Gluing ears and negative feedback

[Caro]

I've always explained that it's just like putting braces on your kid's teeth - it's an accurate analogy, and at least in the US (where orthodontia are very common) it always seems to work.

That's a really good analogy. I guess it's good that people are so concerned about animal welfare, but you aren't chopping anything off.

You actually never see braced ears here. I think you do it differently there - you have the ears higher on the head.

 

[labgirl]

On one of the training groups I belong to, if you said you glued your dogs ears you would be in serious trouble! Personally, I don't think you are hurting your dog, but I am not interested in fussing with ears, so Swift will most likely have pricked ears. Because of my choice to let my pup have prick ears, I have received some negative feedback. People think they are being 'helpful' when they criticise my dog's ears and tell me how I should glue them. I tell them she is an agility dog, not a show dog, so what does it matter what her ears do? Merlin had naturally tipped ears, so I never had that bother.

As an aside, the other week a woman informed my dad that sable shelties never have tipped ears, because she had had sables who had pricked ears! Peoples' ignorance amuses me!

 

[Hanne]

Personally, I feel it is a little wrong to glue Shelties ears
- Especially because it is so widespread / almost normal
- if it not were done, then there would be many, many more Shelties who would have pricked ears.

If people want the Sheltie standard to be tipped ears, it should be done via the breeding and not by tape.

Many years ago, people began to tape GSD's ear with foam -- and what happened ??
-- Breeders bred further on these dogs with soft ears, and they were given offspring with soft or hanging ears !!

Now you actually not see a GSD (with pedigree) that not have raised ears.

 

[labgirl]

If people want the Sheltie standard to be tipped ears, it should be done via the breeding and not by tape

That is exactly what my friend said. Technically, it states in the showing rules of the UK, that a dog should not be artificially altered to conform to the standard, and surely taping ears is artificial? But because everyone does it, no one says anything. Swift's grandad had pricked ears and that has passed through to her and her sister. Actually, she is such a small sheltie, with so small ears that it is no wonder they don't tip. There is just not enough ear. Because breeders here are trying to get smaller and smaller shelties, it is harder and harder for the ears to prick naturally. So very glad I do not show my dogs!

 

[Pam]

Beau's ears were tied (moleskin in ear) when I got him at 7.5 weeks. That lasted about 1 week in one ear and 2 in the other. I kept meaning to re-tie but never got around to it. His ears stayed tipped and a bit asymmetrical and off center but very cute until he had to wear an Elizabethan collar for 6 weeks due to an injury. His right ear then was down, hound style for several weeks; and then the ear decided to become pricked. It now moves with his emotions from pick to 1/3 tipped. I would not have it any other way. He is not a show dog so I love his ears giving him personality.

 

[mimiretz]

I never glued Oberon's ears, and quite truthfully think they're very expressive the way they are. That said, because it doesn't hurt the dog at all I think it's personal preference. As has been pointed out, it's not like declawing a cat, which is actually harmful and about which I do have strong feelings. In the case of gluing ears, it's really no one else's business. it's purely cosmetic, like dying your hair (mine's dyed galaxy-style) or getting a tattoo.

 

[ghggp]

Wow, never experienced this before...

If I ever did will certainly use the braces analogy! Great idea!!!