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New 9 1/2 Week Old Puppy (Captain)

3K views 30 replies 15 participants last post by  dobebug 
#1 ·
I just brought home my 9 1/2 week old today. So far, so good. Walked him around the neighborhood tonight trying to get him used to being on a leash.

I have a question regarding posting....the vet showed me/used the tampon method and then taped only around the top and then a bridge to hold them upright. Is this a good way for me to do it? I saw another thread where they use backer rod and tape the top and bottom of the ears. I'm just trying to find the best way to go about posting them.

Thanks in advance! I will try to post more pictures tomorrow. Just trying to figure out how to post them so sorry if it doesn't turn out right







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#4 ·
We decided to name him Captain. We live about 15 minutes from Gettysburg, PA. The vet left them down for a week after they first cropped them. Then we went back yesterday and they took the stitches out then showed us how they post them
Normally I do not tape the bridge high or the ears that close BUT you don't want to tape over a healing ear so that will work while they heal. Good luck
This is the first doberman I've had so any help or tips help me. I just want his ears to come out right

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#5 ·
Good advice regarding the taping I would also not walk my puppy or take him anywhere until he has had all his puppy shots. Too many nasty parasites in the ground for him to pick him and his immune system is not fully protected. You can keep the leash attached to him in the house and let him drag it around.
 
#6 ·
I'm going to have to STRONGLY disagree here...the socialization window for puppies closes at approximately 12 weeks of age. While there is a risk of contracting illness, we have to balance that with the VERY real risk of not exposing puppies to as many things as possible in early puppyhood, which results in adult dogs who are not confident and resilient. Most veterinarians and behaviorists now agree that you should take your puppy out and about, using caution, of course, but that the risk of undersocializing is far greater than the risk of contracting illness.

Here is some valuable reading:

Early Socialization vs. Risk of Infection Canine Disease | Applause Your Paws Canine Training Center

http://www.petprofessionalguild.com...ocialization and Vaccinations Go Together.pdf

And, quoting myself from another, earlier thread:

I would try and arrange playdates with dogs you know are good with puppies and fully vaccinated. But it is definitely a balancing act of socializing early (very important!) versus safety with vaccination. It's a tough call, but I, personally, err on the side of socializing, having lived through a dog who did not get what she needed in early socializing. However, you can, and should, use good judgement with socializing. I would not choose pet stores, where you get hoards of dogs that may or may not be sick. I would choose a puppy class from a great training facility that uses good safety precautions.

Here's some good reading on socializing:

Puppy Socialization: Stop Fear Before it Starts | Animal Behavior and Medicine Blog | Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS
http://www.dobermantalk.com/puppy-c...alize-puppy-great-blog-post-denise-fenzi.html
Red Rover
Socialization | denisefenzipetdogs
Puppy care shorts: Socialization | Ruffly Speaking

Research is showing that the socialization window closes EARLY. I wouldn't delay your pup's socialization...get out and do as much as possible, but be safe doing it.
 
#7 ·
I'm a little concerned about his ears. Everything I read on here says not to post until ears are completely healed. Well the vet (that the breeder had do them) said that he will be fine if we start posting now. The were healing for a week before the first post. Are they right or are we going to run into problems?

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#8 ·
You can post them IF you do not run the tape across any areas that are still open or are scabbed over. The ears need to be healed completely before you can apply the tape across the cropped area.

But you don’t really need to post them while they are still healing if they are cropped before 10-12 weeks or so--they will heal up just fine and then stand well if you keep at posting regularly, and don’t leave them down for any longer than it takes to change the posting. That means no “maybe they’re standing now” curiosity--post constantly until after the puppy has finished teething, at least.

