Keep posting. He is only 8 months. Some pups take quite a long time. Perserverance pays off.
1 ear up, 1 ear down Pt. 2
:write: I took everyone's advice and continued to post and post and post. Also switched back to using tampons and Kilo's Left ear still will not stand (only when something catches his attention or when he gets excited). His Right ear is standing with no problem at all and it is just very aggravating looking at 1 ear folded over and 1 up all of the time. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has gone thru this and am really begging for other suggestions as the posting does not seem to be working. I have been posting for 4days, taking the posts down, cleaning the ears, and posting right back up. Usually after taking posts down with (from what I have experienced in the past) both ears would stand tall and erect. When the posts come out, the Right ear stands and the Left folds in half. I have even tried posting only the problem ear with no success. When I do have the posts in (without a bridge), he will make the posts stand straight up. I had read that when pups exhibit this problem with using their ears, it usually due to a weak muscle. Others have said that it is a mental thing which I am believing because he will make the ear stand when he wants it to. I know everyone is tired of me bringing this subject up but once again, I would find it very hard to believe that I am the only one who has went through this. He will be 8mos old on April 11th.
Thanks once again in advance!
Thanks once again in advance!
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I also heard that some people supplement with calcium to help because of the teething.
Sadie is only just over 7months and has the same problem. She has a "lazy" ear. I'm still posting and I will continue to do so until I absolutely think that there is no hope. My breeder friend has encouraged me to continue posting, saying that she had to post one of her dobes past one year to get her ear to stand the way she wanted.
I also have the problems you do. She can hold her ear up when she's excited or something really has her attention, like when she's outside. I'm also beginning to think that ear is just weak, when she runs... it flops lol. But I'm going to continue to be patient and just keep posting and hope for the best.
I also have the problems you do. She can hold her ear up when she's excited or something really has her attention, like when she's outside. I'm also beginning to think that ear is just weak, when she runs... it flops lol. But I'm going to continue to be patient and just keep posting and hope for the best.
Supplementing with calcium is not a good idea, as it has to be done properly with phophosphorus supplementation or it causes more problems than it helps. I don't think calcium does anything for ears anyway. At 8 months the puppy should be done with teething.
If the ear falls immediately after removing the posts that's not so good. It would be better if it stood as soon as the posts were removed and then started to droop. The best thing for you to do would be to see someone in person who knows about ears and can assess the situation. That could be a breeder or fancier who is experienced, or a vet who is good with ears, and that doesn't include most vets who crop.
Has anyone suggested this to you before?
If the ear falls immediately after removing the posts that's not so good. It would be better if it stood as soon as the posts were removed and then started to droop. The best thing for you to do would be to see someone in person who knows about ears and can assess the situation. That could be a breeder or fancier who is experienced, or a vet who is good with ears, and that doesn't include most vets who crop.
Has anyone suggested this to you before?
Quite a few member suggested that I do so and Velma even went as far as locating some DPCA members who said they would help but backed out. There are not many places that do ear cropping around Pittsburgh and judging from the very first tape job which was done by the vet who cropped him, I don't think I would ask that vet. I'm not sure how to tell when a pup is finished teething (he still chews on everything and we have not found any more puppy teeth lately). We are just starting to lose hope that the ear will stand.Supplementing with calcium is not a good idea, as it has to be done properly with phophosphorus supplementation or it causes more problems than it helps. I don't think calcium does anything for ears anyway. At 8 months the puppy should be done with teething.
If the ear falls immediately after removing the posts that's not so good. It would be better if it stood as soon as the posts were removed and then started to droop. The best thing for you to do would be to see someone in person who knows about ears and can assess the situation. That could be a breeder or fancier who is experienced, or a vet who is good with ears, and that doesn't include most vets who crop.
Has anyone suggested this to you before?
We are just starting to lose hope that the ear will stand.
Well......it's *not* a good sign that the one ear doesn't stand at all immediately after you remove the posts. I think I'd be a lot more optimistic if the ear stood even for a short period of time when the posts come out. But I'd probably keep posting for awhile if it were me.
make sure the ear tissue stays taught throughout the entire posting process. You can even gently pull the top of the ear over the tampon to stretch it a tad while you tape up
I agree with everyone about not giving up. I would however, offer some money to a recommended dobie mentor that has posted ears. Spring is such a busy time for breeders etc. Tell them you are desperate and plead your case. I`m sure someone would help you. Be willing to drive-even if it is an hour away and at their convenience. it will be the best time and money you have spent. Good Luck.
