Every seen a Sheltie with Ears like these?

Yep, she's a Sheltie all right. Just has those adorable hound ears that break really low. I wouldn't advise bracing them unless you have designs on the show ring, and since she's probably not going to stop growing anytime soon, it may be a moot point. I became a little anal with my first Sheltie when he was a puppy. His ears originally tipped naturally, but became stubbornly pricked (standing up) by the time he hit 6 months. And let me tell you about what I call "the seven month uglies". Neechee's ears grew faster than his head, giving him the attractive "mono-ear" look. He was so pitiful-looking that I dreaded taking him out in public - he was skinny, with ears pressed tightly together, his nose was too sharp, and he had hardly any hair (after he lost his puppy fuzz at about 12 weeks) for the next TWO YEARS!

He looked for all the world like a miniature smooth collie. I may have to dig up and scan some photos.

He ended up being quite a handsome little fellow - a very tiny 13 inches (on a tall day) and 12 pounds. He never did have the fluffly show coat, but man, that little dog would work until he dropped!
 
I doubt at her age bracing the ears would do much. If they were prick, you could probably get them to tip still, but getting them to stand up when they're hound is another story. Hound ears are already harder to correct even in a young puppy. I've tried to help a friend in the past with 3 hound eared puppies that she messed the ears up on. I started helping her at around 5 months with the older 2, and 3.5 months with the other. Nothing ever corrected those ears.
 
Thanks for the replies,

Don't get me wrong, we LOVE Milli's look and ears! We would NEVER brace or want to Change her ears!

I was simply wondering how common ears like Milli's are in Shelties. Most people I talk to ( i guess including some comments here) They say that the ears go down when teething. HOWEVER , in Milli's case her ears have ALWAYS been down. She just never looked like a typical sheltie puppy ( if you google sheltie puppy anyways) I've yet to see an other Sheltie puppy with ears like hers. If its soo common, how come I just haven't seen many pictures? I've gone through HUNDREDS of puppy pictures. I've seen some shelties with low ears But not quite the same and I just looked at Barbv's dogs too, Completely not the same ( IMO). Milli's ears are REALLY on the Side /Back of her head. LIke I said, most shelties with lowered ears still seem to "stand up" at the base and positions forward/twisted do you can see the inside of their ears a bit. Milli's are just floppy and positions flat on the side/back.

Anyone have any links of sheltie puppies with the same kind of ears? Googling Hound ear sheltie doesnt yield any results. I'm still not convince that Milli's ears are "common". =).

I'm glad to hear shes at the top of the Growth chart. I sure hope she goes oversize Height wise =). I'm just measuring her myself so I'm sure I'm not doing it accurately But shes definitely 13 inches minimum.
 
The first picture, I wasn't sure, but the the next two pictures did look Sheltie to me.

Some dogs, despite having the best pedigrees have hound ears. My Bacca is one. Its a genetic thing that surfaces from time to time, despite the best of breeding programs and all the ear bracing you can imagine.

I've posted a picture of Bacca, born of champions and most of his siblings champions as well. My poor sad sack, Eeyore face....., Bacca!
 

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With all the evidence in...broken leg, hound ears, and down on the pasterns, if this puppy was at my house, I would put it on Pet tabs with calcium or any vitamin with calcium. It certainly wouldn't hurt....if you follow the recommendations, and don't over supplement. Certainly just my two cents.
 
Barbv,

Thanks for the picture. Still, Not the same as milli though. Your Sheltie's ears still "stand" at the base. Milli's doesnt. I guess I'll Wait and see how her ears turn out . =). Regardless of the outcome We LOVE her ears. We're just curious about them that's all.

Missjenneygirl,

Yeah, Milli is on calcium tabs ( calci delice ) at the moment. We also give her some other suppliments in her food every morning. Thanks for the advice..
 
Well, Bacca had the benefit of some bracing as a pup. Without gluing, I have no doubt that he's ears would lie flat like your pup.

Your pup is a beautiful pup whatever he might be, so I wouldn't sweat the details. Just go out and enjoy him!
 
sgtfrog said:
Anyone have any links of sheltie puppies with the same kind of ears? Googling Hound ear sheltie doesnt yield any results. I'm still not convince that Milli's ears are "common".
Click to expand...

I'm joining in on the conversation late but I had the time so did a quick search for you right now. This one looks exactly like your pup, color, flat ears and all - confirmed sheltie. Ringo's last picture seems to be of when he's older, maybe that'll give you an idea how the ears might turned on. Hope this helps.

http://www.dailypuppy.com/dogs/ringo-the-shetland-sheepdog_2010-06-16
 
PreciousSheltie,

Thats closer to Milli BUT I still think its different. Like i mentioned a few times other shelties with lowered ears, the ears are slightly perking up at the base and you can see the ear triangle shape looking from the front. Milli on the other hand , her ears are flat to the side of her head. You can see the triangle shape from the side view.

MAybe I'm the only one seeing it that way... I dont know... Its not exactly similar..

ANyways We're not fussing over her ears. We love them. We just havent seen any/many shelties with them. They dont seem THAT common.
 
Yes, you are right, I believe hound ears are less common in Shelties than the prick ears, (though I think rarest of all are ears that tip perfectly all on their own. :lol:)

And yes, you are also right that Milli's hound ears are more pronounced than the other dogs listed/pictured... though I do think Barb might be right, and if it weren't for the fact that Bacca had his ears braced as a puppy, that his ears might well rival Milli's. :smile2:

I suspect Connie is probably right, too, and a calcium deficiency might well be a contributing factor to Milli's uber-hound ears. If not for that, Milli might well have hound ears more similar to Bacca, or Specs, or Ringo, etc. (where the ear would still perk up a bit at the base, like you said). Who knows?
 
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