Also--if you use a bridge (some do, some don’t, some only do for the first few postings) make sure you are not pulling it so tight that the ears are pointing inward--that will cause trouble for sure.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I would wait to post them. The worst thing that could happen is you get a reaction to the tape or an infection and can't post the ears until that's cleared. If the ears are 100% healed before posting this will be avoided. You can tape the front edges of his ears onto a Styrofoam cup put upside down on top of his head.


image courtesy of "Zephyr" here on DT. That little strap of tape around the sides are to help keep the cup from sliding around. The tape is not sticky on the inside where it crosses over the cut sutured of the ear. It's doubled over.
 
#10 ·
Very cute pup!! I would simply leave ears down until all edges are healed well. No chance of infection that way, which would just delay posting even more.

Socialize with caution. NO NO NO dog parks or pet stores! I would ask friends with bombproof TOTALLY NON-AGGRESSIVE dogs to set up meet and greets with your puppy for dog socialization. I take my puppies to home improvement stores for people socialization in that stage where they are so susceptible to parvo. I don't do classes until the last shots. You will need to continue active socializing for many months.
 
#11 ·
Thank you everyone for your feedback, everything helps since this is my first Doberman. Last night I woke up to find one of his posts had fallen out of his ear. Since everyone has said to not post if the ears aren't fully healed or atleast don't tape over unhealed areas, I took some quick pictures this morning before work to get your opinions. The top of one ear seems to be better than the other. What does everyone think? Should I continue posting or just let them down so they can heal?





 
#12 ·
I would not post those ears.
Leaving them down while the edges heal will not affect them standing in the future.

posting them with those edges could result in infection and set you back longer.
 
#13 ·
From the look of those edges I'd say that you are a week to 10 days from really having a totally healed ear edge and I'd just leave them floppy until they are really healed.

And in answer to your much earlier question--no matter what method of posting you decide on (tampon, calking rod, pipe insulation) I would never post them the way the vet did--I think he posted them like that to avoid taping over scabs.

When I post ears I always start posting at the very bottom of the ear (because if you don't the chances are good the post won't stay in the ear) and post, using one layer of tape, slightly overlapped all the way to the very top. An alternate method that other people like is to tape one wrap at the bottom of the ear, one in the middle and one at the top. I only use a brace for very early posting on very long show crops. And I never, ever put a brace in at the top of the ears. It's always down low and just over the top of the head.

Good luck.
 
#15 ·
Some folks are fans of Neosporin or Polysporin. Since the ears appear to be healing nicely with no infection, I would leave them be. The scabs tend to hang on longer when they are not messed with. If you really feel the need to medicate, they do make a spray variety of Neosporin. And yes, letting them hang at this point is a good call.
 
#22 ·
Diversions can lead to great discussion!
 
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#28 ·
Toward the base of the ear there is a natural "fold" in the ear structure. The fold is on the side of the ear that meets the head (inner). You want to preserve that fold when taping. With the pup facing you you will tape HIS right ear counter clockwise at the base to preserve the fold. Then you will tape HIS left ear clockwise at the base to preserve the fold. I think I have that correct.
 
#31 · (Edited)
Along with being sure to tape so that the natural fold is maintained if you have any problems at all with the post popping out of the base you may want to start the taping lower.

Make sure that the post is pushed all the way down into the ear base--twist it a little as you are putting it in--push down on the post and pull up on the ear stretching it up the post before you press it onto the backtaped post. Then start the tape ON the backtaped post aiming it toward the front of the skull (which will give you taping that will be clockwise on one ear and counterclockwise on the other ear) if you do this you won't have to wonder if the fold is where it should be--it'll fall into it's proper place naturally. And if you start the tape on the bottom of the visiible section of the post it will wrap up around and then back down to meet the place that it started. The next wrap should start a little higher and do the same thing.

It's often easier for a beginner in posting to use shorter single lengths of tape at the bottom instead of one long piece. After the second or third wrap at the base you can finish the taping with one piece lightly placed on the ear so you aren't running any risk of taping too tightly.

And if you are going to do a brace it should be looser--ears should tip out a little rather than being straight up or tipped in.

Pretty good for a first try though.
 
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