Help - Sheltie Ear Tipping Question

[MyGirlRoxanne]

Hello! I am picking up my new Sheltie pup tomorrow from the airport. This will be the 3rd Sheltie I have had the pleasure of having in my life. I lost my girl Roxanne end of Feb at the age of 14 due to complications following a surgery.

I have carefully selected this puppy but will be meeting her for the first time tomorrow. However, in her photos her ears are pricked and I never addressed this with the breeder (it wouldn't have changed my mind though).

Is 5 mths of age too late to start trying to tip them? It actually looks like the top 3rd does have a bend to it... so there may have been an attempt...

Thank you!

 

[Caro]

I dont think it is too late, esp at 5months - you can still do something up to 12mths. My males ears were pricked until around 6 months - then they flopped and flopped and now are too tipped (I should have cut back the hair over his ears from the start). My females on the other hand decided to be pricked at around 18mths - suddenly they both popped up, altho one sometime tips. You just never know what they are going to do.

 

[Lightplum]

Yes give it a try it may work out ok...Try contacting the breeder to see if she will do them even before you get her. That way you have a 2 week pass of the ears

 

[Narmowen]

If he's still teething (not all adult teeth in), you should be able to fix it a bit. All of my experience says after the adult teeth are in (by 6 months), nothings going to change the earset, though.

 

[BarbV]

If he's still teething (not all adult teeth in), you should be able to fix it a bit. All of my experience says after the adult teeth are in (by 6 months), nothings going to change the earset, though.

I don't know about 6 months... At 6 months, Bacca's ears weren't too bad! They really only started to droop at about 9 months. But maybe he was a late teether? (I don't know exactly when he teethed - it just happened with no fuss, no muss!)

 

[HopeShelties]

It wouldn't hurt to try. It all depends on when the ear leather thickens. Once it's thickened, there is no fixing it.
I agree with Lightplum though... contact the breeder and ask if she'd mind going ahead and doing the ears. Explain that you like the look of a properly tipped ear, and would love to have your puppies ears tipped.
I know if it were me, I'd be happy to do the ears... though I don't understand why the breeder didn't choose to do them, even if it is a pet puppy. All of mine get done until the day they leave me

 

[BarbV]

It wouldn't hurt to try. It all depends on when the ear leather thickens. Once it's thickened, there is no fixing it.
I agree with Lightplum though... contact the breeder and ask if she'd mind going ahead and doing the ears. Explain that you like the look of a properly tipped ear, and would love to have your puppies ears tipped.
I know if it were me, I'd be happy to do the ears... though I don't understand why the breeder didn't choose to do them, even if it is a pet puppy. All of mine get done until the day they leave me

Right again, Stacey! Both my pet pups came to me at 8 weeks with ears glued, and instructions as to how to do it (too bad that I didn't follow the manual properly! ) And invites to bring them back anytime if I wanted help!

 

[Narmowen]

I don't know about 6 months... At 6 months, Bacca's ears weren't too bad! They really only started to droop at about 9 months. But maybe he was a late teether? (I don't know exactly when he teethed - it just happened with no fuss, no muss!)

Probably more that they're different lines! I know that Luke (and Molly and Harry and the grandpa Jock)'s ears were set by 6 months.

 

[Lightplum]

Our lines tend to be very sllloooowww maturing which I like...Mine who is 4 1/2 is just finally starting to come into herself.

 

[BarbV]

Oh, good! There is hope for Bacca yet! I only have to wait another 3 years! Poor pup still has no fur around his belly! And where they shaved him for his neuter is still only 1/2" long! Good for summer and for dealing with pee accidents, but still...!