Irritated skin after removing stays

[Mackenziejw]

The natural ear set can vary a lot from dog to dog so that has nothing to do with the posting process.

So my concern right now are his right ear is leaning in and tips are touching a lot now. Should I just go into backer rod with no bridge and see how it goes? Can tou guys tell from these photos if he has pockets already? . They weren’t touching this bad befor. Took the bridge off and his right (our left) ear was leaning in, took his stays out today and now his tips won’t stop you hung. Like they will be apart when he’s not at attention but in these screen grabs from a video I’m posting I’m holding his ball in my hand and his tips are teepeed like crazy. Help

 

[JanS]

I don't see any pockets there so you can just go to the backer rod without the center brace. It's not uncommon for them to pull in at this stage but constant posting will correct that.

 

[Ddski5]

I agree with Jan…post backer rods for a bit and see if he can fix them on his own.

Both of mine kinda did this and of course being the detailed Doberman owner…I got nervous and concerned. Just make sure you put the rod all the way down into the ear bell and pull the ear high and tall onto the top of the backer rod.

Good chance he can work this out.

 

[Mackenziejw]

I agree with Jan…post backer rods for a bit and see if he can fix them on his own.

Both of mine kinda did this and of course being the detailed Doberman owner…I got nervous and concerned. Just make sure you put the rod all the way down into the ear bell and pull the ear high and tall onto the top of the backer rod.

Good chance he can work this out.

Yeah just did this and had to take them out after a bit. He was so uncomfortable I could tell. Not his normal head shake after every post but like making noises and pawing at them and crying and walking around shaking his head none stops as hard as he could. I wonder if I didn’t leave enough foam at the base uncovered and the tape was irritating his ears? Will. Post with popsicle sticks for now (no bridge) and then get backer rod again in a couple of days when I change them.

 

[Gpcoguy]

Cotton balls or gauze at the bottom of the posts might help

 

[Mackenziejw]

I agree with Jan…post backer rods for a bit and see if he can fix them on his own.

Both of mine kinda did this and of course being the detailed Doberman owner…I got nervous and concerned. Just make sure you put the rod all the way down into the ear bell and pull the ear high and tall onto the top of the backer rod.

Good chance he can work this out.

This is how I have them for now (popsicle stick at pressure point, leukotape around the base , zonas tape around the tip and leukotape for the up and over) no bridge.

 

[Ravenbird]

I wonder if I didn’t leave enough foam at the base uncovered and the tape was irritating his ears? Will. Post with popsicle sticks for now (no bridge) and then get backer rod again in a couple of days when I change them.

Yes, be sure to leave the soft foam or cover with gauze on the bottom end that goes down in the ear. Try different sizes of the backer rod. Too large and it won't go deep enough, too small it will "float around" and irritate because of the movement. Too small you can add more cotton or gauze to make a tight fit and get it in deep plus have that padding. When the pup grows and you need the next size up, you can trim just a bit from the bottom at an angle if it's too big, but the smaller one is too small. By the time you get it perfect he'll be done posting.

 

[Mackenziejw]

At 15 weeks? damn, they look great.

Remember that teething generally starts at 4months and ends around 6months. This is a very important time for the ears to be posted. The ears are confirming to their permanent shape.

Don’t get lazy or complacent….keep posting diligently.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Hey just checking in with an update. Ears are doing ok still .. I think.. the tips still touch when he’s super concentrated / super alert but other than that stand normally. I switched to no bridge and using backer rod but he keeps pulling the base out of his ear canal so I always have to cut the base off and just leave the post in from the tragus to the tip essentially. I just wanted to post some photos as I am concerned about pockets and can’t tell if he has them.. i don’t even know what to look for. Any help?

 

[Mackenziejw]

Hey just checking in with an update. Ears are doing ok still .. I think.. the tips still touch when he’s super concentrated / super alert but other than that stand normally. I switched to no bridge and using backer rod but he keeps pulling the base out of his ear canal so I always have to cut the base off and just leave the post in from the tragus to the tip essentially. I just wanted to post some photos as I am concerned about pockets and can’t tell if he has them.. i don’t even know what to look for. Any help?

Sorry these are the back photos too.

