Cropped ears usually need significant post-surgery training (posting with tape/supports for weeks or months) to stand, as the cartilage needs time to firm up in the desired upright position; they often won't stand on their own immediately, especially for breeds like Dobermans or Great Danes, though some puppies (like some German Shepherds) might have ears that stand with minimal help as they mature. Proper, consistent taping is crucial, as skipping it or stopping too soon often results in floppy or wonky ears.
Other breeds like Dobermans, Danes, and Boxers may require 4-6 months of proper taping after surgery until the ears will stand. The length of the time for ear posting varies based on breed, ear crop length, and genetics (which can influence ear leather and shape on individual dogs.)
Puppies' ears can go up on their own as late as age of 5-6mths. But DON'T wait too long. If you go ahead and help them out, then there are no worries about them not going up.
If ears are at least half ways up, leaning towards each other, or have been up and down, then give them another month to make it on their own. Puppies' ears can go up on their own as late as age of 5-6mths. But DON'T wait too long. If you go ahead and help them out, then there are no worries about them not going up.
During ear cropping recovery, you can expect your dog to experience some swelling and discomfort. It's important to keep the ears clean and dry, monitor for any signs of infection, and follow the aftercare instructions provided by your veterinarian.
While you are healing, it's important to avoid getting water in your ear. You will also need to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and other activities that may put pressure on your eardrum. This includes flying in an airplane, swimming, scuba diving, and playing contact sports.
The ideal age for ear cropping is typically between 8 and 12 weeks old. At this stage, the cartilage in a puppy's ears is still soft and pliable, making it easier to shape and heal. Performing the procedure during this window also minimizes discomfort and ensures the best possible results.
The "10-minute rule" for puppies often refers to short, focused training or exercise sessions, like 10 minutes of playtime or training, to prevent overwhelm and build positive habits, or a potty training method: 10 minutes outside for a potty break, 10 feet of space, and 10 minutes of supervision; if they don't go, back to the crate for 10 minutes, then try again. It's also a patience strategy for owners: set a timer for 10 minutes when frustrated, knowing the behavior will likely stop or change, helping you maintain calm.
If a pup does not have his ears up by 5 months, I strongly recommend that you get involved with taping your dog's ears. Use the thin white surgical tape (the kind that's paper-thin and tears easily). The 3M Micropore tape, 2" wide, works well. I like to use women's hair rollers.
The 777 Puppy Rule (or Rule of 7s) is a guideline for puppy socialization, suggesting that by seven weeks old, a puppy should experience seven different Surfaces, seven different Sounds, seven different Objects, seven different People, seven different Locations, seven different Containers, and seven different Challenges, all in positive, short, and safe ways to build confidence and resilience. It helps prevent fear and reactivity by creating positive associations with novel experiences during the critical socialization window (around 4-16 weeks).
The hardest months with a puppy often center around two key periods: 3-5 months (teething, regression, lack of impulse control) and 6-12 months (adolescence), when hormone surges bring boundary testing, stubbornness, and increased energy, making training and housebreaking challenging as they become "teenagers". Expect frustration with accidents, nipping, chewing, and defiance during these phases as their brains develop, requiring patience and consistent training.
German Shepherd
For anyone who has not had the privilege of meeting a German Shepherd puppy, all you need to know is that they're all ears. Literally. The German Shepherd is born with huge upright ears which takes them about a year to grow into!
the ears can take up to 9 months to stand up. giving cheese and cottage does not help with the cartildge in the ears and can be dangerous to dogs if given too much.
Key Takeaways. Ear cropping in dogs is a purely cosmetic procedure with no proven health benefits. Due to the risks and lack of clear medical benefits, veterinary groups actively oppose ear cropping.
A medium dog, such as a border collie or Dalmatian, typically reaches their full adult weight of 25 to 50 pounds by the time they are 1 year old. Large dogs: If you have a large dog like a golden retriever or German shepherd, don't expect them to stop growing in less than a year.
Call (608) 837-6252 to learn more. Ear Cropping is a procedure where the doctor removes part or all of the external flaps of an animal's ear to the desired shape and height. There are many breeds that regularly have their ears cropped, but the most common breeds are Doberman, Boxer, Schnauzer, and American Bully.
Taping and splintering ears
A dog's ears are taped to a cardboard or wood splint to encourage growth upright instead of the ears flopping over. There is no evidence of any benefit to performing cropping or taping of dogs' ears unless for medical reasons.
Ear Cropping starts at $495 | Good Care Animal Clinic.
Breeds, like the German Shepherd, are known for having one ear that stands up and one that flops over. This is due to a genetic trait that causes the cartilage in one ear to be stronger than the other.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for the adjustment period after adoption, representing 3 days (overwhelmed/hiding), 3 weeks (settling in/testing boundaries), and 3 months (feeling at home/bonding) to help owners manage expectations and provide patience, routine, and a calm environment, understanding that anxiety is normal as they decompress from a stressful past. It's a framework for recognizing stress and fostering trust, not a rigid timeline, but it helps owners understand why a new dog might seem timid or act out initially.
A general guide for exercising puppies is to allow them one to two sessions of five minutes walking for each month of age, so for example, a four month old pup could enjoy walks of 20 minutes at a time, once or twice a day.
10 to 12 week old pups can usually hold it for around two hours. Three month old puppies can usually hold it for three hours. After six months, dogs can usually hold their bladder for up to six hours. Adult dogs shouldn't be home alone for much longer than six to eight hours without a chance for a bathroom break.
Immediate Aftercare
On the day of the surgery, we apply bandages to both ears that post them in the upright position. We recheck 4 days after surgery for a bandage change and 12 days after surgery for 2nd bandage change and suture removal.
Some pups may take as much as two months to completely heal. However, the 'hump' of healing usually takes about 7-10 days. Once Fido gets his stitches out, it gets a lot easier! However, even after that, you'll need to be sure to properly tape and post your pet's ears until they are standing up on their own.
Our standard anesthetic protocol with puppy ear crops involves a pre-sedation, a heavy sedation at induction with a reversible injectable medication (which provides very strong pain relief for 8-12 hours), and induction and maintenance of a surgical plane of anesthesia with isoflurane inhalant anesthetic.