![]() Generally, this causes a dog’s ears to become more floppy. As your dog exercises its jaw muscles the muscles in the ears which are connected get exercise as well. Teething is such a strenuous process on dogs that it can affect your Shelties ear position causing them to do all sorts of interesting things.Ĭhewing is thought to be the main cause of your Shelties ear positions changing. Generally, you won’t know 100% what your Shelties ear type will be until after your dog is finished teething. Oftentimes their ears are thick not only because of their strong cartilage but because they are a double-coated dog breed.Ī Shelties’s coat is composed of 2 layers, one dense undercoat which is like an insulator, and their outer coat which acts as a cover against weather, dirt, or other aspects that would make your dog uncomfortable if it were to touch their skin.Ī Shelties distinctly tipped ears are thick with this double-coated fur, not only making them super cute, but able to stay warm in cold weather as well! Sheltie Ears While Teething This attribute is very unique and helps owners to decipher how their dog is feeling.Īlthough appearance is often noted, the feel of Sheltie’s ears is interesting as well. This in turn makes their faces portray different expressions. Since Sheltie’s ears can be slightly different in areas such as color or structure, even with the distinct appearances listed previously, their ears still play a critical role in the facial expressions that each Sheltie makes.Įach time a Shelties ears tilt a certain direction, they are expressing themselves and their emotions, concerns, etc. They worry that the unique quality and appearance of the tipped ear may be fading away as many Shelties do have ears that stand straight up. Some breeders of show dogs work very hard to try and genetically preserve that iconic tipped ear of a Sheltie. Some Shelties will have one tipped ear and one upright ear. If your Sheltie is a pet or companion dog this is really nothing to worry about. If you use these links to buy something we earn a small commission.Ī hound ear is when your Shelties ears are floppy and hanging low like that of a hound dog.Įven though the AKC does call pricked ears a flaw in the Sheltie breed a large portion of Shelties will have prick ears, or ears that stand completely upright. We only recommend high-quality products that are used and recommended by real owners. Leather too thick or too thin.”Īlthough Shelties can all look different, purebred Shelties’ ears will normally either be tipped or prick ears.ĭisclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. When in repose the ears fold lengthwise and are thrown back into the frill. The AKC standard for a Sheltie show dog states “the ears are small and flexible, placed high, carried three-fourths erect, with tips breaking forward. Some owners will glue or tape their Sheltie’s ears to get them to set properly. Some shelties may have prick ears (ears that stand upright). The tips of a shelties ears generally break forward about 1/4 of the way from the top. The breed was originally used as herding dogs, hence why their ears are an important feature.Ī Sheltie’s ears are small triangles set high on their heads. The general appearance of Shelties ears includes a distinct triangle shape. ![]() In most cases your dog’s ears will be completely fine however, if it is taking a long time for their ears to stand up and tip in the right place, having your dog examined by a vet is the best option to find out what is going on with their ears. Patience is key when waiting for your Sheltie’s ears to set properly. Missing cartilage or pinna (the flap of skin that is covered by fur and composed of muscles that are attached to the cartilage) is the cause of Sheltie puppies having floppy ears at birth. The cartilage in the ear increases significantly after development in areas such as sight and hearing. Since puppies are born blind and deaf they must develop the most critical aspects of their bodies first. This creates a bit of a roof to protect the shelties ear canal from debris and dirt as they are bred to be working dogs herding sheep or doing ranch work. Shelties’ ears should tip forward at about 1/4 of the way down leaving the other 3/4 of the ears standing upright. Their little tipped ears give them a soft melting expression unique to this breed! ![]() In my opinion, Shelties have one of the most adorable faces of all dog breeds.
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