Ear post question

[DobieJo]

Wow…if she is not backtaping the backerrod then she is an absolute pro or her pup is awesome!!! I think some trolling and sandbagging is going on here!!

I had to cram backtaped backerrod down deep to get them to stay in Rag and Freyja.

lol I’m definitely back taping the backer rod and worry I am cramming them to far!

I also use a tab of benzoin of tincture on her inner ear before I place the taped post in her ear, it helps the tape/post to stay in better.

Tessa doesn’t really fuss with her posts that much, she’ll scratch at them some with her back legs every once in a while, but for the most part, she leaves them alone, Thank goodness!

 

[DobieJo]

I hear you can't get any better than that! Lucky you!

Yes, agreed! The breeder who we got Tess from said she had to make the appt for this litter of puppies last year to ensure she could even get an appt with her. I did some research on Dr Midgarden online and she is highly regarded and much sought after, so I do feel super lucky.
I worry so much about wether I’m posting right and making any mistakes and all the helpful advice from you guys has been greatly appreciated and reassuring to me

 

[Rits]

Whew! Great job with all the questions, answers, and posting! Also good job on finding a breeder that takes care of the cropping bit with a well respected vet before they go home! Too often people try to find a vet themselves and as you've learned, its hard to get into the good ones and almost impossible as a single puppy. Midgarden's ears are unmistakable. She does a lovely job.

 

[JanS]

The Doberman Elroy competed against a couple weeks ago had a Midgarden crop and that's the first time I had seen one of her crops in person.

I worry so much about wether I’m posting right and making any mistakes

You are doing a great job and asking all of the right questions if you aren't sure.

 

[DobieJo]

Ok, another question, we changed Tessa’s post tonight. This is the first post after we folded the front ear flap towards the back like we should have been doing, so can you all tell me if this looks like it should? I’m worried I may (or may not be) folding it back either to much or maybe not enough? It’s only been one 3 day post where we folded it back, the first 2 posts we folded it forward, so if I’m folding it backwards to much or maybe not enough, I’d like to correct it.
Thanks again, I appreciate it.

 

[JanS]

They look really good to me. Usually they'll fold where they should on their own so it's not much to worry about. I personally stick the tape to the backer rod, then fold around to the back and it goes where it's supposed to.

 

[Kswoodssue]

I am clueless on crops, but she sure is a pretty pup!

 

[remy]

I'm on a regular PC and zoomed in, it does look backtaped. Apparently Zona's makes black tape now too.

It may be the Hampton Adams tape, that’s what I use for Remy. I’ve seen some people say it isn’t sticky enough and others say it’s too sticky, but I find it to be the perfect amount! No problem lasting 5 days and when I remove it there is practically no hairs on the tape. I (carefully) make a cut up the back of the tape and then the post pretty much come right off.

I hear you can't get any better than that! Lucky you!

She cropped Remy too. Super happy with how his ears are looking!


I’m a little late to this thread, but in regards to bridging everyone seems to have a different approach. Feel free to try out different methods and see what works best for your dog! I used a duct tape bridge until Remy was about 4.5 - 5 months old. I probably could have stopped using one much earlier as he almost always had slack in the bridge, telling me that he had good control of his ears. He’s now 7 months and I haven’t had any issues with not using the bridge. Some people on an FB group make it seem like by not using a solid (backer rod) bridge that the dog would develop pockets. That hasn’t been the case for me and many other people who use a duct tape bridge or no bridge at all. In my opinion, if you use a solid bridge throughout the whole posting process, you are not allowing the dog to learn to control their ears.

 

[JanS]

in regards to bridging everyone seems to have a different approach. Feel free to try out different methods and see what works best for your dog!

That's exactly right for all aspects of posting and it's all about what works best for you and your dog. There is no one right way and what works great for one person might not work at all for the next.

Some people on an FB group make it seem like by not using a solid (backer rod) bridge that the dog would develop pockets.

That's why I stay out of most of those groups with the terrible advice and the attitudes that their way is the only way.

