Why Do German Shepherds Have Floppy Ears?

German Shepherds come among the cutest breeds to be owned and floppy ears even make them the cutest ones. As a pet owner, you may wonder what’s the fact behind the floppy ears of German Shepherds. Is this natural for them?

So why do German Shepherds have floppy ears? German Shepherds are born with floppy ears and have experienced numerous changes. They have floppy ears because puppies’ ears still lack the maturity and cartilage to support the weight of their ears.

German Shepherd puppies are in the developing stage and they are not yet developed to hold the ear, the floppy ear is mostly seen in the first year of a German Shepherd dog.

However, some research also tells teething contributes to floppy ears as when their teeth break through the gums, the calcium that is extracted results in softer ear cartilage.

German Shepherd puppy’s ears are mostly floppy as their bones are not fully grown and they can hold them. By the way, the GSD puppy looks cute with floppy ears, again this post is going to be a very informative one.

This article is all about the German Shepherd’s ear, here you will know why a German Shepherd has pointy ears and why their ears stand up. We will take a close look if their ear doesn’t stand up and how to fix it.

Let’s dive into the hot topic of German Shepherds and their ears:

Table of Contents

Why Do German Shepherds Have Pointy Ears?

The cutest ear can belong to the German Shepherd. With their pointed ears, German Shepherd dogs are a conventional breed, but what enables them to stand? Why German Shepherds are born with pointy ears, this may be the question you were looking for!

German Shepherds possess pointed ears because of their strong, flexible cartilage, which also allows their ears to stand up. While the cartilage and ears are not so developed in puppies that causes their ear to be floppy. However, when they finish teething their ears should stand up.

There may be some instances when a German Shepherd puppy’s ears don’t stand up, this may be because of some reasons and also how can we let them stand up their ears, which we will discuss later in this topic.

Do German Shepherds Have Naturally Floppy Ears?

No, German Shepherd dogs do not have naturally floppy ears. Their ears are typically pointed and upright, although some breeds may be born with erect ears that eventually stand erect once the puppy is fully grown.

Additionally, some German Shepherd owners may choose to crop their pup’s ears to achieve a more distinct look.

However, this is an elective procedure and should always be discussed with a qualified veterinarian before being performed.

Regardless of whether cropping takes place or not, German Shepherds will still have pointed and upright ears when they reach maturity.

Why Do German Shepherd’s Ears Stand Up?

German Shepherds possess a rich history because people have used this breed to protect their animals and for herding, but before they were domesticated, they were used to hunt for food, which is why we call their ears pointed. Why their ears stand up is the fact that is before us.

German Shepherds typically perk up their ears when they detect danger. To shield themselves from the hazards, they also lift their ears. Raising their ears indicates alertness and caution in German Shepherds.

German Shepherd’s pointy ears may be hereditary as they are the ancestors of wolves. Oh yeah! the basic shape of ears is much similar to wolves.

Some of you may have also confusion about why German Shepherds look like wolves. You can go through this topic in the detailed discussion of the history of this canine.

Why Do Some German Shepherd’s Ears Not Stand Up?

The most common reason why the ears of some German Shepherds don’t stand up is because of cartilage in their ears, not hardening as they mature.

This can be a genetic trait, or it can be caused by early trauma to the ear, such as injury or infection. In some cases, simply waiting until the dog is older and allowing the cartilage to harden naturally will allow the ears to stand upright on their own.

Other times, assistance may need to be provided for the ears to properly stand up. Options such as taping, splinting/bandaging, and surgically altering the shape of the ear may all be used depending on each case.

Regardless of which method you choose to help the ears of German Shepherds stand up, be sure to follow the instructions of your veterinarian.

Do German Shepherd Ears Stand Up Naturally?

Yes, German Shepherd ears naturally stand up when the pup is about eight to twelve weeks old. If you own a German Shepherd and their ears don’t stand up on their own, it might mean that they have an unbalanced ear carriage or even an ear infection.

In these cases, you should consult with a vet for further advice. Some exercises can help strengthen and support your pup’s ears so that they will stand properly but make sure to get professional guidance before attempting any of these at home.

Additionally, if your pup has floppy ears, there are surgical options available that can help them stay upright permanently. As always, speak with your vet first before making any decisions regarding surgical procedures.

At What Age Do German Shepherd’s Ears Stand Up?

All newly born German Shepherds possess floppy ears because their cartilage is not so developed to hold their ears. But as they become older, their ear cartilage becomes strong enough to support them, so their ears stand up.

At what age do German Shepherds’ ears stand up? The ears of German Shepherds start standing up at the age of 20 weeks or 5 months as this is the period when their teething phase ends. It’s not always necessary for both ears to stand together; occasionally, only one ear or both ears can stand.

However there may be some variation of time, some pups can take a time of 5 months or as long as 8 months. There may be some other reasons behind the floppy ears of German Shepherds that we should also know.

What Are The Other Reasons For German Shepherd’s Floppy Ears?

It’s very unfortunate for German Shepherds to be with floppy ears all the time. There may be some occasions when they have one ear up while one stays down, however, it’s very rare for German Shepherds to be fully floppy-eared.

It’s not natural, there may be some strong reasons that let the GSD’s ears floppy ears and as a good dog owner, you should not avoid it and should know the reason behind German Shepherd’s floppy ears.

Let’s look behind the reasons that let the German Shepherds for floppy ears:

Breeding Process:

It may be quite a factual reason behind the floppy ears in German Shepherds. The breeders want their GSD puppies to be born with floppy ears, which they use to soften their cartilage so that their cartilage does not hold their ears during the breeding process.

