The traditional ears of the Australian Shepherd are triangular and flop forward. They aren't erect, but they aren't exactly droopy either. However, that doesn't mean that all Australian Shepherds have these ears.
What are Aussie ears supposed to look like? The breed standards describe a moderate sized, triangular ear with a slightly rounded tip that sits high on the head. The ears may break forward or to the side (“rose” ear) when at attention.
Shepherd ears can come up on their own anytime between 4 weeks and 6 months. If the ears are not up by 4 months I tell my puppy customers to start paying attention.
Most breeders and veterinarians will tell you that floppy ears are common while your German Shepherd is teething, which usually ends between 16 and 20 weeks. By then, the cartilage in the ear has become hard and strong enough for the ear to stand permanently.
Ears flopping down are entirely normal in German Shepherd puppies. A German Shepherd's ears stand up when they are around 5 months old, or about 20 weeks of age. This normally happens shortly after they stop teething as the cartilage and muscles that support their ears become stronger.
Papillon. The Papillon's most distinctive feature are its big, upright ears which make their name — French for "butterfly" — the perfect fit. These dogs are extremely loving, according to Vet Street, but require plenty of exercise and have a tendency to be rather yappy.
German Shepherd puppy ears can come up between 8 weeks and 6 months. If they are not up when the dog is through teething (this varies from dog to dog but in general between 16 weeks and 20 weeks of age), I tell my puppy customers to get very interested in their ears.
They may have a flabby or misshapen ear due to malnutrition, fighting, illness, fungal ear infections, parasites, or other causes. Some of the more common causes include: Bite wounds: when dogs fight or play, it is not uncommon for their ears to be injured, as they are vulnerable and accessible areas.
Your Aussie will bond to his family and be protective of and loyal to them. Many dog owners are surprised to learn that even though Aussies have strong guarding and herding instincts, they are sweet and cuddly indoor dogs that can even be kept in apartments.
Aussies can also be split into four categories based on the four fabulous colors of the dog's fur. These categories are Black Australian Shepherd, Red Australian Shepherd, Red Merle Australian Shepherd, and Blue Merle Australian Shepherd.
Ears up, erect, and tilted forward are a sign that your pet is stimulated and possibly aggressive. If you have a dog with "up" ears, they may have one ear up and one ear down. This is just another casual ear position that he is listening, but not so intently that they are searching for something.
The border collie is a bit more lean and compact than the Australian shepherd, who sports a hardy muscular physique. While they're close to the same height—roughly 18–23 inches—a border collie and Australian shepherd differ in weight by as much as 15 pounds, with the Aussie often heavier.
The muscles, or sometimes the entire dog, shift the ear to receive sound. You might cup your ear towards a sound to hear it better, too! Generally, upright ears signify that your dog is listening either to you or something else and that it is alert.
Samoyed. Samoyeds are naturally stunning dogs, and their pointy ears are just the cherries on top! You can tell a Samoyed apart from other dogs by looking for bright white fur and a charming smile.
What's happening in these pups is that their bodies are using their calcium for teeth development instead of developing ear structure. As a pup starts to get its adult teeth, it is, therefore, possible for erect ears to begin to sag and stay this way until they're done teething.
Every puppy is different. The ears can first go up at any time from four weeks old to never. If the ears are going to stand naturally they would be up between four and seven months of age and after her adult teeth have come in. It is not unusual to see the ears go up and down during the teething process.
Your dog's ears are set by the time they finish teething, at 6–8 months old. That is when cartilage is formed. Any taping is only effective before that time. At 6 years old, your dog's ears are set just the way they will stay.
Besides being an endearing characteristic that makes your pup simply more adorable (if that's even possible), floppy ears actually do have a purpose. Some dogs have droopy ears from years of crossbreeding, but scent hounds (such as Basset hounds) use their long ears to help them smell.
Ear Shape Advantages
Dogs with upright ears, like German Pinschers, can hear better than dogs with floppy ears, like Beagles, because of the placement and size of their ears. Especially when they hear a sound, dogs can move their ears from side to side or up and down to enable them to hear better.