Omg, what happened to his ears? - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

BeckyG · 12-07-2012, 08:30 PM

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that... We've only been to the vet and a couple of neighbor kids have been over to play with my daughter.

Phin is 16 weeks. We've got a long time to go with ear posting. We will be getting out more now that he is fully vaccinated. I'm sure I'll encounter the same annoying questions. What happened? Why would you do that? Poor puppy, did he have an accident? That's so mean. He must be miserable with those things shoved in his ears. If that doesn't make a dog mean I don't know what will. Was he born that way?

I need a quick go to answer. Help me out. How do I appropriately respond?

Rosemary · 12-07-2012, 08:37 PM

Just tell them that his ears are taped to help them stand up properly when he's grown. If they ask semi-intelligent questions about it, you can give an overview of cropping and posting if you want to.

**PatchworkRobot** · 12-07-2012, 08:40 PM

"It's the breed's standard."

"It's no different than circumcision an infant child."

"It is the look that the breed's original creator intended."

"His ears were done before I got him."

"Yes, I"m a horrible person! Just look at how obviously abused and unhappy this dog is."

"Floppy ears are not technically natural. They were brought about by human intervention. The only floppy eared animals that you will find in the wold will be an exception to the norm."

"I've never seen any sign of pain" then grab the ears <---only if your dog really doesn't mind this.

Or just don't answer.

Nynaeve · 12-07-2012, 08:43 PM

My simple answer was "It's just foam and tape to train them how to stand up".
One time a kid asked me, and I told them that, and that then his ears will look like Alpha's ears in Up. It helped her understand.

Burns · 12-07-2012, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosemary

Just tell them that his ears are taped to help them stand up properly when he's grown.

That's what I always said. They are healed, just taped so they will stand when he's older. Don't go into more detail than you need to about cropping or you start to get those horrified looks...

And if people ask why you did it, just say it was done by the breeder before you got him. People usually don't argue that.

dobe-girl · 12-07-2012, 09:23 PM

At the dog park, everyone thinks that if their dog plays with him, he will get hurt. I tell people that it is just foam and tape to help them stand, and that I nor Marshall are worried about him playing. Most people are pretty understanding, and really, are just uneducated about it.

When I meet rude people who have snarky comments, my smarta$$ side would like to tell people different stories.... he broke both of his ears in a tragic waterskiing accident.... but I bite my tongue.

BeckyG · 12-07-2012, 10:00 PM

Thanks! That is so simple, but it never crossed my mind.

avianantics · 12-07-2012, 10:15 PM

Yep, that's what I tell 'em. "Nothing, we're just training them to stand".

GingerGunlock · 12-07-2012, 10:17 PM

When Elka was a puppy, I was surprised at how many people didn't know that Dobermans ears didn't stand naturally. Somebody stopped her car in the middle of the road to ask me about her (the first of many such occurrences.....)

BeckyG · 12-07-2012, 10:23 PM

Yesterday, I had a lady tell me that we thought I was going a bit overboard trying to make him look like a reindeer. She was serious, and I was speechless.

GingerGunlock · 12-07-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeckyG

Yesterday, I had a lady tell me that we thought I was going a bit overboard trying to make him look like a reindeer. She was serious, and I was speechless.

Some little kids at the park a couple months ago did think she was a reindeer

Burns · 12-07-2012, 10:56 PM

I meant to add that unless people ask intelligent or well-informed questions, I don't really go into much detail for education. Frankly, the public is stupid and I just end up wasting my breath.

For example, you would not believe the number of people who have looked directly at Red and said, "oh I'm so glad you didn't crop his ears!"
While I stand there with a dumbstruck look on my face while my cropped dog with completely erect ears looks between me and the other person quizzically.

At that point I'm too confused to answer so I give a sort of noncommittal grunt and slowly back away...

DAndy1987 · 12-08-2012, 09:57 AM

I found I had more kids ask me. I always said (in my best kid-friendly, extra happy voice) It's to make them stand up!!!! Doesn't he look funny?!?! Touch them! He LOOOOVES ear scratchies!!! And then the kiddies would giggle about his funny coloured wraps and tell me some stupid story about their dog Rover who loves to eat celery!

Wtih adults it was always - It's the breed standard, he's in no pain at all and loves when I re-do his posts. No, your dog won't hurt him. Yes, he can hear me. No, this dog get better medical attention than I do. Yes, he is a big boy, and beautiful. Thank you.

Haters got my best blank stare, and non of my time.