Advise on Ears

philsergeant

I need some help and advise on ear extension. Our babies are 11 weeks old and their ears are only just showing signs of coming up.
We are concerned that this is a little late although, checking with the breeder, both mom & dad's ears came up early and without help.
I attach some pics of the slight ear rise we are getting... better with her than with him obviously. We had started them a week ago on some cottage cheese as we are told that the extra calcium helps. We are hesitant to tape them as they spend most of the day in fight club ... (nothing serious) , but I am almost certain the taping wouldn't last 15 minutes. We have heard that Breath-Rite strips and New-Skin "adhesive" work as well as the taping does, but are afraid that, if these come off, one of them could swallow these.  We hate the idea of separating them at all because they are literally inseparable and cry if they are apart at all. (I couldn't imagine ever having one puppy again, they are so subdued and lonely when separated or brought up alone) How late can we wait and does anybody have any idea or experience of how we can help the situation.

BulliesofNC

Did you see this Post: http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/180/how-to-tape-a-bull-terriers-ears#Item_2

BulliesofNC

Here's a good document:

philsergeant

Our ears just won't stand up! The picture at the beginning of the thread is when we already just passed 2 months old.... Now we are 4! And our ears still look the same.... We've both had 5 tapings, 4 to 5 days each, 2 to 3 days break in between ( to recover sores etc. ... Also recover from the fact that it makes us irritable ) ....
Gelatin, cottage cheese, the works..... Every time we untape our ears stay up for about a day, then, back down to floppy.
Our parents are threatening to hang us out on the clothesline by our ears unless you egg-spurts can come up with some suggestions that work.... Help!

Trent

place a tampon in each ear, wrap each ear with sport tape and tape both ears together. feed knox gelatin. this took about three or four days on our male Hank.

BulliesofNC

Some dogs take longer than others due to their genetics. The commitment to continue the training is up to you. I'm confident you'll be glad to kept putting forth the effort in the long run.

 

Zerlett

Seen some bullies need their ears taped upwards of 6 months old! My friends girl's is nearing 5 months now and still needs them taped. Heavy ears such! But they tend to get floppy, when the puppy is teething. Just need to tape some more longer sorry!

philsergeant

5 months old... Still no ears.... They have got all their "big" teeth now, and the ears at least show some "body".... So next week is tape week.... Again! And, by all reports, their siblings all have ears..... Now I know the secret... Too much love, no ears....

BulliesofNC

Take some pics with them in ear training with some tape on them.

At 5 months old it becomes a little harder because the older puppies get the more determined they will be to rip the tape off their ears. You may have to pick up a head cone. Good luck with the ear training.

Zerlett

Yes you are going to need to tape, otherwise those ears may never be erect. Floppy ears can be suuuuch a pain in the butt. I have seen sometimes in puppies that tend to end up bigger adults will have floppy ears longer. Some just have thick and heavy ears and just need help.

philsergeant

Steve asked for pictures. This is Marcos sixth taping.... You were right about the older they get the more they try and remove them... At night he has to have the head cone ( which he loves no better) otherwise by midnight they're off. I know some instructions say to tape the outer flap outwards, but he finds that SOOO annoying, can't get through the day... He tolerates it this low, but any lower down the ear drives him nutso!

philsergeant

Also one comment on the "some dogs take longer due to genetics" input.... I think it's gotta be something other than genetics... I got pictures from the rest of the same litter and they were all up before 4 months... Mom and dad too are both pointy... So it's gotta be something else. Food? Florida heat? Siblings constantly wrestling ears?
Isabella has one ear up now permanent, but her ears are much lighter, Marcos are about 3/8" thick!

BulliesofNC

That's a perfect ear taping job right there! Now provide him with some Knox Gelatin mixed into his food. That will help harden the cartilage and works well. Don't give up you can get those ears to stand!

philsergeant

Trust me, I have shares in the Knox Gelatin company already!

BulliesofNC

LMAO. )

Check out the attachment I've provided. You may have already seen it before. Anyhow, the BT they used as an example (Mickey) was 5 months old when they decided to start training the ears. The process eventually worked and his ears are up now.

philsergeant

Yeah. That doc is a little further up in the string.... I've followed all I can, and am baffled.... By the time his ears are up, believe me, my tail will be down ( if you know what I mean!). He is such a beautiful soul though... You can tell he is as frustrated as I am, understands the object of the exercise... He looks you in the eyes and says,"hey dad, look, they're up, they're up!" .. Then the next day, when they droop again, he is sad eyed, and his bottom lip almost pouts!

BulliesofNC

How long are you leaving the tape on each time? How long do you wait to re-tape after one ear drops?

philsergeant

4 to 5 days. As long as the tape lasts before it gets tatty, wet. In the beginning we gave about 3 days rest... More recently a week... Because they find it very frustrating.

