How Long Do German Shepherd Ears Take To Stand Up

Expert’s answer:

The time it takes for German Shepherd ears to stand up can vary from puppy to puppy. Generally, German Shepherd puppies’ ears can start to stand up anywhere from 8 weeks to 8 months of age. However, it’s important to note that every puppy is different, and some may have their ears standing up earlier or later than others.

Teething is often used as a benchmark for when German Shepherd puppies’ ears should start to stand up. Typically, once a puppy has finished teething, which is usually around 4 to 6 months of age, their ears should start to stand up or be fully upright. However, this is not a hard and fast rule, and some puppies may have their ears standing up before or after this timeframe.

It’s also worth mentioning that genetics play a role in determining when a German Shepherd’s ears will stand up. If you have access to the parents or lineage of your German Shepherd puppy, you can get an idea of when their ears may start to stand up based on the ear set of their parents or ancestors.

In summary, the time it takes for German Shepherd ears to stand up can vary, but it is generally expected for the ears to start standing up by the time the puppy has finished teething, which is around 4 to 6 months of age.

German shepherd puppy ears stages
German shepherd puppy ears stages – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What causes floppy ears in some German Shepherds?

Genetics. Your dog’s physical characteristics, including those adorable floppy ears, are largely determined by genetics. In all likelihood, your GSD will have floppy ears if they have the genes that cause them to lie down rather than stand upright. This implies that they might always have floppy ears that never stand up.

  • One of the cutest things to see is a German Shepherd dog with floppy ears. Cuteness abounds when one ear is up and the other is down!
  • However, you might be concerned about when the floppy ears on your German shepherd will stand up.
  • It’s normal, and I’ll explain in detail how to assist in repairing a German Shepherd with floppy ears.
How long do german shepherd ears take to stand up after
How long do german shepherd ears take to stand up after – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Can German Shepherd ears be taped?

In my experience, there is very little chance of success if a Shepherd puppy’s ears are taped after 7 or 8 months old and the puppy is not making a very strong effort to stand. The cartilage has already begun to harden at that stage of life, and it very well could harden with a “crease” in it. I often like to compare it to cardboard because, while cardboard can be very tough, once it has a bend in it, it will never be as tough as it was before the bend (similar to how ears harden while they are down).

There are several methods that can be used to give your German Shepherd’s ears the extra lift they require.

Remove the hard plastic clip from the center of each roller and throw it away. Only the pink, bouncy portion of the foam roller needs to be kept. If you can’t find the pink foam rollers, grey foam pipe insulation tubing also works well. You must cut this to the proper length, and I often thin them slightly with a scalpel blade as well. Since I can precisely fit the tubing to the dogs’ ears when they are sedated, I personally prefer using it. However, I would suggest the rollers for use at home.

Do german shepherd ears stand up naturally
Do german shepherd ears stand up naturally – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

When should I be concerned if my German shepherd’s ears don’t stand up?

You may want to speak with your veterinarian or breeder if your German Shepherd’s ears are not erect by the time he is five months old and you want this appearance. The ear cartilage is still soft enough to encourage the ear into an upright position between the fifth and seventh month. Usually, the ears develop into their adult shape by the eighth month.

While you’re waiting, snap lots of photos of your puppy’s amusing expressions and enjoy the wonderful dog that he is, whether his ears grow out floppy or straight.

Eating used to be your dog’s second favorite activity, right after fetch. The appetite of your dog has, however, been gradually declining lately. As dogs age, their sense of taste and smell declines, and the food doesn’t seem as appetizing, which can be fairly normal.

How long do German shepherds’ floppy ears remain that way?

It could take some dogs up to seven months. Since the majority of German Shepherds’ ears develop permanently at around eight to nine months old, if they do not stand up by then, they probably never will. Cached.

German shepherd puppy ears up at 8 weeks
German shepherd puppy ears up at 8 weeks – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Why, at 4 months old, are my German shepherd’s ears not up?

In some puppies, it may take up to 8 or 9 months for the ears of your German Shepherd puppy to stand up. If your dog’s ears don’t stand up straight or if your GSD has one ear up and one ear down, that is completely normal.

A German Shepherd dog with floppy ears is a cute sight to behold. Cuteness abounds when one ear is up and the other is down.

The question is, though, when will the floppy ears on your German shepherd stand up?

It’s normal, and I’ll explain in detail how to assist in repairing a German Shepherd with floppy ears.

How to make german shepherd ears stand up
How to make german shepherd ears stand up – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do German Shepherd dogs generally have floppy ears?

If the ears on your German Shepherd have always been floppy, it may simply be genetics. Many German Shepherds have upright ears, but some can have floppy or partially pricked ears. It is uncommon, but genetics can also influence a dog’s ear shape in the same way that it can affect their coat length, eye color, and coat color.

