Guide To German Shepherd Ears – Position & Stages

After your puppy has stopped teething around 20 weeks, his ears will start to show signs of growth. But why this long?

The German Shepherds’ cartilage can be too weak to support the large ears and weight. However, they will grow stronger cartilage as they get proper nutrition, and this usually takes around 20 weeks.

As they get about the teething stage and begin to become independent, their ears will start to change from floppy to pointy. It is possible to see them get up in response to noises, but they will quickly sink back down.

If during the first five month of the teething stage the ears are straightened, it’s more likely that they will remain straight and pointed in their lifetime.

Chew Toys

A great way to help German Shepherd ears stand is by keeping a chew toy around the house. Chewing helps relieve any stress and build muscles.

Most dogs like to play fetch with a ball or something similar. Giving your German Shepherd toys or a ball forces the puppy to use its paws and exert pressure on different muscles and bones. 

This can help strengthen the ear cartilage, which can take some time after teething!

Diet And Nutrition

If you’re looking to boost the process by which the ear cartilage becomes stronger, it’s important that your German Shepherd receives proper nutrition.

The best types of dog food contain all of the necessary nutrients to make ears stand up. A quality natural diet for a puppy should contain lots of protein and fats because these things are important for energy and growth.

In addition, it is recommended that you add supplements such as vitamin C to your dog’s diet. Vitamin C can increase blood flow which, in turn, can make German Shepherd ears stand up faster. However, you should note that vitamin C supplements can cause diarrhea if too much is consumed in a short period.

Taping

It is also possible to tape German Shepherd ears in an attempt to make them stand up. However, this method is not recommended because it can damage your dog’s cartilage and natural ear shape.

It should only be your last option. If your dog’s ears are still not standing up after 10 weeks, then you should consult with a veterinarian.

If this method is used, only use the right type of tape and don’t apply it for more than six hours at a time.

Teething

This is the most common reason why German Shepherds’ ears don’t stand.

Ear cartilage is not strong enough to support the ears during teething. But don’t worry because this usually changes as he grows.

Once he stops teething (usually after 6-7 months) his ears will start to stand up straight.

Genetics

Some German Shepherd breeds are more likely to have droopy ears than others. Sometimes, this is due to genetics, and if so, there is not much to do about it. 

Research which lines your dog comes from and look for a history of floppy ears. German Shepherds are known as a breed with the biggest ears, so it’s worth finding out if his ancestors had big years as well.

Breeding

It’s possible that your dog’s ears will never stand up. If this happens, consider consulting with a breeder. Also, ask them if the parent dogs’ ears didn’t stand either. 

You may find that your particular breed of German Shepherd is just less likely to have pointy ears than others.

Stress Or Trauma

This may have affected your German Shepherd puppy when he was just a baby. If his ears have been floppy since he was a puppy, you may want to consider the fact that something happened in the past that made this happen.

Maybe they were involved in a fight with another dog, and the trauma of that event made his ears remain down. 

Perhaps he had ear infections as a baby that required surgery or medical attention. Either way, they may have been traumatized.

You should never tape your German Shepherd’s ears until they have been standing for at least 10 weeks. 

If you try to force them up before the cartilage is strong enough, it can cause a lot of damage and actually hurt their natural ear shape.

Taping your dog’s ears should only be your last resort. 

However, if you still decide to go with it, make sure to follow these simple steps to ensure you do it safely:

• Talk to your vet first. They will give you the right type of tape to use. Use only one small piece of tape on each ear (don’t double up). Never leave it on for more than 6 hours at a time!
• Do not force your dog’s ears into position by taping it too tight or by pulling too hard on the tape. This is important! Only hold the ear in position with one hand while you are working on it.
• Don’t start taping until 10 weeks have passed so that your dog’s ears are strong enough to support themselves.
• Make sure the ears are clean and dry.
• If you use the tape, carefully cut it so that it’s not too long. This will avoid your dog’s hair getting stuck in the sticky part of the tape and becoming painful when you remove it. It can also cause a skin reaction if your dog licks at it or gets a build-up of wax underneath it.
• Replace it if it starts to come off. If your adhesive tape is not sticking well enough, replace it immediately.
• Some veterinarians recommend that you do this for two or three weeks and then stop applying the tape for a week before removing it completely. This will help prevent the ear from getting used to being down all of the time, as occasionally letting it be down for a day may help it to stand up again.

0-5 months

• ‘Floppy puppy ears stage’
• Your puppy’s ears will develop very slowly from when they are born to about 7 weeks or so.

5-6 months

• ‘Starts to stand stage’
• Your puppy’s ears will start to ‘flop to the side’ between 7-10 weeks

6-8 months

• ‘Nearing full point stage’
• During this stage, you’ll see your Shepherd’s ears doing their best to stay up. You will see lots of moving but just not quite there yet!

9+ months

• Fully up!
• They should be pointing upwards but still quite floppy. Don’t worry if your Shepherd’s ears don’t follow these stages exactly, they can develop at different rates.

This chart below represents the percentage (%) of a German Shepherd’s dog’s ears standing up relative to their age. 

1. Avoid other dogs and puppies to bite or tug at the ears of your Shepherd. This is a cute behavior that is normal and acceptable. However, it can cause cartilage damage and make it difficult for the ears to stand properly.
   
2. You can clean their ears with a cotton ball or a damp cloth if you find dirt. Don’t put anything down their ear canals. If you discover excess wax or debris, take them to the vet. This can be an early indication of ear infections that may eventually cause the ears to not stand up properly.
   
3. Have fun with your dog. Happy dogs are more attentive and have fewer health problems. In no time, you’ll see their ears open up.