BulliesofNC

I'm a little more adamant to re-tape as soon as an ear drops so the cartilage can get right back in proper position without getting used to the bend. If your BT get's used to the ear or ears down he won't even try and perk them back up. He's got to get comfortable with them being up so he naturally keeps them erect and up when the tape comes off.

The next time you decide to take the tape off his ears the second you see one ear slightly droop try this:

bigbear

Great video and its working he is so cute and big only 5 months who is the other bully in the bed .

BulliesofNC

That isn't my video. The owner sent it to me because he wanted to show me an alternate way of taping that has been effective for him. He claims the dogs don't scratch at the tape since it doesn't bother them as much.

bigbear

Oops silly me lol .

yoshirican

Ok so I did 3 days of ear taping like the video and Selah scratched it loose the 4th day... So I will try again tomorrow, that one side is being sooooo freakin stubborn!! It looks like it's about to stand up, but it leaning now instead of flopped. So I think its almost there! Will continue to give her knox geletin, I really hope it stands up for good! 

yoshirican

Also I was worried if I taped it too tight? Is that possible? I don't like want her ear to fall off! LOL when she scratched it off it looked really red, is that normal?

philsergeant

Like the English Video of May 20th? I think that'll only work IF you can find that particular tape (U.K. ) and if the ear is 80% up and just the tip needs support. I think the one that I have tried under "Gus, Ear Gluing" on May 30th..... Works the best in my opinion.... But the tape sticks real well... So if you do it you must restrict rough housing and probably apply a head cone at night or if not supervised, to ensure you only tape ONCE, and keep it on 5 to 6 days and get it nailed ONCE! You don't want to be pulling all the hair off the ear....
Also, in addition to the Knox Gelatin, try goats milk or any other natural source of calcium, without using calcium tabs.

yoshirican

I actually did craigs video with tape and tampax sticks. It was easy to do... So make sure I keep it on for 5 to 6 days, OK!! Goats milk, you think it will be up for good after the 6 days? I wonder if it hurts or feels like her ear falls asleep... I dont want her ear to get damaged? Do you put it on tight? I did try the first time a lil looser and the sticks got flung out.

philsergeant

Yes, if you use Craig's video with the tampon tubes then you need to make sure the tape hits the tube... Otherwise they canon out when they shake their head from irritation... I prefer mine because there is nothing inside the ear... And you can get some fun and lasting infections with stuff inside the ear, especially if it gets wet....That you don't want.!!!! Feel the tips of the ears after taping, and make sure the tip doesn't get colder than the rest of the ear ...

yoshirican

Ok thank you!

BONC_Jacksonville

Yes if you tape make sure the tape hits the applicator. 3 days max on the taping. Then take off and clean. Never have had infections.

yoshirican

My taping may not be pretty, but its quite super lol! Wanted it big so I can get the majority of tape on the stick... Well update later

apollosmama

I crack up and shake my head every time I see their ears taped. It's just too funny! Looks like they are auditioning for the next Cadbury Bunny.

Leslie

philsergeant

You're taping sure isn't pretty, but she sure is pretty!!! Just be a little careful with the tubes and the fact that if they get anywhere near dirt or water because they act as a pathway directly down into the inner ear.

yoshirican

We are good to go!!!! My beautiful Selah has her ears up! Taping was not pretty, but as you can see it worked ! \:D/ thank you, she is quite a beauty!

Leslie

I thought you tape job was wonderful and it worked yeah!!!!!!! And she is absolutly a beauty!!!!!!

yoshirican

Thank you Leslie and thanks again Steve for my baby!

BulliesofNC

She looks great! I'll have to show these pictures to the owner of the female (Foxie) that gave birth to your puppy. Sophie looks a lot like her mama.

philsergeant

Selah is certainly beautiful. ... Have you asked her if she's looking for a boyfriend yet.... Marco loves her picture... His right ear is permanently up, the left ones flops a bit... Gonna have to give it another 3 day session.

BulliesofNC

Success is imminent!

bigbear

Hes looking fab phil .

yoshirican

@Philsergeant I think she's just too young to worry about boys just yet lol! His ear will get there! Knox geletin does work! He's precious Phil!

philsergeant

Still on the ear crusade... I think the reason Marco weighs 59 lbs is that each of those ears weighs a lb.
Trying something simple and so far it's working because its so light he doesn't know it's there... A Qtip, sandwiched between two pieces of tape, with a medium sized flap on the back of the ear and a small flap on the front... Holding well... And simple

Luis

Ok I need help I have a 7 week bull terrier and one ear won't go up what can I do or is it normal