Yes. I stretch the ear and maintain that until it is taped. The tampons are also backtaped. I also tape towards the front of his head and around (making sure that little flap/fold of his ear lays back with the tape)make sure the ear tissue stays taught throughout the entire posting process. You can even gently pull the top of the ear over the tampon to stretch it a tad while you tape up
so how does one explain him using the ear when he wants or when he gets excited?
You can tell if he's finished teething if all his adult teeth are in. If you look in his mouth and see only adult teeth and no baby teeth, he is probably finished teething, especially if he is 8 months old.
For what it's worth, Jerome, I disagree that it's "a mental thing" . What possible reason would a dog have for deliberately doing this, if that's even possible? That's crazy. IMO this is completely physiological. It could be that some of the nerves were damaged during the crop. Maybe his ear will stand w/continued posting or maybe it won't. But for sure it won't if you don't continue to try. When a dog gets excited (sight, sound), the more excited they are means the more neurons fire and thus more muscles are stimulated. That is why Kilo's ear can be erect at some times and not others. The more nerves that are stimulated, the more muscles go to work to hold that ear up. It's really involuntary on his part.Others have said that it is a mental thing which I am believing because he will make the ear stand when he wants it to.
My Oscar has a blue dobie friend named Sushi w/one ear up and one flopped despite posting for a year. When excited, both her ears can stand, but it's only for a short time...then the muscle just cannot hold it up any longer. Sushi's vet blamed her human parents for letting the posts get wet from a yard sprinkler on occasion, but that's baloney. Anyway, I will post pics later if you would like to see into the future how your Kilo might look down the road IF his ear continues to flop. It's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of...you've done everything you could...and frankly I think it just adds another wonderful dimension to their personality. Sometimes, it's just not something that's meant to be "fixed". Good luck to you and Kilo.
You need to see a professional for a decent evaluation. Trying to diagnose these things on the internet is almost impossible. I think in your area (or within driving distance) is Sophia Koster. If you plead your case to her I would think she would help you. You seem very intent on having that ear stand, so I would assume taking the time, effort and even money out to have this properly evaluated and get some help from a renowned professional should be within your relm of reason. Good luck. 
I'm not sure if you are doing this but you can try to get him exercising the ears between posting. Work to get him to keep the ears standing by making noises or talking, whats so ever. See if he can keep the ear standing as much as possible. Maybe this will help
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Jeromejenkins, here's Oscar's friend Sushi, a blue female almost 1.5 years old. Her parents did everything right but the left ear could just not stand like the right one. I guarantee you there is not a happier dog on this planet because what's important to her and her friends isn't how her ears look. She's still 100% dobie and the friendly, unique look does grow on you, just like Kilo's will. And when Sushi means business (dobie business), those ears go up! Really, it's the best of both worlds.
Taking a dip in the mudbath (relaxed):
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Playing with Oscar (ears up):
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Creature from the black lagoon emerging from the slime a/k/a the "Mud Spa". Oooh, that feels so good...
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Taking a dip in the mudbath (relaxed):
Playing with Oscar (ears up):
Creature from the black lagoon emerging from the slime a/k/a the "Mud Spa". Oooh, that feels so good...
We just got back from the vet and he says he can correct the problem with surgery. He blames it mostly on us waiting so late to crop and for weak cartiledge in the ear. He says that once he does the procedure, the ear will most likely always stand regardless, even if he is sleep. He wants to re-inforced the cartiledge. Free of charge. Supposed to be done on tuesday.
Good luck to you both - mine has natural ears so I am of no help in the ear department Hope all goes well with the surgery.
Hope all goes well with the surgery.
We just got back from the vet and he says he can correct the problem with surgery. He blames it mostly on us waiting so late to crop and for weak cartiledge in the ear. He says that once he does the procedure, the ear will most likely always stand regardless, even if he is sleep. He wants to re-inforced the cartiledge. Free of charge. Supposed to be done on tuesday.
Is this the vet that did the original crop jj?
SOOZ, Thanks for the great info and the pics! I was starting to think Kilo was the only one who exhibited this problem. It's funny that Sushi is a blue as well and has the same exact problem with the same exact ear. I figured it couldn't be a problem with how we posted as the righ ear is standing perfectly. We have a few days to decide on the surgery, so hopefully some others will chime in and give an opinion.Jeromejenkins, here's Oscar's friend Sushi, a blue female almost 1.5 years old. Her parents did everything right but the left ear could just not stand like the right one. I guarantee you there is not a happier dog on this planet because what's important to her and her friends isn't how her ears look. She's still 100% dobie and the friendly, unique look does grow on you, just like Kilo's will. And when Sushi means business (dobie business), those ears go up! Really, it's the best of both worlds.
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