Although some puppies' ears stand as early as 8-10 weeks, don't be concerned if your pup's ears don't stand until 6-7 months (especially pups with large ears) after teething. Some pups ears never stand. This is known as a "soft ear". Sometimes taping is successful. "Soft ears" are a genetic trait, and dogs with soft ears should not be bred even if taping is successful. It is a disqualification in showing. Some GSDs ears stand but wiggle at the tips when the dogs run.

Usually, dog-ears stand between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Some Dogs' ears stand already pretty by 10-12 weeks of age. Your dog's ears may stand but wiggle at the tips when the dog runs. This "friendly ears" are not a desirable trait for Show dogs.

Other than the normal precautions of immunizations beware of a fast-growing puppy. There are studies that show a correlation between fast growth and hip dysplasia (if your pup is predisposed to HD). You may want to switch your puppy over to adult food if it seems to be growing very quickly. Don't pet your puppy's ears backwards before they stand. Although people often do this by nature, it can damage the cartilage in your pup's ears which can affect the ear carriage.

Yes, we will gladly glue your puppy's ears for free. Gluing is a common practice in the Terrier breeds and is done to help get a better crease in the ear. You would bring the puppy to us to have them glued and unglued in two week cycles usually starting between 12-16 weeks of age. The age to start depends on the dog, you will normally see the ears begin to set strangely about the time they start teething.

Whether or not to have the ears cropped is a personal decision that must be made by each individual owner. People are attracted to different breeds because of their unique appearances and cropped ears are often an important part of what people think a boxer should look like. Others may not want to risk anesthesia in their new puppy and be perfectly content with the softer look of pendulous ears.

Obviously, many factors affect the selection of the puppy, including the personality and lifestyle of the prospective owner. Avoid puppies that appear too shy or nervous. Puppies at an age where they can be sent home with their new owners should be inquisitive and curious. GSD pups generally lengthen along the back and loin rather than get shorter. Look for balance in angulation, especially in the hind quarters as an imbalanced pup may never grow into the correct angulation.

Ears on a Rat Terrier puppy may or may not stand. They sometimes go through several stages before standing erect, if they are going to stand at all. The two most common styles of ear carriage are: a) erect ears, and b) button ears. Erect ears will stand on their own—no cropping, taping or posting is required. If the ears are going to stand, they will most usually be erect by 10 months of age, but many puppies have their ear carriage earlier than that.

A puppy that is purchased through the GSDCA Affiliate Club Puppy Listing service comes from a breeder who is a member of that local State GSD Club, and has complied with all of the Breed Improvement Schemes and Breeding Guidelines. This will provide a greater assurance that you are buying a quality puppy, that will have less chance of suffering from the hereditary diseases that may occur in the German Shepherd Dog.

Depending on the crop, it could take weeks or months. I have had some ears stand in 8 weeks and others it took 12 months. The most important thing is NOT to give up. If you take the ears down and they fall, TAPE them up again!! Also, ears should be taken down, cleaned, aired, and put back up within a few hours unless there is a good chance the ears will stand. Taking ears down and leaving them floppy for a day or two at a time will get you no where.

A.) Puppies ears should stand up on there own by six months. But could possibly take up to a year. Some puppies ears need a little more help than others. Laid back, easy going pups at times could be a cause for ears not to go up. Keeping these pups alert and interested and exercising there ears is helpful with mellow, easy going dogs. Sometime a "woolie" puppy has to much hair and the hair is to heavy to let the pups ears stand. Shaving the hair on there ears to give them a little time can help.

It's perfectly normal for the ears to droop during teething. However, the thickness of the ears is in the breeding and if they are too thick, they may not come up. The ears should be trimmed on the edge about halfway down each side, then use a clipper (the Wahl clipper is available in your local Payless or other drug store, the kind that is used to trim the hair on the back of the neck) with a surgical blade, about halfway down front and back of each ear.

No ! - The GSDCA affiliated Clubs do not support the training of Schutzhund, or any form of Protection training and do not believe this form of training is necessary. It is a requirement of Victorian law that any dog that is trained to attack a person or animal must be reported to the authorities and will probably be declared a dangerous dog. Use the following link to the GSDCA Policy on Schutzhund Training :

Many things can cause itchy ears. Some common causes of itchy ears are dry skin, ear wax and outer ear infections. Please consult your physician or an ear, nose and throat specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment of itchy ears.

It's perfectly normal for the ears to droop during teething. However, the thickness of the ears is in the breeding and if they are too thick, they may not come up. The ears should be trimmed on the edge about halfway down each side, then use a clipper (the Wahl clipper is available in your local Payless or other drug store, the kind that is used to trim the hair on the back of the neck) with a surgical blade, about halfway down front and back of each ear.

The full adult size of your GSD will depend in large part on the genetic background of its parents. The AKC Standard states that adult males should range between 24-26" at the shoulder blade, females from 22-24". Males within the standard may weigh anywhere from 65-90 lbs. depending on their bloodlines. Females may weigh anywhere from 55-80 lbs. (Again, much depends on the genetics and bloodlines. The above are only a rough idea.