However, the breed standard meets when they have the normal size of ears. Though it may be adorable for German Shepherds with big and floppy ears.

Ear Infection:

An ear infection may also lead to German Shepherd’s ear being floppy. Major infection may permanently damage their ear and become floppy their whole life.

You can’t be able to see their pointy ear if there is any occurrence of a serious ear infection. You should never ignore the ear infection of a German Shepherd because it can be uncomfortable or even fatal for them.

Trauma:

It’s quite natural, every German Shepherd goes through a trauma stage. Some may get severely injured during rough play while some are prevented from accidents.

Serious injury may lead them to damage their ear permanently and as a result, their ear becomes floppy for their whole life this may be another reason why German Shepherds possess floppy ears.

Poor Cartilage bones:

Poor cartilage bones can also make the ears floppy. There may be the possibility that the muscles are not fully developed as a result their cartilage is not able to hold their ear.

Though the appearance of German Shepherds depends on the breed standard which is also responsible for their characteristics.

When your GSD puppy has a floppy ear, there is no cause for concern because they are still young and once they grow up and through the teething stage, they will naturally develop a sharp ear.

Why Does My German Shepherd Have One Floppy Ear?

There are several possible reasons why your canine may have one floppy ear.

The most frequent reason is inheritance since some German Shepherds naturally have a condition that prevents one of their ears from standing straight up.

Another potential cause is injury or trauma to the ear during growth, which can lead to permanent damage and a floppy appearance.

Finally, certain infections or diseases could also affect the cartilage structure in the ear of your canine and make it droop.

If you are worried about the floppy ears of your dog, talking to your veterinarian can help diagnose any underlying issues and determine an appropriate treatment plan.

Is It Bad If German Shepherd Ears Don’t Stand Up?

Because of the German Shepherd breed’s high level of activity, when it detects risks nearby, its ears rise up, signaling alertness. Others among you worry about what will happen if their ears don’t stand up. Is it harmful to them?

No not at all, it’s not a bad thing if a German Shepherd’s ear doesn’t stand up. It’s not unhealthy to have flopped ears for a German Shepherd unless they have some severe ear infections which you have to notice.

German Shepherds with floppy ears even look more adorable. So there is nothing to worry about anymore if you have got your GSD with a floppy ear.

But as a good owner, you can’t ignore the health-related issues your GSD are facing because of the floppy ears they have got.

Let’s discuss some of the health concerns associated with the floppy ears of German Shepherds:

Health Concerns For Floppy Ears Of German Shepherds

Health plays a vital role in the inactiveness of German Shepherds as you have also been aware of their behavior. We more often avoid their body part and ears are one of them.

German Shepherds may experience problems such as decreased airflow through their ears if their ears are flat. This can also lead to many health issues such as:

Ear infection

German Shepherds run a significant risk of contracting an ear infection if their ears are not cleaned often.

Floppy ears have more chance to get infected because of heat and moisture as their ears are down.

Hearing Damage

Ignoring ear infections may lead to severe issues and German Shepherd dogs may face hearing damage even if they may get total hearing loss.

Risk Of Ear Injuries

There may be a high risk to get more injury if your dog has floppy ears. There will always be a high chance to get injured in their ear while playing and doing other activities.

No doubt, a German Shepherd with floppy ears looks more adorable but they also need extra care as there is a high chance for them to get injured when they have floppy ears.

How To Fix German Shepherd’s Ears?

If you are the owner of a German Shepherd dog with floppy ears and have any concerns about why their ears are not standing up? then there are some of the initial cures you can follow to make your dog’s cartilage stronger.

Following this method will let your GSD’s cartilage stronger and healthy that will make their ear stand up.

Feeding Healthy Diet and Supplements

It’s highly beneficial to feed a healthy diet to your dog as it not only lets them live a healthy life but also prevents various health issues.

Healthy food always lets your dog gain proper minerals, proteins, and vitamins that are ultimately responsible for making its cartilage and bones stronger.

If your dog is not having a proper diet then there will be a high chance for them to get poor nutrition as their body development is going to suffer.

It is highly recommended to consult your vets to get the proper diet plan and supplements for your GSD.

Exercise For Ear Muscles

The most important reason behind the floppy ears of German Shepherds is their muscles. Exercising the ear muscles helps German Shepherds to stand up their ears as they also have dozen of ear muscles that they use in raising and lowering the ears.

Prevent Ear Injury

If you want your dog’s ear to stand up then you must take proper care of the ear and avoid any type of ear injury that may damage the ear. You should avoid pulling and rubbing your dog’s ear as it may soften its cartilage.

You should do ear cleaning regularly as this also prevents other ear infections.

Providing Proper Chew Toys

You should be also careful while giving your canine toys to chew as chewing provides them good exercise and strengthens the muscles that surround their ears.

The puppies have more habit to chew the things they find near us so it’s important to provide some good chew toys such that they could get good exercise for jaw muscles.

Final Thoughts:

German Shepherd floppy ears are adorable to watch but with the pointy ears, they seem to alert although all these are the cutest ones to notice in this breed. Here is a quick recap of this post:

German Shepherds may have floppy ears because of undeveloped cartilage that can hold their ears.
Strong cartilage makes their ear stand up.
Pointy ears are also a sign of alertness in the language of German Shepherds.
You should always feed a nutrient diet recommended by vets for better development of their cartilage bones.
Take special care of your beloved German Shepherd so that they can avoid any type of ear injury.
Provide them with proper chew toys.