Due to the breeding practices of their breeder, German Shepherds can also have floppy ears. In accordance with the German Shepherd breed standard established by the American Kennel Club, the dog’s ears should be “moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground”. Large ears are a characteristic that judges of dog competitions and shows frequently look for.

Therefore, some breeders will attempt to breed German Shepherds with the largest, pointiest ears possible in ord
er to sell “show-quality” pups, but occasionally, their ears grow too large to support themselves and end up flopping.

German shepherd ears down
German shepherd ears down – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Why do my German shepherd’s ears keep dropping down?

Examine your German Shepherd for teething. During the teething process, many German Shepherds’ ears do not stand up. So if they are teething, try not to worry and be patient. In fact, when a child starts teething, it’s not unusual for their ears to rise before falling. So, exercise patience while teething continues.

You just brought a new canine friend into your home, then. Currently, a cute, little, and furry German Shepherd puppy is your new best friend. Although it has only been a few months, they have already become loyal and switched on. Every time you see the puppy, you hear someone say, “Aww,” and you can’t help but smile helplessly. But there is one issue. Their enormous ears are still floppy and unsteady. You’re concerned that this could indicate a problem in addition to the fact that you think it looks a little strange.

The good news is that German Shepherd ears typically take several months to fully stand up properly. In actuality, it frequently follows teething. Fortunately, there are a few other things you can do to encourage the ears to stand up. This training will make sure that your adorable dog develops into a well-groomed adult with functional ears.

It’s not as difficult as you might think to get your German Shepherd’s ears to stand up, thankfully. By identifying triggers and rewarding the behavior with delectable rewards, you can take steps to encourage them to naturally stand up. Many owners will also apply a small amount of tape to help develop the muscles and teach them to maintain their ears up.

How to post german shepherd ears
How to post german shepherd ears – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Are there any German Shepherds with floppy ears?

It may simply be a matter of genetics if your German Shepherd has always had floppy ears. Some German Shepherds may have floppy or partially pricked ears, despite the fact that most have upright ears. It is uncommon, but genetics can also influence a dog’s ear shape in the same way that it can affect their coat length, eye color, and coat color.

Due to the methods used by their breeder, German Shepherds can also have floppy ears. In accordance with the German Shepherd breed standard established by the American Kennel Club, the dog’s ears should be “moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground”. Large ears are frequently desired by judges at dog competitions and shows.

Therefore, some breeders will attempt to breed German Shepherds with the largest, pointiest ears possible in order to sell “show-quality” pups, but occasionally, their ears grow too large to support themselves and end up flopping.

How do I make the ears on my German shepherd stand up?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How do I make the ears on my German shepherd stand up?

Number 2. Span the ears. Now take a popsicle stick or similar object and horizontally tape it to both ears. By doing so, you can maintain the symmetry of the ears.

Floppy ears are allowed on purebred German Shepherds.

If the ears on your German Shepherd have always been floppy, it might just be genetics. Some German Shepherds may have floppy or partially pricked ears, despite the fact that most have upright ears. Although it is uncommon, a dog’s ear shape can be influenced by genetics in the same way that coat length, eye color, and coat color can.

Due to the breeding practices of their breeder, German Shepherds can also have floppy ears. German Shepherds are required to have ears that are “moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground”. Large ears are frequently desired by judges at dog competitions and shows.

Some breeders will attempt to produce German Shepherds with the largest, pointiest ears possible in order to sell “show-quality” puppies, but occasionally, this results in the ears flopping down because they are too big to support themselves.

When do the ears of German Shepherd puppies perk up?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

When do the ears of German Shepherd puppies perk up?

Between 8 weeks and 6 months, German Shepherd puppies’ ears can develop. I advise my puppy customers to become very interested in their ears if they are not awake when the dog has finished teething (this varies from dog to dog but generally between 16 and 20 weeks of age). It’s not time to panic, but it is a good idea to sit up and pay attention.

Make sure your puppy is healthy before doing anything else. Therefore, there are no intestinal parasites. Visit your veterinarian and have a stool sample examined. Additionally, it’s crucial to make sure the puppy is eating nutritious food. We feed and advocate for a raw diet, but if you choose to feed a commercial diet, I strongly advise doing your research and feeding the best food you can afford. View our selection of natural kibble substitutes.

Ears frequently don’t open until a baby is 4 1/2 to 5 months old. In fact, when a puppy starts to teeth, it frequently has both ears up for a brief period before dropping them. When this occurs, many owners panic. Not to worry though, I’ve never seen a puppy whose ears didn’t pop back up when this happened.

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(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Chelsea Vaughn

Chelsea is a former marine biologist who switched gears in her twenties to build a small house and start a business. She enjoys traveling and going on hiking adventures with her husband, their two Australian Shepherds and their African Grey Parrot.

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