First Posting.. and so the Journey begins..

The vet said that Jaxie's ears are looking much better. There is still a lot of irritation in them (mostly the left), but no infection. He even thinks they are standing better than they had been, and I agree. I took my "zip-tie posting kit :)" with me just in case we decided to go that direction. The vet was glad to have something that could give a bit of support without being too terribly invasive to his ears. Jax just doesn't tolerate it well. Even though we are both pleased with how his ears are looking (especially considering his struggles), we decided they could use a little reprieve...a week with nothing going on with them (no medicated powder, posting, etc.) He gets to just have a week without anybody touching his ears; then we will do the zip tie thing for a while. I know it may or may not have any effect (and he might shake them out immediately), but I'll give it a try.
I know that "crop and flop" wasn't coined exclusively for Jax, but I still don't like "flop" (with its negative connotations) used for my boy...even if that's the best way (and probably the most illustrative way) it can be described. I can't help that it made me a little sad to see that. I am pretty sensitive (especially about my boy and even more particularly about his ears because I feel like I've screwed him over), so that phrase stings a bit. I can't imagine anyone being excited to concede that their puppy is a "crop and flop." Intellectually I "get" the utility of the phrase, emotionally, it rubs me the wrong way. (Similarly, I understand the phrase "terminal cancer" used clinically in the medical community; I don't think I would ever hear it without having some kind of emotional reaction.)
Regardless, I don't think he is a "puppification" of the phrase...maybe "crop and tilt!;)"
I absolutely love this forum and have gotten very sound advice, enjoyed an opportunity to vent, loved showing pictures of my boy (now I hesitate), and have taken comfort in the support of many regarding Jax's ear saga. (Especially the support of @AresMyDobie who made a pretty impressive photo tutorial for me). I guess I have a "thin skin" when it comes to my guy....okay, I have an almost nonexistent skin! Anyway, I have been on "the other" Doberman forum, and it makes me appreciate this one even more. Good lord...I think if I subjected myself (and the mistakes I've made) to the piranhas over there, I'd probably be institutionalized.
Thanks to ALL who have helped me stay sane during puppyhood. When I catch Jax with his ears "perked," I'll snap a picture to share!! The most important take-away from yesterday's visit to the vet is that he is a healthy boy...and a "tank!"...57 lbs!
 
You will get nothing but support here on DCF. :D I haven't posted a puppy since my first Doberman back in 1995. Buddy needed it for a short time (I got him at 7 months old) and I felt like I was all thumbs again too! If I ever have to do it again on a puppy, I will be perusing ALL the threads here on it!! LOL!! Now, I kinda skim through! :sorry: But we all understand the frustration, worry and emotional pain you are going through at times.

I know with my own postings of ears that if I got the thing down properly (deep in the ear) there was never a problem. I remember looking in the ear canal, trying to see what everyone was talking about with being 'deep in the ear'. I mean, I know! That sounds awful. But like everyone says, a dogs ear canal is not like ours and where it sits, deep in the ear, is not into their head! lol Once I understood that, putting it 'deep into the ear' made more sense to me and my dog was fine with it. If it wasn't sitting properly, that's when the head shaking started. Because its loose in there and aggravating them. It's like having loose curlers in your head! LOL! It just feels weird! (Ok, I'm sure there not too many here that remember curlers! hahaha! Even I haven't had that for a very long time. ;) )

I'm really liking this method because its so simple and so little tape.
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Anyway, I hope everything goes well and you can reach a happy medium for you and your boy! We all love our babies!!
 
I'm glad everything is looking much better now and I don't blame you for giving the ears a little break from everything. From the photos you showed me the other day I don't think you'll ever have to worry about a flop because they look really good.

