What Does It Mean When A German Shepherd’s Ears Go Down?

We all want the cutest dogs as pets in our homes. They are lovable, loyal, and so caring. It is really like adopting a child when you get a dog. However, it is important that you know how to take care of the pets you want to get. This is simply because they do not have any other way of communication other than their bodily cues and behavior.

You must have seen experienced dog parents observing and looking after their dogs because they know exactly how to take care of them simply by looking at them carefully. They know exactly when their fur babies are trying to sneak something into the house. Dogs think they are being very sly, but their parents know every trick. All this is only possible when they know their ‘normal’ and ‘good’ bodily cues and which ones indicate something wrong.

It would help if you looked at their tail and ears whenever you want to understand anything about a dog’s behavior. They are the biggest indicators of their mood and overall well-being. You must pay close attention to these aspects when you have a dog. German Shepherds have a very characteristic triangle and pointed pair of ears. These ears are also a big marker of their identity when people want to adopt German Shepherds. This article will tell you all you need to know about the meaning of a German Shepherd’s ears going down.  

German Shepherd Ears Chart: From Puppy To Adult

Age	Ear Shape
Birth to 3 Months	Small, flat, close to the head
3 Months to 6 Months	Most dogs’ ears can go up and down now
6 Months to 8 Months	Ears are stronger and can stand on their own
8 Months to 12 Months	The signature German Shepherd ears are fully developed. The ear cartilage has become strong

Why Do German Shepherds Move Their Ears?

All dogs can control the movement of their ears on their own. This is why there is so much focus on what the movement of these ears means. German Shepherds move their ears in different directions for a variety of reasons. Now that you have a rough chart of the development of their ears, you should also know what the different movements of their ears mean.

They move their ears to express interest, excitement, attention, and sadness. These simple movements can indicate a lot that is going on with your dog or, in fact, any other dog. These are their basic biological movements that one should carefully study. No, they are not random movements and indicate emotions like submission, anger, and fear. You have to keep their body movement and the movement of their ears in mind. Be mindful of the environment they are in. For example, if the dog is around a noisy place, they are likely to cover its ears and cower in a small corner to escape the unbearable noise.

You have to consider all these factors and not just the movement of the ears. This will allow you to understand better the meaning of the different ear movements in your German Shepherd.    

Do Ear Positions Have Meanings

• Ears Down: Ears down could indicate that your dog is submitting. This could happen when you scold them, and this is their way of listening to you. These movements could also mean sadness or even fatigue. It is a move to show that they are giving up in a situation. 
• Upright and Relaxed: This is a good sign. It indicates that your dog is happy and attentive to his environment. They are comfortable and at peace in their immediate surroundings.   
• Ears Back: This is one of the most subtle movements your German Shepherd will do with their ears. You can only see it if you are closely observing the ears. You might have seen your dog putting his ear back almost regularly if your dog is trying to show their submissiveness towards you as their owner. It is just a sign that they are listening to you.   
• Pricked or Forward: Pricking their ears has one simple meaning: they are about to pounce. This is only sometimes done violently or aggressively. It could mean they are about to jump or even go for a zoomie. This is where you need to rely on other bodily cues. That is what will tell you whether your German Shepherd is about to be aggressive or not.  
• Flip-flopped: When your German Shepherd’s ears are pointing randomly in different directions implies that there are two points of interest for them at the moment. This is a harmless and often cute incident to witness. German Shepherd puppies are very curious about the world around them.  
• Flicking: This means that your dog is feeling overwhelmed. They are being overstimulated and need a calmer environment.

What Does It Mean When A German Shepherds Ears Go Down

The ears of a German Shepherd going down are usually quite visible and apparent. The ears will look as if they are pinned back tightly to the dog’s head. A common misconception that some people have is that this is a sign of an illness. While there may be a little truth in the matter as dogs tend to put their ears down when they are sick, it is usually not the only reason and may just be coinciding with the actual cause. The more likely reason for the dog’s ears going down is due to the dog feeling anxious or afraid.

However, the position of the ears alone is not always a reliable indicator of their emotional state. While ear position can give us some insight into how a dog is feeling, it is not always accurate. One may have to consider their overall body language in order to get a better insight about their dog’s behavior.

