Why Are My German Shepherd's Ears Floppy? - SpiritDog Training

Why are my German Shepherd’s ears floppy?

Why your German Shepherd’s ears are floppy could depend on a few things – have they always been floppy, or have they suddenly flopped? Are they both floppy – or is only one of them drooping whilst the other stands up normally? 

To start off, let’s explore some of the most common reasons for floppy ears during (or since) puppyhood in German Shepherds. 

Teething

Several young puppies experience floppy ears during teething. Teething is a period that all infant mammals go through, in which their baby or milk teeth fall out and their adult teeth grow in. It starts at around three weeks old and ends at 4-6 months of age, although it can take longer.

During teething, a puppy’s mouth can require extra calcium to support the growth. So, their bodies may draw calcium out of other areas, such as the ears, weakening their skeletal structure and making them flop. 

You may even notice that their ears look different every day during this period. They might be up-right one day, then floppy the next, or even change throughout the day depending on their mood. This is totally normal, and don’t worry, it’s only temporary. Their ears will return back to their original shape as soon as their hormones calm down.

Genetics 

If your German Shepherd’s ears have always been floppy, it could just be their genetics. Although most German Shepherds have up-right ears, some can have floppy or semi-pricked ones. It is rare, but just like coat length, eye color, and coat color, a dog’s ear shape is also affected by their genetics.

Breeding

A German Shepherd’s ears can also be floppy due to their breeder’s practices. The American Kennel Club’s breed standard for German Shepherds states that their ears should be “moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground”. Judges of dog shows and competitions also often look for large ears in the breed. 

So, in order to sell “show-quality” pups, some breeders will try to breed German Shepherds with ears as large and pointy as possible, but sometimes, their ears get too big to hold themselves up, and so they end up flopping. 

Poor nutrition during puppyhood

As mentioned above, calcium is needed to develop and strengthen the cartilage in the ears in order for them to stand up. Vitamin D is also needed to keep bones healthy and strong. If a dog was deficient in vitamin D and/or calcium as a pup, their ears may not develop properly, and they could flop permanently as a result. This is especially common in rescue dogs that come from puppy farms, homelessness, and neglectful backgrounds. (Always buy from reputable breeders!)

Other symptoms of calcium and vitamin D deficiencies include muscle spasms and joint issues. If severe, nutrient deficiencies can be deadly. Malnutrition, in general, can also be deadly and should be obviously identifiable by looking at a dog’s body in terms of weight – or lack thereof. Both conditions require urgent veterinary attention, and treatments will likely include special diets and supplements. 

Poor hygiene during puppyhood

Another possible explanation for your German Shepherd’s floppy ears is an absence of hygiene in the past. Similar to malnutrition, this is common in dogs that come from a background of neglect or homelessness. 

A build-up of wax, debris, or dirt can make the ears heavy and cause them to droop. When this occurs throughout a German Shepherd’s puppyhood, it can prevent the bones and muscles in their ears from developing properly, and they can flop permanently as a result.