Some German shepherd puppies ears stand up as early as 7-9 weeks old. Do
not be alarmed if your pup's ears don't stand until 5-6 months of
age. Unusually larger ears may even take longer.
Most often if your puppy is teething this can slow the process as
well.
You can stimulate the ears with your fingers and/or massage them to
strengthen the cartilage. You can provide "Pet-Tabs" once daily, which
is rich in calcium to help the cartilage develop stronger.
How-ever, please be careful. To much calcium will build-up on the
bone tissue and cause severe pain and abnormality in growth. It can also
cause Panosteitis (growing pains and/or inflammation of the bones).
In some cases German shepherd puppies ears never stand. This is called
"soft ear". Soft ears are a genetic inheritance. Sometimes taping can be
successful.
Dogs with soft ears should not be bred even if taping is successful.
It is a major disqualification in the show ring.
If the ears stand up but wiggle at the tips when the dog is running.
This is identified as "friendly ears". Friendly ears are not a
disqualification in any means but is not pleasing to the eye.
Dogs with soft ears should not be bred even if taping is
successful.
