When Do You Know You’re Done Posting?

[RexsMom]

Rex’s ears freshly out of posts this morning. His right ear tip has always been a little crooked.

I’m sure this question has been asked before, but I want as much input as possible because I’ve been through so much stress & work with the process. I’m also nervous so have him go to bed at night & something happen when he sleeps on them folded. Of course I have just finally become a pro at posting & it seems to be over!

Rex is 6 months old in a week, and pretty much done with teething it seems. Today is the first day I took his posts out for the whole day and still out. It seems he’s pretty much done with posting, his ears never fell in general either. Probably just good genetics with nice cartilage and a lot of bell. I should also point out that his sister from the litter had finished posting about 3 weeks ago now, but I want to be safe.

I was wondering how you all knew when to put the dreaded supplies away for good? Also what to look out for to see if you should slide those rods back in?

This is my first Dobie & have never even been around one before him. So some expressions I’m not sure if it’s his ears folding or normal?

 

[AresMyDobie]

Depends on the crop length/ cut and the thickness of the ear leather. My male has a long show and thick ear leather and it took 14 months of posting and my female has a modified medium and thin ear leather and took 7 months. I always post ears through teething, meaning all adult teeth are in fully usually 7-8 months.

 

[Archer]

totally depends on style and length of crop and thickness of ear leather. Each dog is different. I posted one of mine for 22 months total and another for 6 months total, but I am dealing with 6” show crops with little bell.

The only way to know when you are done....test them. You are past the teething process so this is a good time. If they are down now with zero issues leave them down and let him sleep on them. If they start to droop at all the next am put them back up asap. Then reassess the same way after a round of posts. Keep doing that until they stand. The duration of the time out of posts may lengthen, meaning they may be fine for 2-3 days and then start to droop. Next round it may be a week. This is how you know you are progressing.

Ears look good. Great job! How are they now that they have been down?

 

[RexsMom]

totally depends on style and length of crop and thickness of ear leather. Each dog is different. I posted one of mine for 22 months total and another for 6 months total, but I am dealing with 6” show crops with little bell.

The only way to know when you are done....test them. You are past the teething process so this is a good time. If they are down now with zero issues leave them down and let him sleep on them. If they start to droop at all the next am put them back up asap. Then reassess the same way after a round of posts. Keep doing that until they stand. The duration of the time out of posts may lengthen, meaning they may be fine for 2-3 days and then start to droop. Next round it may be a week. This is how you know you are progressing.

Ears look good. Great job! How are they now that they have been down?

I had them down for about 30 hours now! I see no signs of change at all, but watching them like a hawk.
His ears are very thin with a medium crop. So paws crossed he’s done for good!

 

[Archer]

I had them down for about 30 hours now! I see no signs of change at all, but watching them like a hawk.
His ears are very thin with a medium crop. So paws crossed he’s done for good!

Sounds like that is a possibility!

 

[JanS]

They look really good and I agree to just keep testing them and watching them like a hawk, like you're doing.

As for when to put the supplies away? Our dogs are 7 and 9 years old and I still have the supplies handy in a spare room.

His right ear tip has always been a little crooked.

That is the case with Albert's left ear tip but I think it gives him character.

 

[Atingles10]

We are in the same boat with our boy all of his baby teeth are gone and he has a medium crop. He is just 5 months old and I feel like that seems early but when his ears are alert they stand up. He obviously manipulates them so they bend but I am struggling to know exactly what to look for since ours isn't a show crop. Are we just looking for the ear to drop when it's in the alert position?

 

[JanS]

I am struggling to know exactly what to look for since ours isn't a show crop. Are we just looking for the ear to drop when it's in the alert position?

They have a wide bell and look good. I would just watch for them to crinkle or drop and you'd have to post a bit longer. Maybe crinkle isn't the right phrase since our girl can really crinkle hers when she's happy or submissive but they stand great otherwise.

 

[RexsMom]

They have a wide bell and look good. I would just watch for them to crinkle or drop and you'd have to post a bit longer. Maybe crinkle isn't the right phrase since our girl can really crinkle hers when she's happy or submissive but they stand great otherwise.
View attachment 90700

Rex's ears crinkle when he's really happy, I think that's the norm though. Rex & his parents were the first Dobes I've ever been around, so I'm a newbie when it comes to ear expressions. It's weird because whenever I bring him in public I have people constantly telling me "I had a Doberman growing up!" like they were the Labradors of the 80s. When he's sleeping they sometimes look like in the picture, not sure if it's because he's relaxed, slept on them folded maybe, or need more posting. But they've been out since Thursday & still standing strong!

 

[Kaiser2016]

in public I have people constantly telling me "I had a Doberman growing up!" like they were the Labradors of the 80s.

