Yes, German shepherd ears stand up naturally before he is 4-5 months old. All German shepherds are naturally born with their ears down. By 4 weeks of age, most puppies have their ears up. Otherwise, their ears need to be posted if they aren’t up.
When Will German Shepherd Ears Stand Up?
Between the ages of 4 and 5 months, puppies’ ears most often go up and down while teething. Five months after birth, their ear cartilage should be strong enough to hold the ear up. Between 8 weeks and 6 months, German shepherd puppies’ ears may grow. One ear can also be up at a time.
Some German shepherd puppies have their ears straight up very young and then go down again when they are teething but will come up again after that. German shepherd Ears go up and down when they bark, get excited, or get startled.
German Shepherd Puppy Ear Facts
- The exact time your German shepherd puppy’s ears will stand up depends on the puppy’s specific development and body size.
- Several factors like the heaviness of ear leather, cartilage quality, ear size, nutrition, and health status affect when the ears go up, so most GSDs have fully pricked ears, while a minority have one or both ears that tip over.
- GSDs with dropped ears are very rare. The ears of most GSDs that don’t go all the way up fold over at the tip and are upright at the base. There is no rise at the base of the ear in GSDs with truly dropped ears.
- Puppies’ cartilage isn’t strong enough to support their big ears as they grow. German shepherds develop stronger cartilage in their ears as they grow and gain nutrition.
- It is common for puppies at 8-9 weeks to have floppy ears that occasionally stand up but quickly drop back down again. When your pup is five months old, its ears will harden and stand up.
- Your pup’s ears should be alert and perky in 1-2 months. There is cause for concern if they still aren’t standing. The breeder can tell you more about how your pup’s ears develop. You can get some help from your vet to speed up the process.
Reasons Why Your German Shepherd’s Ears Aren’t Standing Up
Genetics
Genetics predisposes some German shepherds to have floppy ears. Many breeders try to breed for larger ears, resulting in ears that are too heavy to stand alone. Be sure to look for a pup whose parents have erect ears if strong, alert ears are important to you.
Trauma
German shepherds’ ears develop from birth until around 20 weeks of age. Trauma to the ears during that period can permanently damage the cartilage. Your puppy’s ears may be tugged by a child or bit by other puppies during rough play. When your puppy’s ears develop, please don’t play with them; monitor play between dogs and teach your children to stay away from them.
Parasites
Puppies can contract parasites in several ways, including eating things they shouldn’t. Parasites can affect your puppy’s health, including hardening its ear cartilage.
Ensure your puppy has routine fecal exams to check for parasites and worms. If your puppy has parasites, your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate deworming protocol.
How to Help Your Puppy’s Ears stand up?
Puppies’ ears develop naturally over time. You can take several steps to ensure your puppy has standing ears if he is healthy and done teething.
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Help develop the temporalis muscle
Chewing strengthens the temporalis muscle, which holds up the ears. To help develop this muscle, German shepherd puppies need plenty of chewable toys during teething.
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Glucosamine
It is possible to build cartilage with glucosamine. Even though a balanced puppy diet does not require supplementation, you can ask your vet if the ears aren’t standing up. Bone broth, chicken feet, and duck feet are also natural treats high in glucosamine.
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Healthy antioxidants
Vitamin C-containing antioxidants can reduce stress on the body and help build cartilage. Antioxidants are found in carrots, apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, celery, and watermelon.
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Taping the ears
The ears may need taping if they don’t go up naturally after your dog has finished teething. Taping may help some dog owners, but it may not work if the problem is trauma or genetics.
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Do not supplement calcium
Calcium is used for the development of bones and teeth, not cartilage. A high calcium intake can result in serious health problems and mineral imbalances. All you need is to give him a balanced diet.
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Talk to a Vet
If your dog’s ears don’t stand up after trying the tips mentioned above, it’s time to talk to a vet.
FAQs
Do German Shepherds’ ears ever go down?
Yes, German shepherds’ ears do go down while doing different activities. When he is actively listening, GSD’s ears go up. Depending on their mood or attitude, German shepherds’ ears go up, down, or flat after a while.
Do all German Shepherds have floppy ears?
While most German shepherds have upright ears, some can have floppy or semi-pricked ears. Like coat length, eye color, and coat color, a dog’s ear shape is also influenced by genetics.