One must look out for the following body language to ascertain whether the dog is feeling anxious or afraid:

• Stiff and rigid posture.
• Hunched look
• Cowering
• Whimpers, cries or moans
  

If one notices the above mentioned behavior along with the dog’s ears being down, it may indicate fear or anxiety within the dog. The owner must take appropriate steps to comfort it. They will need to ascertain what is causing the dog to feel afraid or anxious and work on changing that.

Some common scenarios where German Shepherds tend to display such behavior is when they are overwhelmed by their environment or feel threatened by other people or animals in the vicinity. In such cases, the owner must calmly and lovingly reassure the dog by talking to it, petting it or, if necessary, removing the dog from such an environment in order to calm it down. 

However, do note that this applies to German Shepherds who have had upright ears for a long time and have exhibited this behavior now. If your dog’s ears have been down for a while, or if your dog is not exhibiting any signs of distress except for the ears being down, there may be other causes that may be causing the ears to go down.

Causes of German Shepherd ears not standing up:

Growth, physical characteristics, and behavioral patterns are different in every dog breed. More importantly, there is no single growth chart that every German Shepherd will follow. You need to understand your dog’s physical and mental needs on an individual level. Here are some potential reasons for your German Shepherd’s ears not standing up: 

1. Physical abnormality: It is possible that your German Shepherd’s ears did not grow to their optimal size like most German Shepherds. This also means that this is just a physical difference and does not impact their health and mental health.
2. Lack of socialization: If your German Shepherd pup has not been socialized or been in a healthy environment in the initial stages of its life, it is possible that they need to learn how to express themselves properly. This may or may not improve with time. However, this tends to happen in extreme cases of trauma and neglect, especially if a German Shepherd pup is found alone. However, these are rare cases to come across. 
3. Ear Infections: Whether you already have a dog or are looking to adopt one, you need to ensure that your dog’s ears are clean and healthy. Since our dogs’ ears are always floppy and inwards, infections through bacteria and yeast can develop quite easily. This is especially true if you are just done bathing them. Cleaning their ears or getting them cleaned is an essential part of their hygiene routine. If your German Shepherd has developed an ear infection, you will see them trying to scratch their ears almost constantly. 
4. Allergic Reaction: Ears are one of the primary spots where the allergies of your German Shepherd will show up. If your dog is allergic to anything, you will see inflammation and redness in its ears. This will prevent your German Shepherd from putting its ears up.
5. Genetics: Sometimes there is no underlying cause or problem and the ears being down are just the result of the parent dog having the genes for ears that lie down. This is not a cause for concern. 

Consider the Age of the Dog

If your German Shepherd is a pup, you may have no cause for concern. Young German Shepherds tend to experience floppy ears during their teething period. This occurs around the time the pup is around three weeks old and can last till it is 4 to 6 months of age and can even last longer than that in some cases.

In these times, the mouth of the dog requires more calcium than usual in order to support the growth of their teeth. In order to ensure that, the dog’s body may compensate by drawing calcium from other parts of the body. This results in a weakened skeletal structure that affects the ears of the dog as well and may result in flopping.

The ears of a dog going through teething tend to vary every day at such times. They can change throughout the day, depending on the condition of their body as well as their mood. This is nothing to worry about and is completely normal. The dog’s ears will return back to normal once their teeth have grown in and are fully developed. However, if you feel concerned, you can always check with your vet to make sure that there are absolutely no problems.

What to Do When Your German Shepherd Put His Ears Down?

You can do certain things when your German Shepherd puts his ears down. However, there is nothing to worry about initially. You can take the following actions to help this. 

• Ensure no other dogs or pups bite or play on your Shepherd’s ears. You might wonder what is wrong with that. While this is typical and  appropriate behavior that dogs show, it may result in the ear cartilage getting damaged, and the ears can have difficulty standing properly.
• Whenever you notice dirt in their ears, use a cotton ball or a moist towel to clean them. It is not advisable to put anything down their ear canals. Make an appointment with your veterinarian for any extra wax or debris. Having problems standing up your ears might be an indication of ear infections.
• Take the dog for a walk and have fun. Happy dogs are more observant and appear to have fewer health problems. You’ll notice how their ears open up within a few minutes.