With Boris (our first Doberman) the breeder didn't give us any info on posting like she was supposed to and I couldn't find anything on the internet that was any help at the time. The breeder also told us that he'd probably be done after one or two more postings and he was only 16 weeks old.
We did wind up with a flop in one ear, but I was able to correct it for the most part when I decided to start posting again when he was 2 years old.
This was the flop.
Cocking head 5D Dec 6 09 sized.webp

And after I corrected it.
Walking by birch trees 2 Dec 14 10 sized.webp
 
Thank you!!...and a beautiful flop it was! Man, you have pretty dogs! You are pretty damn good to do that at two years, too! I'm thankful to have this forum while I'm raising my boy!!...I can't imagine not having any resources while trying to get this right!
Jax doesn't have anywhere NEAR the smile that your baby has, but here is his go at facial expression...ignore the eye booger and the slobber he slung across his face (poor kid just gets messy when he shakes his head to try to knock his irritated ears off of his head!)
...even though I'm probably not ready to "reveal his ears:wacky:," I didn't cut them out of the pic on purpose!!...I just wanted to capture the grin!
 

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Each dog is unique in their own way... Of his ears don't work out due to whatever reason, it doesn't change his personality or your love for him! He's such a cutie, please don't stop sharing pics of him! And as my buddy said, you'll get nothing but support here. Everything said here is (at least meant to be) in a helping manner, never a demeaning or degrading way. Were here to help! I would have been lost through puppyhood without this forum... This is the only one I visit and participate in!
 
Each dog is unique in their own way... Of his ears don't work out due to whatever reason, it doesn't change his personality or your love for him! He's such a cutie, please don't stop sharing pics of him! And as my buddy said, you'll get nothing but support here. Everything said here is (at least meant to be) in a helping manner, never a demeaning or degrading way. Were here to help! I would have been lost through puppyhood without this forum... This is the only one I visit and participate in!

They are all unique!!!...I never really knew how much so until I started getting to know my guy! You can almost imagine hanging out with all of our dogs just from reading about them and looking at pictures...I love it! I don't think I can help myself from posting pics, really...I'm just so proud of him and in love! I agree about this forum...would have lost my mind without it! I've just looked at "the other" (there are two that I know of, but I'm talking about the particularly unfriendly one), and I would NEVER subject myself to those people!...Brutal.
I love this place!!!..but I think I'm obsessed and addicted to it! Oh well...there are worse vices!
 
Ok i am officially stealing back my thread! :threadjacked: Hehehehe!! J/K!! ;) :p

Just changed her posts! Actually, i just took them off because i was too tired to repost last night but they really seem done. Ugh im so tired of posting! [Haha... i remember to get the eye boogies but didn't get all the tape adhesive! Im a hot mess!]

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She still is knuckling over quite a bit on her right side - Though when she really sits up with good posture like in some pics in my photo dumping thread, it is much less obvious.
her foods Ca = 1%min and P= 0.8% min. Protein= 21%min and Fat=12%. She does have a digestive sensitivity issue so i am somewhat limited with food adjustment. Though, over the last few months she had many digestive baselining with either i/d canned or ground turkey/white rice so who the heck knows. Hopefully she will grow out of it but our house is all hardwood floors and i can't really put down carpet [nor do i trust her]. She runs a LOT in our good sized backyard [well, good-sized for Southern Westchester!] so hopefully that will help strengthen her muscles and tendons.
I've read the GreatDaneLady site and a lot of what she recommends is financially and practically not feasible for us so i will have to work with what i can. :(
 
Oh my gosh, her ears look awesome!! Great job!!
She is just too pretty. Each picture, I was like, "That's my favorite....no, that's my favorite!!" They are all my favorite! She is a better poser than my guy for sure! Good job at getting those eyes clean before pictures...I never remember to do it.
 
Awwww she looks great :) hahahahaha try posting for over a year ;) Hahahaha oh man I feel
Ya ! I'm over it too lol I think you are done as well,she so beautiful :) she really grew into her crop ! Looks perfect !!! If you feel done til of thumb go two more weeks and test them out :) if you see any flopping or dropping go ahead and put them back up :)
 
Backer Rod was the best choice for my two with just using tape, it made things easier. I used JanS method and it worked wonders. The glue method was a bit over rated if you ask me and too messy.
 

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