A little help with the ears
- Thread starter Aynesa
- Start date
I personally know of a particular almost 7 year old special when hes not showing his ear(he has one ear that likes to prick) is glued down. 20 months is not impossible but definitely you have to be persistent and vigilant with it!
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
Ok, I'll give on most points. I'm not a show breeder, but I'm just speaking from what I've read on this forum.
@Ann - Correcting ears at age 20 months is a major undertaking and not for the faint of heart. General consensus on this forum has been if you don't start before 8-10 months or earlier, don't bother. Are you suggesting different? (i.;e. once the ear cartilege starts maturing, its a losing battle)
And while it may be true that Canadian dogs get their championships early (and why that may be so, I don't know), I think its rare for any dog to start its show career past 1 years old in any jurisdiction.
My best advice is to get your pup assessed by other local breeders, including the breeder that you got your pup from as to his chances for conformation.
One final comment....I do not know how long you have had your pup. But most breeders will hold on to show contenders and only release them as companion pups when they believe they are not going to make show. And then normally, they would only release on the requirement to spay/neuter the dog.
Some breeders will hold onto a dog with excellent breeding lines in the hope that he/she still holds potential if not for show but for future breeding.
That being said, as Sheltiluver said, I would not give false hope here.
Best of luck to you. He's a beautiful boy for sure!
@Ann - Correcting ears at age 20 months is a major undertaking and not for the faint of heart. General consensus on this forum has been if you don't start before 8-10 months or earlier, don't bother. Are you suggesting different? (i.;e. once the ear cartilege starts maturing, its a losing battle)
And while it may be true that Canadian dogs get their championships early (and why that may be so, I don't know), I think its rare for any dog to start its show career past 1 years old in any jurisdiction.
My best advice is to get your pup assessed by other local breeders, including the breeder that you got your pup from as to his chances for conformation.
One final comment....I do not know how long you have had your pup. But most breeders will hold on to show contenders and only release them as companion pups when they believe they are not going to make show. And then normally, they would only release on the requirement to spay/neuter the dog.
Some breeders will hold onto a dog with excellent breeding lines in the hope that he/she still holds potential if not for show but for future breeding.
That being said, as Sheltiluver said, I would not give false hope here.
Best of luck to you. He's a beautiful boy for sure!
actually no Barb there are tons of breeders who wont bring their dogs out till they are after 2 years of age...it is fairly commonplace.
Until you are actively showing and competing I think its best to not reply on which you do not understand as it comes across like you are putting down someone who is trying..just my .02 worth on how it comes across...
Ann
Moderator
Exactly.
As I said in my post below, I know show people who have improved their dogs' ears at age two and beyond by vigilant attention to keeping them braced when they are not in the show ring. Of course you can't start at 8-10 months; the dog must have ears braced throughout puppyhood. If bracing is continued as long as it's needed, they can be improved. This is not "false hope," nor am I talking about surgery, or leading ears, but rigorous attention to keeping them braced.
Lightplum is absolutely correct. This is just not true. Many breeders don't even bring a dog out until age two when it has outgrown the awkward teenage stage. I don't know where you are getting your information from, but we should not be discouraging new people with misinformation.
Caro
Moderator
In Tully's brief show career her ears were often resistent to tipping once a took the weights off. I learnt a trick from other show people about getting them to tip properly just before going in the ring. You fold the ear over at the tipping point then fold it again vertically at the tip (with the fur inside) and hold it and rub. It actually does work well as a temporary fix.
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
True most dogs don't start until they are 2 or older or at least are not competitive until then. I can say I was thrilled Jamie was a flyer but at 2.5 yrs is just getting better. We have 4 pups(12 to 16 months) that are waiting until they mature to seriously get them out there.
Was just at our local specialty today and Jamie older half brother who is 5yr just finished today. He got his first major 4 points, in Nov and a 4 point and 5 point specialty majors today. He wasn't ready before 3 yrs and is now cleaning up.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
Ok, I'll shuddup. But the advice in this thread seems contrary to all the "ear tipping" threads, which basicly say get it done by 1 year or give up. Did I miss something?
missjenneygirl
Forums Enthusiast
The point Barb makes about dogs in Canada getting their CH at an earlier age is true. This is because of several reasons.
First, all Canadian shows offer Puppy Groups, and Puppy Best in Show. This encourages exhibitors to get their junior puppies (6-9 month) and senior puppies (9-12 months) into the ring with awards just for them. And of course they are also competing against the adults for the points. So with more puppies in the ring, more finish their CH early. There is usually more quality in the competing puppy, then in the competing adult in the classes, because if the adult had deep quality it would have already finished, as a puppy. Of course there can be many reasons to hold back and not show until the dog is an adult, but I am giving you the average.
Second, in Canada, there are no majors in the point system. AKC requires 15 points with 2 majors (3pts or more) awarded. CKC's point system is just get to 10 points any way you can.
Third, Canadian shows usually have a low entry limit (150 entries) because they offer 2 shows a day. So, with 4 shows in two days, and maybe the entry adds up to 3 points each show. With the competition the same, for all 4 shows, the results are usually, nearly the same. So...the same dog can win all 4 shows, 3 pts each show.....ding..ding..ding..New Champion!! In two days of showing.
First, all Canadian shows offer Puppy Groups, and Puppy Best in Show. This encourages exhibitors to get their junior puppies (6-9 month) and senior puppies (9-12 months) into the ring with awards just for them. And of course they are also competing against the adults for the points. So with more puppies in the ring, more finish their CH early. There is usually more quality in the competing puppy, then in the competing adult in the classes, because if the adult had deep quality it would have already finished, as a puppy. Of course there can be many reasons to hold back and not show until the dog is an adult, but I am giving you the average.
Second, in Canada, there are no majors in the point system. AKC requires 15 points with 2 majors (3pts or more) awarded. CKC's point system is just get to 10 points any way you can.
Third, Canadian shows usually have a low entry limit (150 entries) because they offer 2 shows a day. So, with 4 shows in two days, and maybe the entry adds up to 3 points each show. With the competition the same, for all 4 shows, the results are usually, nearly the same. So...the same dog can win all 4 shows, 3 pts each show.....ding..ding..ding..New Champion!! In two days of showing.
missjenneygirl
Forums Enthusiast
Now, onto the ear issue.
Weighting or what we call, leading, the ears is a very slippery slope. I think very long and hard before I will lead ears.
The off hand comment that "many people do it" makes it sound acceptable, and it is not. Most people do not do it. It is not, as the Poster stated, a "fault" given by the judge...
It is an EXCUSAL from the ring. How embarrassing to be excused by the judge because you artificially fixed the ears. Everything stops, the judge fills in their book that you were excused, and everyone ringside watches.
And that's not all! Then you receive a letter from AKC, requiring you to explain why you artificially fixed the ears. Then you wait for the official letter of reprimand, and a strike against you.
Everything else about ears, I have addressed many times, so will not tire anyone with my thoughts.
Weighting or what we call, leading, the ears is a very slippery slope. I think very long and hard before I will lead ears.
The off hand comment that "many people do it" makes it sound acceptable, and it is not. Most people do not do it. It is not, as the Poster stated, a "fault" given by the judge...
It is an EXCUSAL from the ring. How embarrassing to be excused by the judge because you artificially fixed the ears. Everything stops, the judge fills in their book that you were excused, and everyone ringside watches.
And that's not all! Then you receive a letter from AKC, requiring you to explain why you artificially fixed the ears. Then you wait for the official letter of reprimand, and a strike against you.
Everything else about ears, I have addressed many times, so will not tire anyone with my thoughts.