How To Calm An Anxious Dog?

There are many reasons why your German Shepherds might get anxious. Sometimes, we can not help the situation. However, you can take certain actions to make them feel better and eliminate anxiety. 

Before understanding what can be done to help the German Shepherd, you must understand why such anxiety attacks can happen. This is because of the following reasons: 

• If your German Shepherd has faced abuse, this might be one of the causes. 
• During puppyhood, the “fear” period typically occurs between 8 and 12 weeks, and puppies who lack sufficient socialization during these key first eight weeks may suffer.
• A drastic change in circumstances. Things include being transferred from a family home to a stressful rescue kennel setting or losing a long-term owner.
• In case the dog is being bitten by another dog. 
• Accidentally. They may have been injured by a bike, for instance. Every time a bike passes, this could cause a terrifying reaction.
• It is possible to develop a serious phobia after being exposed to something upsetting for a lengthy period. Dogs may become defensive when a child constantly bothers them and teases them, which could lead to them developing a general phobia of children.
• Loud things. It can be scary for a dog to hear the noise of a vacuum, a hair dryer, or fireworks, especially if he is sensitive to sounds.
• Separation anxiety – Your nervous dog may not want to be alone at home.

These are some causes of making dogs more anxious and slowing their ears down. Now to help them with it, you can take the following actions: 

• Close the drapes and shutters to decrease outside noise.
• Make a comfortable sleeping area so they may feel relaxed and tranquil.
• Maintain them calm throughout the evening.
• Creative activities and puzzles will keep kids entertained.
• Play soothing music.
• Bring them for a stroll early in the morning.
• Keep yourself at home and provide them comfort.

Why Haven’t My German Shepherds’ Ears Stand Up?

Considering the reasons mentioned above, there could be several possible causes for your German Shepherd’s ears not standing up. It might result from a medical issue, for instance, an ear infection. It’s also possible that your dog’s ears haven’t fully matured.

Sometimes German Shepherds’ ears will ultimately stand up alone, while others may need surgical assistance. It all depends on the cause behind why the German Shepherd’s ear is not standing up. You need to understand that first and then take any suitable action. In just about any instance, see your veterinarian discover the reason for your dog’s floppy ears and discuss treatment options.

How Often Do German Shepherds’ Ears Not Stand Up?

Most of the German Shepherd’s owners ask this question a lot. It generally depends on Shepherd’s age, health, and heredity. German Shepherd puppies’ ears do not always stand up straight. Their ears may take several months to fully mature and stand erect.

Don’t worry if your German Shepherd puppy’s ears aren’t standing up, which is normal. Just be patient and wait for them to develop their adorable, floppy ears! Some medical issues might cause a German Shepherd’s ears not to stand up. If the dog has an ear infection, the ear canal may be swollen shut, preventing the ear from rising up. Allergies can indeed affect drooping ears. If you are concerned about your German Shepherd’s ears not standing up, take them to the doctor for a checkup.

A German Shepherd’s ears may not stand up in certain situations due to heredity. This is particularly the case if the dog’s parents had floppy ears. There is nothing you can do about it, so you’ll have to accept your dog’s unusual appearance!

Is It Bad If German Shepherd Ears Don’t Stand Up?

Definitely not, if your German Shepherd ears are not standing up, it can also be quite normal. You need to understand that it is not a problem if your German Shepherd’s ears do not stand up. Some even believe it’s cuter when they’re floppy! If you are concerned about your dog’s health, you should take them to the vet to ensure everything is in order. Moreover, it is always better to take necessary actions beforehand only. 

Final Thoughts

First, there is nothing to worry about if your German Shepherd’s ears are down very little. In this case, you give them proper attention and make them feel comfortable – they will be fine soon. Many assume that a German Shepherd’s ears not standing up are a symptom of poor health or a hereditary abnormality. However, this is not true. There are various reasons why a German Shepherd’s ears may not stand up; most of them are attributable to the dog’s breeding. When you are worried about your German Shepherd’s ears, see your veterinarian to determine whether there is anything you can accomplish to assist them in getting up.