Most puppies go through several stages, usually at teething, where their ears do funny things. This can be overcome by taping the ears and holding them in place until the teething stage passes. The only problem comes is when your dog is indeed a "prick ear" and the ears stood straight up since
early puppy hood. This is an example of my prick ear, Hunter:
http://www.megabucksranch.com/Pages/rainbow_bridge.htm
.
He is the first on the page.
This is also a link to an illustration of the Breed Standard by Shalako Australian Shepherds:
http://www.shalakoaussies.com/BreedStandard_Ears.html
The only reason you might need to tape the ears is that they are going funky on a conformation show dog. When competing you do need the correct ear set to compete with the other dogs. Most show lines will have puppies that will go through stages when they are teething, but the ears turn OK when they are adult. Remember that other ear sets may be a disqualification or not the desired style, but this ONLY if your dog is wanted for conformation shows. If your dog is a working, agility, obedience, rally, etc. OR a companion dog, there is no real reason to tape ears.
If indeed the ears started normal and are just doing the funky, then you can tape the ears.
- Go get some surgical tape from the vet. I find I have best luck with that tape.
- Either put the dog/puppy on a grooming table or have someone else hold him TIGHT, then trim the hair inside their ear so the ear will stay dry during the taping.
- Take two pieces of tape, one a bit longer than the other. One piece of tape is place sticky side toward you from the tip of one ear to the tip of the other ear going under the chin. The other piece is to cover the stickiness of the tape and keep the tip of the ear from pointing outward. Place the tip of the tape on the first ear facing the other tape, again under the chin and toward the end of the tape at the other ear. They should match so they do not stick to the hair.
- Run your finger under the tape near the throat to make sure the tape is not sticking to any of the dog's hair.
- The tape should be moderately tight, but not too tight that it breaks the fold of the ear and gives you hound ears. You should be able to put all four fingers under the tape.
- The tape should not be left on for more than a few weeks. Keep sticking your finger into the ear canal of the dog to make sure no moistness has developed and the smell is just that of a normal dog ear, not an infected one.
- It is not uncommon that dogs will need the ear tape several times, sometimes up to 18 months of age. If the ears have not set by then, they probably will not.