"When will my puppies ears stand straight up?"
Click here to go to the Nursery

When should the ears be standing?
Every puppy is different. I've had puppies with ears standing at a very young age and some that didn't stand until they were almost 8 months old. If the ears are going to stand naturally they should be up by 4-7 months of age and after the adult teeth have came in. It's not uncommon to see the ears go up and down often during the teething process. They can put them up then drop them again when the next tooth starts breaking through. Typically if the ears were standing before teething they will come back up after the adult teeth are in. The body uses calcium as needed and when teeth and bone growth are developing, the calcium isn't being used for nonessentials like the cartilage at the base of the ear frame.
Most of my research suggests that if the puppies ears are not up by the time they are 7 months old they might not go up at all. I have read that it is possible up to 1 year of age, but not likely. I would suggest if by the time the puppy is 4-5 months old if you haven't seen positive progression it's time to consider "helping" them.
What can I do to help the ears stand up?
One of the most important things is to make sure that the ears have a chance to stand naturally. Rule number one - keep your hands off of them! Do not allow anyone to play with, bend, fold, pull or fondle the ears. Some research suggests that massaging at the base of the ears can help, but do not mess with the actual ears themselves.

Feed a quality food. I have spent a lot of time researching food specifically for German Shepherd Dogs. Feeding a mass produced commercial food is less than ideal. You are unlikely to find a quality food at stores like Wal-Mart. I recommend a food with absolutely NO corn or wheat! If your puppy grows too fast it could be prone to several health issues like hip dysplasia and arthritis. I feed my dogs and puppies Life's Abundance.


Take your puppy to the vet. You need to make sure you puppy doesn't have an ear or other infections.

Get a fecal test done. Take a stool sample to your vet for them to check to make sure your puppy doesn't have any intestinal parasites. Sometimes this can be an underlying cause of your ear issue.

Order NuJoint supplements?


NuJoint Plus

What about calcium supplements?
Since calcium is one of the building blocks of cartilage growth, it stands to reason calcium supplements would help. It sounds like a good theory, but it's not. Most over-the-counter calcium supplements are NOT absorbed by the body. For a growing puppy too much calcium can be a dangerous thing and can lead to future health problems.
What about yogurt?
What about cottage cheese?
When should I start to worry?
I would suggest if by the time the puppy is 5 months old if you haven't seen positive progression it's time to consult an expert. "Do-it-yourself" fixes could cause more long term harm than good. Waiting much past the age of 5 months could limit your chance of the ears ever going up.

© My New German 2018