 

[JanS]

switched to no bridge and using backer rod but he keeps pulling the base out of his ear canal so I always have to cut the base off and just leave the post in from the tragus to the tip essentially.

They still look good but I would pop the backer rod back in the canal rather than cutting it off. Being in the canal is what really gives the post its integrity.
Once in a while Elroy will pop one out of the canal when he sleeps goofy but it's easy enough to pop back in and it stays.

 

[Mackenziejw]

Yeah so when. I put them in the ear canal he cries and acts crazy for so long. Like he rolls on his back and is visibly uncomfortable and never adjusts to them and then be shakes his head and scratches his ears so hard that he pulls them out

 

[Mackenziejw]

Yeah so when. I put them in the ear canal he cries and acts crazy for so long. Like he rolls on his back and is visibly uncomfortable and never adjusts to them and then be shakes his head and scratches his ears so hard that he pulls them out

He doesn’t stop acting weird/possessed and crying until it’s out of the canal then he’s fine

 

[JanS]

I'm guessing they aren't far enough in the canal then or he's pulling the dramatic pup thing so you will take them out.

 

[Ravenbird]

I'm guessing they aren't far enough in the canal then

Yup!

If your backer rod is too fat or if it's padded too much it can't go deep enough. Get the next size down, or just trim it down like a pencil, not a sharp point, but trim it so it goes down the ear canal. I promise, if you get it way down deep, they A. won't be bothered but for a minute and B. they can't shake it out. Read and re-read that.

Ears will be fine - mine would touch tips at this age when I left them down for an hour and she focused hard on something and they are just fine now. I can't tell about pockets from your photos, but from the looks of them, you will be fine in the end. Just don't slack off and you'll be fine!

 

[Ddski5]

Ears look great at alert! I expect the longer it goes on the more they will strengthen 360 degrees and the tepee will cease. I really don’t see any pockets.

He doesn’t like the post in his ears:
1. Because they are not all the way down in the bell. You have got to push it all the way down.
2. He just doesn’t like the feeling of a rod being in his ear…I can understand that, I would not like it either, but I don’t believe he’s had the rod in his ear long enough to get use to it. Really have to play tough love here and make him tolerate it. After hours on end he will get use to the feeling and not worry on it. But the distraction and worry on it will wear on you. If given the choice, then force him to tolerate the rod in bell of ear. I think it gives the foundation of the ear a supportive structure to anchor/strengthen on.

 

[Ddski5]

He doesn’t stop acting weird/possessed and crying until it’s out of the canal then he’s fine

So if you are sure the rod is all the way down in the bell then he just doesn’t like them in his ear….it is not comfortable to him. So what you have to do is distract him long enough that he finally forgets or gets used to the post.
How??
1. Tug
2. A walk
3. Mental games- hide/seek
4. Discipline/obedience training
5. Kong
6. Outside

I am a meanie….the way I could tell with Ragnar was I would backtape (JJ Zonas) the rod all the way to the bottom to make darn sure it would stick in the bell- pushing it so hard down that he would squirm or yelp from the push. When Freyja came, I was pretty much an old salt to it and just pushed it down with feel.

 

[JanS]

then he just doesn’t like them in his ear….it is not comfortable to him. So what you have to do is distract him long enough that he finally forgets or gets used to the post.

Yup I always let Elroy out after posting and he gets so distracted to the big outside world that he could care less about the posts by the time he comes back in. I use the adhesive method and it will itch/feel funny until the adhesive dries a couple minutes later.

 

[Mackenziejw]

Update! Any advice on how to straighten out the tips? Onyx seems to have straight ears but the tips curve in.

 

[Ddski5]

How old is he now?

Are you still posting? What with?

 

[JanS]

I'm guessing he's around 6 months now?

If the rest of the ear is solid you can try Breathe Rite strips at the top.
Here's a thread on it but I don't use the tape - just glue them on.

How To Post With Breathe Right Strips

So you think you're done posting with backer rod, but the ears aren't quite standing like you want. You might have a solid base, but the tips might flop a little bit. Have no fear, there's an answer. Breathe Right strips!! Yes, Breathe Right strips. The product that's helping the nation with...

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