My breeder uses 2 super skinny craft sticks wrapped in a choose a size paper towel (fits sideways). To give you an idea of the type of sticks you need - she use to use corn dog sticks when she could buy those.
Once I started doing in on my own I tried the foam stuff but could never get her to keep them in her ears. The craft sticks I bought are some off brand but the package says the size is 5" x 1/4" x 3/32". Zonas tape keeps it together. Don't worry if they are longer than his ears, he may look silly, but he will no matter what and he was born with his ears flopped down so anything sticking up seems awkward to him.
Supplies for ONE post:
Two craft sticks (she might have used 1 at the very beginning, but switched to 2 quite quickly as Piper kept breaking them)
-1 choose-a-size paper towel (the short sheets), or a longer one kept standard width and cut to just over 5" in length.
-The backer rod - just for the bumpers to prevent the pockets as shown in the other post. I cut mine in half lengthwise when she was younger since it was pretty fat.
-Zones tape: one super sort piece, 2 one inch or less pieces, another piece to hold the small backer rod bumper in place per that tutorial and then enough spiraled straight off the roll as needed from top to bottom.
To use this method - first have everything ready. fold the paper towel in half the fat way to make it roughly square. Open it back up and put the craft sticks inside the crease the fold it back together. This ensures that they stay tucked in the middle. Roll it up like you do when you are putting a sleeping bag away - evenly and tucked tightly. Once done make sure the sticks don't stick out the bottom end. There needs to be a tiny bit of paper towel past the bottom end (1/8-1/4" should be plenty) for a bit of padding to protect the ear on the bottom. Use the tiny piece of zonas to hold it together in the middle so it is easier to tape the rest. Then use the approx 1 inch pieces to cover the ends, figure out where the bumpers need to be, use a bit of zonas to put them on, then spiral zonas tape along the whole thing to keep it together. FYI The breeder didn't use bumpers - I think she was just really good at wrapping just so and pulling the ears up really tight. She also didn't cover the paper towel from top to bottom as it is breathable. Hers covered the ends and probably once around as she spiraled up to hold it all together. Mine wasn't that slick, so I was thorough instead
I read somewhere to kind of twist as you put it in. Try wiggling like a lever forward like (like jousting sticks - haha) or back a bit (but not out sideways! That would put it toward the ear canal), you will be surprised that there is a spot where it seems like it doesn't line up with the ear quite right, but goes in much better then can be straightened. That was helpful for me. That and practice. I started doing my own after watching the breeder do it many times so I would be prepared when I took a trip as well
. Like other people have said - have your supplies ready and have one person hold the puppy while the other posts. If the puppy escapes even once they will try that much harder forever after. Soon enough he will sit still because he knows you won't hurt him and it will be over faster that way. Make sure you give lots of yummy treats at the end for a good job.
After you have it seated in the bottom pull the ears up pretty tight - it helps prevent shaking out. Use a piece of zonas tape to tape the tip onto the post- the ears are pulled tight up, but the tape is NOT tight, I pull the ear up, hold it onto the post with one hand , then lay the tape gently on with the other (it is emailer to be firm with one hand and stay gentle with a second one) and wrap it around without pressure. Then wrap from bottom to top, outside-back-inside-front directionto prevent pockets and preserve the natural fold in the ear (I think - others can chime in if I'm getting it backwards, I'm having a hard time remembering at this time of night.) You might find that as you get close to the top with the real wrap job that your tip wrap puts the tip at the wrong angle causing a wrinkle of the ear leather. Just untape the tip now that the rest of the ear is secure and retape properly. I tape the whole ear without gaps so there the ear eventually has a smooth shape. And then do one more piece of tape near the bottom to prevent shake outs, but make sure the ear is open enough to breathe and hear. Once you are all done taping give the entire thing a good squeeze for a few seconds. The heat from your hands seems to really set the tape and keeps them on better.
As for the bridge - it should be 3/4 of the way up the ears - the puppy holding person should hold the ears in an even V and then the taper should tape the tape end to one ear, unreel the tape to the other, go around that ear and back to the other. Essentially making a loop with the ears inside. Stick the sticky sides of the tape together in the middle and use a small extra piece looping around your bridge middle to make sure it says stuck to itself. You want a V and not what you had in the picture because it allows the bases learn to work on their own and become strong. It is just helping them most of the way. After a week or so of this you will notice the bridge is often loose as he holds them together himself!
If any one is really interested in this method and wants pictures I could do some up to the posting part. Piper is done posting and I don't want to get the stink eye from her.