The Ears of our Doberman

From "pointed tips" to flaps

Natural

In Belgium, cropping both the ears and tail of dogs is strictly prohibited for animal welfare reasons.

It is also illegal to own dogs that have been cropped after these dates.

Ears: Cropping or cutting dogs' ears has been forbidden since October 1, 2001.

Tail: The cropping of dogs' tails has also been forbidden since January 1, 2006.

Dogs that have been cropped in violation of the Belgian ban are not allowed to participate in dog shows or competitions in Belgium.

Medical necessity: Cropping is only allowed if deemed necessary by a veterinarian for the dog's health.

RACE STANDARD

“The natural ears should be of reasonable size, set laterally at the highest point of the skull, and preferably lie against the cheeks”

Puppies and Their Ears

You've acquired a puppy, and suddenly the cute floppy ears that hung neatly by the head are standing up or going every which way. Why is this happening and what can you do about it? Often, this occurs when your puppy is teething. Around three months of age, the puppy begins to transition to a permanent set of teeth.

This process is closely related to calcium absorption. As the adult teeth form, the excess calcium is utilized by the body for skeletal support. Consequently, the cartilage in the ear also becomes sturdier, which may cause your puppy's ears to stand in different directions.

Some people are fine with this and choose not to take any action. However, if you believe that your puppy's ears should be carried next to the head, as described in the breed standard, then the following tips will guide you on how to tape your puppy's ears. This is a critical moment to address the ears if you want to prevent them from staying in odd positions.

This is the correct way

WhatsApp Image 2026-05-19 at 12.20.12 (8)

WhatsApp Image 2026-05-19 at 12.20.12 (3)

WhatsApp Image 2026-05-19 at 12.20.12 (2)

WhatsApp Image 2026-04-13 at 10.20.19 (2)

Here the ears are incorrect

WhatsApp Image 2026-05-19 at 12.20.12 (4)

Pasting Bandages

To beautifully paste the ears, you will need:

bandages + ether + scissors + syringe

How do we proceed?

You can do it only with bandages or with an additional tie-wrap at the bottom.

Using the extra tie-wrap makes it much sturdier, allowing you to leave the adhesives hanging on the ear itself.

With only bandages, there is a chance it will come off more quickly.

Procedure:

To begin, cut 2 strips of leukoplast measuring approximately 12cm each and place a piece of gauze from a regular adhesive bandage in the center of each strip.
Have someone hold your puppy still while you apply the leukoplast along the front side of the ear, leaving an opening for later insertion of a cable tie, ensuring the gauze from the bandage does not cover the ear. Gently fold the ear outward to affix the other half of the leukoplast on the inner side. Repeat this process for the other ear.
If you have followed the steps correctly, it should now look like this.
By leaving an opening at the bottom of the leukoplast, you can slide a cable tie through as shown in the image.
Allow both ears to hang freely and pass the end of the cable tie under the puppy's throat through the loop of the other ear, securing it loosely. Ensure there is enough space for at least two fingers between the cable tie and your puppy's throat. It should not be too tight! Trim off the excess end of the cable tie.

The puppy may find it strange at first, but they will quickly get used to it. You can leave the ears taped for about 4 days (provided it is not too warm). After this period, cut the cable tie by sliding your fingers between the skin and the tie to avoid accidentally cutting the skin. Leave the leukoplast on the ear. Check if the ear is not red or smelly. Throughout the day, let the ear hang naturally with the tape still in place. You can observe if during the day the ear begins to rise back up. If this happens, you can reattach the ears at the end of the day with a new cable tie, trimming off the excess end again. Repeat this process until the ears stay upright without assistance.

This typically occurs after they have fully swapped their baby teeth. This is around the age of 5-6 months

Step 1

Step 2

Step 4

Step 5

Step 3

Only with bandages:

Watch the video below

Need assistance?

If you're having trouble doing it yourself, feel free to come to us, and we will be happy to help you further!