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Why are my 2-month-old German Shepherd puppy's ears still floppy?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 27 days old | 5.3 lbs

my puppy is almost 2 months old and his ears have not even started to stand up. the cartilage appears very weak when touched. am i worrying too early? i see pics of german shepherd puppies with their ears standing up on even 6 weeks of age. also he has just recovered from severe anemia if that could be responsible. how do i make sure his ears stand up??

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 19th, 2018

The ears will not have developed completely before the age of approximately 18 months. Until then they will stand up and flop many times. At the age of 2 months ears of a German Shepherd dog naturally flop, ie do not stand up. Your dog is normal and his ears should start to stand up in a few months.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on November 8th, 2016
There is likely no problem, the ears typically do not stand until between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Be patient. Feed a healthy diet, "exercise" the ears by doing things and making sounds that will cause the pup to use/move the ears.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on April 2nd, 2018
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

They should be up for good at 6 months. Some are already erect at 8 weeks. Sometimes during teething (between 16-20 weeks) one or both will drop a bit.

I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 22nd, 2019
As dogs grow their ears can change shape, so it is not unusual for a dog this age to have ears that go from standing to down or vice-versa. I would check to be sure there is not swelling or pain around the ear to ensure that you did not actually injure her ear. If there is swelling/pain then she should go to the veterinarian for an exam. If you are hoping for her ears to stand cosmetically, then you can have the vet tape her ears. I would recommend a positive-reinforcement training book to use instead of physical punishment. A few I would recommend include The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnel and Perfect Puppy in 7 Days by Dr. Sophia Yin.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. B. DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Veterinarian
Published on July 23rd, 2018
If the ear is not bothering her and you're not noticing any changes to the skin or ear canal (redness, thickening, discharge, odor) it may just be changing with age. The other ear may or may not do the same. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My German Shepherd's ears are still flopped. Will they ever stand up?

Unfortunately there isn't anything you can do to make her ears go up, and stay up. Some GSDs have erect ears, and others don't. To me, it seems that her nervous system and muscles are working fine if the ears go up when she hears something, so I wouldn't worry about this, and would just embrace it as part of who she is.

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My 10-month-old GSD has floppy ears. How can I make them stand?

Typically, if a GSD's ears have not stood up by 6-8 months it is likely that they will not stand up at all. There are however, some taping methods that can assist the ears to stand up. You should talk to your veterinarian before taping the ears because it may make your puppies prone to developing ear infections. The amount of cartilage in a puppy's ears is determined at birth. Oral or injectable supplements will not affect the amount of cartilage in the ears.

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My GSD puppy's ear is floppy. Will biting damage her cartilage?

As much as you can keep the other dog from chewing on her ears, do so, but it's not the end of the world. Their ears will go up and down as they're teething and growing, so they may tip up and down for a couple months more until they stand for good. Congratulations on your new baby, she's absolutely beautiful!

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My GSD puppy's ear flopped at 5 months. Will it stand up again after teething?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It takes time for the cartilage in the ear to strengthen and stand up permanently. I wouldn’t be concerned at this time about his ears as he is still young and growing. It is also normal for his baby teeth to fall out- and all should have fallen out by 6 months. It sounds like Noble is right on track! Kisses to Noble!

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When do Yorkie puppy ears stand up? My 12-week-old's are floppy.

It will take up to 18 months for the ears to stand up. So now they are floppy, tomorrow one ear may stand up and the other not, then floppy again... By the time your puppy is about 18 months old the ears should be the way they will be for the rest of its life.

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Training & Behavior

My GSD puppy's ears aren't up yet. Why does she turn her back?

I wouldn't worry about the ears not standing yet. Usually, they will stand at some point around 4-6 months of age, but sometimes even later depending on the dog. I'm not sure about the behavior you're describing - if you want to take a video of her doing it, you can request a one-on-one consultation and upload it for me to look at. In general, when dogs turn their back to your during petting or other interaction, it's a sign that they trust you and they like what you are doing. Many dogs do this because they like being petted on the back or over their hips.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

New German Shepherd puppy: What shots? Why are his ears uneven?

Congratulations on your new puppy! He definitely needs to start his vaccinations as soon as possible, so I would recommend bringing him to the vet for his first visit as soon as you can. Your veterinarian can advise you on what vaccines are recommended in your area, and will also give him a general check up to make sure he seems healthy. The pup may also need to be dewormed, if this hasn't been done recently. In German Shepherds, it's common for the ears to go up and down quite a bit until six months of age or so - so I wouldn't worry too much just yet, if he has one ear up and one down. It's likely that this will straighten out over the next several weeks.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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