 

[DobieJo]

They look really good to me. Usually they'll fold where they should on their own so it's not much to worry about. I personally stick the tape to the backer rod, then fold around to the back and it goes where it's supposed to.

Thanks Jan! I appreciate the feedback and advice. I did start the tape on the backer rod and gently wrapped it around towards the back, I was so worried about causing a crease where there shouldn’t be one.

 

[DobieJo]

I am clueless on crops, but she sure is a pretty pup!

Thank you!

 

[DobieJo]

It may be the Hampton Adams tape, that’s what I use for Remy. I’ve seen some people say it isn’t sticky enough and others say it’s too sticky, but I find it to be the perfect amount! No problem lasting 5 days and when I remove it there is practically no hairs on the tape. I (carefully) make a cut up the back of the tape and then the post pretty much come right off.

She cropped Remy too. Super happy with how his ears are looking!


I’m a little late to this thread, but in regards to bridging everyone seems to have a different approach. Feel free to try out different methods and see what works best for your dog! I used a duct tape bridge until Remy was about 4.5 - 5 months old. I probably could have stopped using one much earlier as he almost always had slack in the bridge, telling me that he had good control of his ears. He’s now 7 months and I haven’t had any issues with not using the bridge. Some people on an FB group make it seem like by not using a solid (backer rod) bridge that the dog would develop pockets. That hasn’t been the case for me and many other people who use a duct tape bridge or no bridge at all. In my opinion, if you use a solid bridge throughout the whole posting process, you are not allowing the dog to learn to control their ears.

Remy is so handsome!

We started with a solid bridge make out of a pool noodle, for her 1st 2 postings, then went to a bridge made out of tape for her 3rd posting, this last post, we left off the bridge all together, she seems to be holding her ears fairy well, and definitely brings them to the “alert” stance well. She just turned 3 months old Friday, so I’m not sure if once she starts teething if we will have to go back to a bridge? I’ve heard that sometimes happen, so I guess we’ll see
Being new to posting, having everyone’s helpful advice has been reassuring for us, I know all dogs are different and what works for some won’t necessarily work for others, but with us having never posted ears before, all this helpful advice as we learn how to post and find what works for Tessa, has been so very much appreciated!

 

[DobieJo]

Hey y’all,
Another question about posting, it’s been going well, thanks for all y’all’s helpful advice, my question is, we’ve noticed Tessa is beginning to pull her right ear slightly inward over her head now when she’s at alert. Do I need to add a bumper to that post or should I leave that post slightly longer to help pull that ear back some? Or maybe do both? I don’t want to over correct, but I don't want her getting a pocket either. I’ll post a pic of her at alert…
Another question-when do you know when it’s time to stop posting? I’ve read tons of different articles on it, and my interpretation is it’s different for every dog, some dogs take months and months, others a month. The breeder we got Tess from said her dobe only required 3 postings and her ears stood beautifully and still do (she’s 3) she also told me Dr Midgarden told her Tess had wonderful leather and that she thought her ears would post/stand beautifully. The last time we changed Tessa’s post, we had them unposted for 2 hours due to some issues that came up mid post, nothing to do with Tess or her ears, but after 2 hours her ears were still up and standing beautifully, so I guess I’m curious as to when I will “know” it’s time to stop posting? I don’t want to post if she’s done, but then again, I certainly don’t want to stop to soon either.
As always, everyones helpful advice is very much appreciated!

It’s not the best photo, but she doesn’t sit still very long! lol

 

[Ddski5]

Hey y’all,
Another question about posting, it’s been going well, thanks for all y’all’s helpful advice, my question is, we’ve noticed Tessa is beginning to pull her right ear slightly inward over her head now when she’s at alert. Do I need to add a bumper to that post or should I leave that post slightly longer to help pull that ear back some? Or maybe do both? I don’t want to over correct, but I don't want her getting a pocket either. I’ll post a pic of her at alert…
Another question-when do you know when it’s time to stop posting? I’ve read tons of different articles on it, and my interpretation is it’s different for every dog, some dogs take months and months, others a month. The breeder we got Tess from said her dobe only required 3 postings and her ears stood beautifully and still do (she’s 3) she also told me Dr Midgarden told her Tess had wonderful leather and that she thought her ears would post/stand beautifully. The last time we changed Tessa’s post, we had them unposted for 2 hours due to some issues that came up mid post, nothing to do with Tess or her ears, but after 2 hours her ears were still up and standing beautifully, so I guess I’m curious as to when I will “know” it’s time to stop posting? I don’t want to post if she’s done, but then again, I certainly don’t want to stop to soon either.
As always, everyones helpful advice is very much appreciated!

