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 Chatty Kathy
Posts: 6634
    
Location: In Ky following Barrel Races & Walker hounds. | My husbands lab puppy(which I have neglected to post pictures of... opps  ) had perfect ears when we picked him up, now that hes really getting into teething his ears are doing this crazy, funky, stick out to the side thing instead of just being flopped like a labs ears are suppose to be. And they have a fold in the middle going up and down. And yes before anyone asks, he is pure bred, AKC registered and all. I have looked it up on line and found a few things about it, apparently its pretty common and fixable. I found a video where the lady used Dr Scholls moleskin and surgical tape, but I was looking to see if anyone else had any other ideas or has had to do this.
He is an ADORABLE puppy but his ears are REALLY bugging my husband. He is training him to be a duck dog and I will admit, he will get some funny looks at the pit if he doesn't grow out of the batwing ears.
How long would you give him to grow out of it before you started taping? He is almost 4months old.
Thanks in advance if anyone has any tips!!
I am not looking for a bunch of comments about it being "mean" that we prefer to fix them, so if that is all you have to add, please keep them to yourself.
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 Horsey Gene Carrier
Posts: 1888
Location: LaBelle, Florida | Having German Shepherds who happend to have upright ears, teething can be a pain for ear set.
If you want to skip the taping, try massage. The pup will love it and it will build the bond between handler and pup.
Massage the ears in the direction they should lay, starting at the base of the ear.
This will need to be done frequently as possible
Also be sure to provide pup with things to chew on.
Once the worst of the teething is over, the pup will put the ears back to the natural position. | |
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Chatty Kathy
Posts: 6634
Location: In Ky following Barrel Races & Walker hounds. | We will try the massage first, I had wondered about massage but wasn't sure if that would help. Here are a couple pictures of him, he was the last one left from the litter due to his white markings. Which I did research on and apparently is just something that happens from time to time... This is right after we got him in the beginning of Feb. He had grown a ton and has "Lab" hair now, so he looks more like a dog, and a lot less like a bear cub.
I can see now where his ears were beginning to get that look here a touch, but not nearly as bad.
 
You can kind of see the "batwings" beginning here...
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 The One
Posts: 7997
Location: South Georgia | My jack russell terrier had perfectly folded ears as a pup. Then as he grew out of the little puppy stage, his ears flapped over and went "bat." The breeder told me it just has to do with the thickness of their skin in that area and the developing muscles that dictate the ear's position. She told me they could be taped, but I did not want to mess with that. | |
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| I bred hunting labs for years from British and German bloodlines since so many American bloodlines had been inbred and bred for size rather than hunting conformations ... everyone wants a big lab ... 80-120 lbs to brag about ..
Hunters look for smaller thicker 50-60 lb males with otter tails which gives them a rutter to steer with when retrieving in the water and goose is ploughing the water ..
On your puppy I would change dog food to a lower protein since ears are cartilage and wait and see if their weight will flop them downward as he grows slower .... which I think they will ... if overly concerned .... see if he will put up with wearing a wide clothe band like a human head band around his ears ....
Your pup does have double the white that you usually see on a lot of blacks ... it will disappear as he grows older ... you might end up having a spot no bigger than your little finger on his chest ....
Here is what my dogs looked like ....
I trained them to work water and field shooting ..
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2014-02-27 12:49 PM
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LAB INCORRECT TAIL CITY LAB.jpg (93KB - 189 downloads)
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Alrighty...zippppping up my flame suit. real. tight.
He doesn't look like a lab. At least, not one from a reputable breeder of quality puppies.
His ear set cannot be changed by taping. You can influence the way the ears tip (think Shetland Sheepdog or Collie). But, you cannot change where they come off of his head. In your pup's case, he has a high ear set.
If this was a reputable breeder, they would have sold him with a contract. And, imo, would consider taking him back for not meeting the AKC standard. {And, before I'm thrown off of BHW...it's a real, live, actual event -- they are sold with contracts. My ESS conformation pup had his bite slip at 6 months (even instead of scissor) and I was given the option to send him back (yea, right!) or provide proof of neutering and was offered a replacement.}
He is a cute puppy! I hope you enjoy him for many, many years! Just don't think those ears are going to look quite like what you want. Sorry!
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | just4fun - 2014-02-27 2:18 PM Alrighty...zippppping up my flame suit. real. tight.
He doesn't look like a lab. At least, not one from a reputable breeder of quality puppies.
His ear set cannot be changed by taping. You can influence the way the ears tip (think Shetland Sheepdog or Collie). But, you cannot change where they come off of his head. In your pup's case, he has a high ear set.
If this was a reputable breeder, they would have sold him with a contract. And, imo, would consider taking him back for not meeting the AKC standard. {And, before I'm thrown off of BHW...it's a real, live, actual event -- they are sold with contracts. My ESS conformation pup had his bite slip at 6 months (even instead of scissor) and I was given the option to send him back (yea, right!) or provide proof of neutering and was offered a replacement.}
He is a cute puppy! I hope you enjoy him for many, many years! Just don't think those ears are going to look quite like what you want. Sorry!
I am with you. I hate to say it, but I'm not sure he is purebred either. Which doesn't make him any less adorable.
