How do I get my dog's ears to stand up?
Mia Phillips
Updated on April 13, 2026
In this regard, why does only one of my dogs ears stand up?
One reason outside of body language for only one ear being propped up is an underdeveloped pinna. It takes time for the pinnae to grow strong enough to prop up the ear, and a dog's pinnae might not grow equally. It is possible that one of your dog's pinna has not yet fully developed.
Subsequently, question is, is it too late to tape my dog ears? Just taping the tips as you suggested is fine. I've corrected ears as late as six months old. You may have to keep them taped until he's a year old, but the result is worth it in the long run. Once you achieve a good tip (since the taping thing gets old fast LOL), you can finish the process by just using pure glycerin.
Then, is taping a dog's ears cruel?
To give certain breeds so-called “desirable” traits, unscrupulous veterinarians perform cruel, disfiguring surgeries that cause dogs great suffering. The process of taping and retaping a pup's ears to force them to stand erect after they have been cropped can be agonizing for the dog.
What dog breeds have ears that stand up?
Prick eared Malamute Source: Prick or upright ears are very common in dogs. Their main characteristics are that they are sharp, pointed and stand erect. They can be found in most of the Nordic breeds such as the Malamute here, the Siberian husky, the Samoyed and so forth.