[CMax]

Hi all,
We took some pics of taping one of our pups' ears. Thought it might be good to share with those who have a hard time taping. It can be confusing sometimes
http://www.geocities.com/jugingrand/Ear_Taping.html
P.S. There are other techniques, too, we use Tampax. :tongue23:

 

[Fitzmar Dobermans]

I think it was a very nice idea, but I see at least one big issue just breezing through quickly. The tips should NEVER stick out the top! The post should be longer than the ear, and if it isn't, then you need a longer post. I use tampons also, but when the ear is longer than the tampon, I use 2 tampons per ear .... take the wider portion off the 2nd one and put it over the other end of the first one - you can extend the length of the post that way. I don't have time to look at is closer - that is just what I saw right off.

 

[Okie-dobie]

Yup, I took your suggestion velmadobe and used two tampons. It worked great!

 

[Murreydobe]

The tips should NEVER stick out the top! The post should be longer than the ear, and if it isn't, then you need a longer post. I use tampons also, but when the ear is longer than the tampon, I use 2 tampons per ear QUOTE]

I use tampons until the ear is longer than the tampon, then switch to caulking rod. Because I agree, the post should be longer than the ear.

 

[Okie-dobie]

I found the caulking rod worked well also, but after a couple of days it started to bend.

 

[Murreydobe]

I found the caulking rod worked well also, but after a couple of days it started to bend.

I put a couple of layers of duct tape (wrapped lengthwise) around it before I backtape it with Zonas tape. That adds a bit more rigidity to it, and stops it from bending.

 

[ps4570]

You may want to consider trying pre-formed foam pipe insulation sleeves. It is much more rigid then caulking rod and can be cut to a custom fit. The base can be left wide and then gradually tapered to fit the ear with some material extending slightly past the ear's tip.

 

[Dobesanddragons]

I found the caulking rod worked well also, but after a couple of days it started to bend.

I put Popsicle sticks on the foam then wrap with the tape to make a sturdy whole piece and to give more support, then backwrap that then it is ready to put in the ear. A show breeder of over 30 years showed me that tip, don't know how long they had been doing that method, but it works well, even for crazy puppies who play with other dogs all day, they hold up. The only bad thing is you have to buy LOTS of sticks at one time in bulk.

And I agree with the others, you never want the tips of the ears hanging out like that.

 

[Dobesanddragons]

I put a couple of layers of duct tape (wrapped lengthwise) around it before I backtape it with Zonas tape. That adds a bit more rigidity to it, and stops it from bending.

I like the idea of the duct tape. That stuff has a million uses huh?

 

[barn63]

I take a branch off the tree out back and wrap the ears in duct tape with the ear tips exposed.......ha ha. Thats OK right?

 

[Acooper]

Velmadobe, I think this is what happened to Orson's ears too, the tips were longer than the posts...and they tend to slope.....see

Is there anything at 8 months of age that can be done to correct this??

 

[Acooper]

Or is it just a bad crop? (don't be too harsh please )

 

[CMax]

As I said, there are lots of techniques.

 

[les strat]

Velmadobe, I think this is what happened to Orson's ears too, the tips were longer than the posts...and they tend to slope.....see

Is there anything at 8 months of age that can be done to correct this??

Looks normal to me. They're not always pin-straight.

 

[Acooper]

Thank you for the input, So many of the beautiful dogs here have that long pin straight show cut it is hard to know what the "medium pet cut" as the vet put it, should look like.

 

[Fitzmar Dobermans]

what you will see with weak tips are tips that are curled back or floppy. I wish I had pictures so you could see what it looks like, but fortunately my dogs both have nice ears.

 

[Acooper]

Thanks, I know exactly what you are talking about now.......have seen some in person, so often in fact I thought that was how it was supposed to be. (until I seen most of the dogs here)

 

[MaryAndDobes]

Or is it just a bad crop? (don't be too harsh please )

I don't see anything wrong with the tips per se. IMO, it IS a bad crop.

 

[Fitzmar Dobermans]

I don't see anything wrong with the tips per se. IMO, it IS a bad crop.

I would agree here - the tips do not look curled or floppy.

When you see curled tips or weak tips, it is pretty vivid and unmistakeable. Sometimes it is just due to not being done posting. I don't stop posting till the tips are strong.... and they are the last thing to stiffen up in my experience........ which is not that deep as I've only owned two cropped Dobermans and they are barking out my living room window right now.

 

[Acooper]

Thank you for your honesty Mary, I didn't think they looked right from day one, (too much bell for one thing) but I didn't have a whole lot of choice on the crop. He was a sick little puppy when I talked him away from a dirt bag breeder that was just letting him die because he was the "runt" that didn't sell. He was 11 weeks old (10 pounds) and full of worms, not strong enough for surgery of any kind. By the time he was strong enough he was too old in most opinions to have it done............our own vet (pretty much an old horse doctor, but we like him) said he had done it and would do it for me, said it would cut down on ear infections (our other dog suffers) I only had say in the "medium" part, nothing else.
I have never owned a cropped dobe ever, and have had only one other dobe 11 years ago............any advice and constructive criticism is greatly appreciated and needed