I wonder if they were, because I get that too. We are always out with Kaiser, and people always want to meet him.

Many times, the people approaching us are people who used to have them, and they are older people. Their eyes are initially guarded, and then they lighten up recalling their Doberman memories while they pet Kaiser.

The younger people just think he is so amazing to look at. That's their first comment, "that's a beautiful dog". Their first question, however "how much exercise does he need?"

 

[RexsMom]

I wonder if they were, because I get that too. We are always out with Kaiser, and people always want to meet him.

Many times, the people approaching us are people who used to have them, and they are older people. Their eyes are initially guarded, and then they lighten up recalling their Doberman memories while they pet Kaiser.

The younger people just think he is so amazing to look at. That's their first comment, "that's a beautiful dog". Their first question, however "how much exercise does he need?"

Exactly! Everyone that stops me is older when recalling they're Dobe. All the younger people comment on the appearance whether it's how majestic or badass he is (even though he's only 6 months). I also get people asking if he's purebred, price, and breeder almost every time.

Another question I wanted to ask is how cropped Dobie ears look when relaxed/sleeping? I'm paranoid when Rex is sleeping that they may be sagging, but they're probably fine. I just want his ears to be perfect!

 

[Atingles10]

They have a wide bell and look good. I would just watch for them to crinkle or drop and you'd have to post a bit longer. Maybe crinkle isn't the right phrase since our girl can really crinkle hers when she's happy or submissive but they stand great otherwise.
View attachment 90700

She's beautiful! And this picture really helps! When alert his ears have been staying straight but he loves to crinkle them just like the photo above when he's running around with a toy!

 

[Atingles10]

Exactly! Everyone that stops me is older when recalling they're Dobe. All the younger people comment on the appearance whether it's how majestic or badass he is (even though he's only 6 months). I also get people asking if he's purebred, price, and breeder almost every time.

Another question I wanted to ask is how cropped Dobie ears look when relaxed/sleeping? I'm paranoid when Rex is sleeping that they may be sagging, but they're probably fine. I just want his ears to be perfect!

We had dobermans growing up but it's been about 10 years since then due to making sure we bought a house before getting another. I always have people commenting on how handsome he is and that they don't see many dobermans these days which I agree with sadly.

I think Rex's ears look good sleeping to me but we are right in the same boat of learning and wanting to make sure they are perfect. Below is our boy Red when he's sleeping, we just took the posts out Saturday and have been watching them closely to make sure they are in fact done. I think his are relaxed when sleeping and then when he's alert he holds them back up all the way! If someone else on here with more experience at this then me thinks they shouldn't relax this much when sleeping please let me know! We are always open to suggestions and help!

 

[Ddski5]

Funny picture that @Kaiser2016 found a while back of all the different poses.

As you can see, there are many different variances of the ears. I would only be concerned if you know he is alerting and his ears are struggling or bent.

I believe it’s a black/white issue, if it happens, you will see it. Not like it’s camoflauged and you have to look for it.

But in saying that, 5months is still early. Teething usually does not end until after 6months.

 

[Atingles10]

View attachment 90714

Funny picture that @Kaiser2016 found a while back of all the different poses.

As you can see, there are many different variances of the ears. I would only be concerned if you know he is alerting and his ears are struggling or bent.

I believe it’s a black/white issue, if it happens, you will see it. Not like it’s camoflauged and you have to look for it.

But in saying that, 5months is still early. Teething usually does not end until after 6months.

This is perfect and very helpful!! Thank you for resharing!

 

[Kaiser2016]

View attachment 90714

Funny picture that @Kaiser2016 found a while back of all the different poses.

I just love the Kong face lol.

 

[Dobegods]

I posted with Ares untill his ears stood up straight. His left ear had infections and issues dropping. So we would repost and hold for longer times. Remove... Wait... Repeat... So in reality I don't recall the entire length of time.... Enjoy

 

[Kobe123]

I had them down for about 30 hours now! I see no signs of change at all, but watching them like a hawk.
His ears are very thin with a medium crop. So paws crossed he’s done for good!

Hmmm... our pup is 6 months .. we took him to our breeder and he told me his ears are done and are hard enough at 5 months ..

they stand nice tips a little soft at first but used breathe strips ..

meats have dropped after naps but now a week and half without post they’ve been standing nice

 

[AnnV]

The younger people just think he is so amazing to look at. That's their first comment, "that's a beautiful dog". Their first question, however "how much exercise does he need?"

Haha they do look like they need a considerable amount of exercise dont they.

 

[48Roxy48]

They have a wide bell and look good. I would just watch for them to crinkle or drop and you'd have to post a bit longer. Maybe crinkle isn't the right phrase since our girl can really crinkle hers when she's happy or submissive but they stand great otherwise.
View attachment 90700