I do not think this is a good site for taping instructions, every joe schmo out there with floppy eared dogs are going to just wrap duct tape around their dogs ears, There is not even instruction how to remove the damn tape "Ooops I got the tape on wrong.. rrrrrrip" :(

[los1]

Wow ,I was wondering the same thing however my dog 1 earn goes back .the other is fine they both were let's say a few days ago.People are telling me it's because of teething.I had 2 other rottie's before and remember their ears was floppy and would always flip backwards but I did nothing and they turned out fine.However this time the 1 seem to be just kept back in postion insted of forward and drag like the triangle shape.I have to admit this site is so great on info but was wondering can it be because I hear all these things that I'm just worry about nothing.See before I didn't know anything about ears and nature took it's course and things was fine(lol) but now hearing others rtalking about their dogs ears tapping messageing is scaring me to death.Got me thinking I better run off and get some tape ,massaging and go to the vet.

[samanthac]

Um, are you going to show your dogs? If not, why the concern about the ears?

Also, please note that there are a variety of methods used to tape ears. Some people use duct tape, others use electrical tape and still others, cloth tape. Some use ear glueor tape quarters or ear weights in. If you are going to tape an ear, remember to use talcum powder on the inner ear to help prevent irritation.

This is the method my breeder and many others use:

http://www.claussenk9rottweilers.com/Tape.html

Again, there are many ways to tape. You really need to see a knowledgeable person and have them show you how to do. If your breeder can't help you, try finding a local COE club or go to a breed show and ask someone there to help you.

[los1]

Originally posted by samanthac
Um, are you going to show your dogs? If not, why the concern about the ears?Because if I can correct now why would it make a difference if I plan on showing or not.

Also, please note that there are a variety of methods used to tape ears. Some people use duct tape, others use electrical tape and still others, cloth tape. Some use ear glueor tape quarters or ear weights in. If you are going to tape an ear, remember to use talcum powder on the inner ear to help prevent irritation.

This is the method my breeder and many others use:

http://www.claussenk9rottweilers.com/Tape.html

Again, there are many ways to tape. You really need to see a knowledgeable person and have them show you how to do. If your breeder can't help you, try finding a local COE club or go to a breed show and ask someone there to help you.

[SABELLESMOM]

A 12 week old puppy's ears are SUPPOSED to be floppy. You may be worrying about something needlessly. IF you see a problem, then worry about how to correct it. And your best bet would be your breeder.

Um, are you going to show your dogs? If not, why the concern about the ears?

Well, Jazmine had one ear with an extra fold. Every summer, she would develop an abcess at the apex of the fold. It was painful for her so obviously it can be important even to those who'll never show. Agreeably, perhaps not all have Jazmine's trouble, but why take the chance?

[los1]

that's what it seems like my pup an extra fold.He can move it and all but won't come all the way forward because of it.

[laurlitt]

Originally posted by samanthac
Um, are you going to show your dogs? If not, why the concern about the ears?

So... only people who are going to show a dog should care about a conformationally correct dog (or even just the aesthetic parts of the conformation)? I disagree...

I have been shown the taping procedure shown in the first link (the one w/ all the tools)... I never used it, but have heard it has good success...

[samanthac]

Relax. :) Don't get your panties all in a bunch. :D I just asked a simple question as to if these people were showing their dogs and if not why the concern over ear carriage.

I wasn't implying that they should not care about their dogs ears, I was asking a simple question as frankly I've never been asked by anyone who was a pet Rottweiler owner how to fix their dogs ears. Aside from aethetics I did not realize that there were medical conditions that could arise from an improperly folded ear.

And pet or not it still has to be done right. You just don't throw tape on ears and hope they set correctly. And to go a step further a bad ear carriage is a bad ear carriage and no amount of taping will fix that. SO, why put the dog through that if ts not necessary?

[spidey]

a bad ear carriage is a bad ear carriage and no amount of taping will fix that.

I agree with this. I know that some feel that the jury's still out about whether taping helps or not (it's very hard to know if taped ears which ended up okay would have ended up okay anyway, whether they were taped or not - but if taping is done carefully and correctly, it's unlikely to damage the dog, so I guess it can't hurt to try), but a major component of ear carriage is just the way the dog's ear is (leather, placement, musculature, some combination of things), and taping can't fix that. Also, if taping is to be done correctly, it's a fair amount of work, and I too don't really see the point with a pet (if it were my dog, which it isn't), unless the folds were such a mess that it could cause problems.

Oh, and I think the pliers and stuff on that site were meant to be a joke. Yet more proof that humour doesn't always transfer well. I thought it was funny.