It’s not the best photo, but she doesn’t sit still very long! lol

I see nothing wrong with her ears in that picture. Her ears look great.

It is recommended to post ears until the Doberman is finished with teething- which is usually 6-6.5months.

Can somebody stop posting beforehand? Sure you can but you are gambling that the ears have the strength/endurance to stand fully without stress. If not, the ear gets tired and flops this will set you back days if not weeks. Worse case scenario is they sleep on a bent ear and break the cartilage in the ear creating a crease that is not repairable.

I hear of folks stop posting at 4months and brag about it…Idk if it’s worth the gamble, to be honest. Once the ears break/crease, that’s pretty much it, not able to fix that.

I do know that a defining characteristic of a Doberman are their ears, with a lot of work put in to make them just right. I am not one that will take that gamble just to skip two months of posting.

If you did want to gamble, then just leave them out for hour, 2hours, 4hours, the day and watch them closely. If they waver or fall, then back up in post they go. But I would most definitely put post back in for when they sleep at night. No way would I chance sleeping on a bent ear.

 

[JanS]

I agree that it's best to go through teething since many ears are standing great at 3 or 4 months so they stop posting and it turns to big problems when they flop during teething. It just isn't worth it when you've already put in time and dedication this far.

we’ve noticed Tessa is beginning to pull her right ear slightly inward over her head now when she’s at alert. Do I need to add a bumper to that post or should I leave that post slightly longer to help pull that ear back some?

They look just fine to me the way they are.

 

[DobieJo]

Thank you both for the replies. I never thought of what could happen to her ears while she’s sleeping! which is why I do appreciate all the helpful advice.

Her right ear tends to bend inward more than what the pic shows, it’s the best shot I could get since she’s miss “move move move” unless she is sleeping

We definitely intend to keep posting her ears for several more months. She will be 14 weeks old tomorrow and we’ve only been posting for the last 4 weeks, and being a newbie to posting, and asking so many questions on how to post, I never thought of asking when to know and what the signs were to stop posting, and wasn’t sure if I kept posting after she was ready would I do damage to the ears by continuing to post?

I did read a lot about posting until after she’s done teething, so do I just leave the ears undone and watch for signs that they’re falling once she’s done teething and I stop posting? And if so, what do I do at bedtime about the possibility of creasing if her ears don’t fall during the day? (now that I know that’s a thing) could that still happen after teething is done?

 

[JanS]

I did read a lot about posting until after she’s done teething, so do I just leave the ears undone and watch for signs that they’re falling once she’s done teething and I stop posting?

As stated above, just do it gradually a few hours more at a time. I won't lie, I've left our 5 month old out of posts overnight and they've stayed solid but I won't take the chance to make it a habit either.

The ears won't always get ruined if they sleep hard on them but it can set you way back.

 

[DobieJo]

Thanks again for the advice!
It’s been super helpful throughout this process…and continuing through it too!

 

[DobieJo]

Hi everyone,
Posting has been going good, Tess will be 5 months old on Friday, and she’s been losing her baby teeth over the house! lol

I do have yet another question (shocking I know) we’ve noticed Tess has a crease in the back of both ears, its mostly only visible when she’s not holding her ears erect, and there’s a slight indentation when they’re erect, but it’s not a huge indentation. I’m not sure if it’s a “natural” ear crease or if it’s something I should be trying to correct in these last couple months of posting, and if it does need correction, how do I fix it? With a bumper right in the crease or just facing inward? Once again, I appreciate all the help!

 

[Ddski5]

Good question.

No worries.
That’s a natural ear crease for when they are in relax mode.