Floppy ears!

Waywardangel

So I took your advice and taped my gorgeous boys floppy ear, after 24 hours (he took the tape off) success! Floppy ear was no more!

After 2 weeks of beautiful ears, the other one, that has always stood straight, has decided to flop! Argggggg

Is this common? Will it stand back up? Should I now tape again?

Stoges_mom

I agree with you on the gorgeous part!!!! Stunning! I would retape! Stoeger would take his tape off too fairly quickly and I would leave it off until they flopped, then tape again.

BulliesofNC

It is common for one or both to flop back down. Just retape them as necessary until both ears are up for good.

Waywardangel

Thanks so much!

Seon

I wouldn't think 24 hrs would be long enough.  I used a couple of Breathe Right strips and left it on Trayler's right ear for for 5 days that came out great.

Waywardangel

I wonder if you can buy breathe right stripes in Australia!

Stoeger

You would think puppy ears would stand up better down under

philsergeant

Yeah, maybe u could just put a coupla magnets on the tips of his ears and they'd face the North Pole long enough to be trained 4ever. Just kiddin! We love Aussies, both our kids' dad is from Auurstrailea and every time we take them to the beach they dig such deep holes we have to tell people they are trying to go see their dad again.

Waywardangel

Haha! He is a bit more clued up this time round, knows what the tape is all about and removes it as quick as I can put it on! Maybe magnets would work

warren

I use that sticky elastoplast type bandage, it takes a bit of hair with it when you take it off but they cant get it off.it also protects the ears nicely from scratching.

Gabriele

Hello here.i have almost 4 months old bull.i have a question for you.his ears are both up at this time.one is straight.another leans to the side(inner).should i tape them? Thank you

BulliesofNC

Taping the ears isn't solely for training them to stand but also to ensure the are in the correct position and form. If it were me, I would tape them. It won't do any harm and it will help that left ear start looking more like a left ear than another right ear. Just tape the ear for 24 hours and see if it holds shape. If it requires more time to correct just repeat the process.

Gabriele

Thanks for replay.i wasnt sure.he is my first puppy.i need to learn a lot to raise him.we did have a bull years ago,but we rescued an adult.

BulliesofNC

Well he's a good looking Bullie and I hope we get to see more pictures of him!

Stoeger

Welcome to the forum!

What handsome little fella you have there

What's his name?

Steve, I've seen a few adult Bullies with their ears up but folded in like the one on this pup.

Is that always a result of how the ears were or weren't taped when young???

philsergeant

You might want to try this technique.  It's just some (very Sticky) athletic tape, the kind the use for strapping muscles, and a couple of ear buds for rigidity... Your boys ears are standing up and it's just to create evenness/ balance.... You might find it easier and he will find it doesn't bother him so much.  With luck it'll stay on 4 or 5 days before you need to redo.

BulliesofNC

@Stoeger - Yes, many will concentrate not only on getting the ears to stand but also to stand straight instead of appearing like a "V". Many will over compensate by taping the ears together at the top without a bridge. The problem with this is that it can result in a crooked ear or bent look. My feelings are that it's better to tape the ears in a perfectly straight position with a small bridge between the ears pulling the ears tighter together but not touching.

Waywardangel

I used that method @philsergeant and it worked a treat, had to do it twice but he is perfect now! I wonder if I tape his teeth he might stop biting his Maltese brother!

Gabriele

I did use sports tape.it worked the best.but when ears taped and with the bridge,one wants to lean twards the middle,anotherr is ok.i guess i did something wrong.should i tape by the base of the ear?

philsergeant

Yes you need to get as close to the skull as possible to hold the best form... don't get too close so as to irritate or to make the rig twist.... U hope you are using a stiff filler in the center of the two tapes like Cotton Buds or breath rite strips....

Gabriele

Ohh,i see. Ill try cotton buds too.thanks for suggestion.

Gabriele

Here is Baltas. He is 4 months old.ill try to tape his ears again and use cotton buds.

philsergeant

But his ears look great!!!! ??

Gabriele

Hmmm. Here is another picture i made today.i dont know...

Gabriele

And another...

philsergeant

You mean to balance them out and to be more upright?  the Bridge will work well for that.

philsergeant

Use this... two pieces of tape.... Measure the ideal gap between his ears and make the "flat part" where the reinforcement goes that same width.

Gabriele

Ok,ill do it this way.will come back with updates.thanks much

Gabriele

Hmm,just a bridge did not work.tried several times with different tapes.he just shakes or scratches it off.will have to tape ears and do the bridge with cotton buds.

philsergeant

You need to get a tape something like this. Trust me, he will NEVER get it off. It's the type of tape you see athletes use for strapping. Often it's blue or bright pink or black and sticks directly to the skin and straps the muscles.  You only need to let it attach to the ear in a small area.  Less than a square inch front and back... otherwise you will battle to get it off.

BulliesofNC

Have you considered using a head cone after you've taped the ears?

Gabriele

ill try cone too on him.my poor puppy.he will not like me for doing this,haha.thanks again for helping me

Gabriele

Here is Baltas.we tried to tape ears couple more times,and now his ears look even.

philsergeant

He looks great... and he definitely is in charge.

Waywardangel

Looks awesome, what a handsome man!

Jmallar

He is so cute!!!!