I know AKC says a small patch of white hair on the chest is OK, but his patch is fairly large and he has some white spots on his feet too. Maybe he is Lab x Lab mix so his ears aren't sitting where a PB lab would sit? | |
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  The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | Well I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks he doesn't look 100% Lab. He looks more like a German Shepherd (mix) especially in the face. Wonder if a sneaky neighbor dog got to close to his mother when she was in heat? Litters can have more than one sire. Wonder what the rest of the litter looks like? At any rate, he IS a cute puppy. | |
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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | Very adorable pup but I'm also thinking maybe a Lab X Lab/Shepard. I think the ears look just fine, is there a specific reason you want his ears changed?  | |
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The One
Posts: 7997
Location: South Georgia | Glad I wasnt crazy. I didnt say anything, but I was wondering how that was a pure bred lab. Too much white and the face shape is not purebred lab. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| Murphy - 2014-02-27 1:28 PM
just4fun - 2014-02-27 2:18 PM Alrighty...zippppping up my flame suit. real. tight.
He doesn't look like a lab. At least, not one from a reputable breeder of quality puppies.
His ear set cannot be changed by taping. You can influence the way the ears tip (think Shetland Sheepdog or Collie). But, you cannot change where they come off of his head. In your pup's case, he has a high ear set.
If this was a reputable breeder, they would have sold him with a contract. And, imo, would consider taking him back for not meeting the AKC standard. {And, before I'm thrown off of BHW...it's a real, live, actual event -- they are sold with contracts. My ESS conformation pup had his bite slip at 6 months (even instead of scissor) and I was given the option to send him back (yea, right!) or provide proof of neutering and was offered a replacement.}
He is a cute puppy! I hope you enjoy him for many, many years! Just don't think those ears are going to look quite like what you want. Sorry!
I am with you. I hate to say it, but I'm not sure he is purebred either. Which doesn't make him any less adorable.
I know AKC says a small patch of white hair on the chest is OK, but his patch is fairly large and he has some white spots on his feet too. Maybe he is Lab x Lab mix so his ears aren't sitting where a PB lab would sit?
I have to agree that the dog has excessive white to be registered without a neuter contract HOWEVER the brood stock of the breed (The St. Johns Water Dog) had white paws, chest, and lips and there are still the few occasions when the recessive genes for this trait pop up. It is EXTREMELY uncommon but it does still happen.
But the issue of your concern is not the color but the ears. I don't think you can do anything to change the set. You can pull the ears down "flatter" by taping pennies to the under sides of the ear tips but it will not change the location of the base, just how flat they hang.
If your guy is not planning on breeding him and the dog shows excessive hunting instinct, try and you are overall happy with the animal you purchased I don't think it really matters how much white he has on him, it just makes him easier to see in the dark!
ETA: If your plan was to breed the dog I might be getting a hold of the breeder, the excessive white and the high ear set is a little concerning for me. I think the ear set is more common in the American type dogs and if your pup is of American lines I would be a little less concerned.
PS: I had a pup that was by my dad's English type registered male and out of an American type registered female, the pup had a thick block head when I picked him up at 8 weeks old but by 12 weeks it started to look a lot like your pup, same ear set and all! Unfortunately my sister's jackass ex-boyfriend ran him over with a trailer so I never got to see how he matured.
Edited by cyount2009 2014-02-27 1:57 PM
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Chatty Kathy
Posts: 6634
Location: In Ky following Barrel Races & Walker hounds. | Saw both parents and pictures of the other puppies, she only had 4, one yellow, 3 blacks. All of the blacks had some white, the man we got him from said he had more on his chest, thats why he was left. And as I said, he has grown and looks different now, I just dont have any recent pictures.
He is not going back for his excessive white. Not his fault and it doesn't hurt his ability to retrieve at all. Some on the white on his feet is starting to go away slowly. I think by the time he is grown they will just have a grey look to them.
If you do a search on the internet there are several "mismarks" that can happen on labs. White is a very minor one compared to some(yellows with black splotches, ect).
Not arguing, just stating what I have learned because when my husband got him I did research the white, ect.
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-02-27 12:39 PM
I bred hunting labs for years from British and German bloodlines since so many American bloodlines had been inbred and bred for size rather than hunting conformations ... everyone wants a big lab ... 80-120 lbs to brag about ..
Hunters look for smaller thicker 50-60 lb males with otter tails which gives them a rutter to steer with when retrieving in the water and goose is ploughing the water ..
On your puppy I would change dog food to a lower protein since ears are cartilage and wait and see if their weight will flop them downward as he grows slower .... which I think they will ... if overly concerned .... see if he will put up with wearing a wide clothe band like a human head band around his ears ....
Your pup does have double the white that you usually see on a lot of blacks ... it will disappear as he grows older ... you might end up having a spot no bigger than your little finger on his chest ....
Here is what my dogs looked like ....
I trained them to work water and field shooting ..
Are those your own personal dogs? They are gorgeous! I LOVE the English type and otter tails! | |
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Chatty Kathy
Posts: 6634
Location: In Ky following Barrel Races & Walker hounds. | cyount2009 - 2014-02-27 1:49 PM
Murphy - 2014-02-27 1:28 PM
just4fun - 2014-02-27 2:18 PM Alrighty...zippppping up my flame suit. real. tight.
He doesn't look like a lab. At least, not one from a reputable breeder of quality puppies.
His ear set cannot be changed by taping. You can influence the way the ears tip (think Shetland Sheepdog or Collie). But, you cannot change where they come off of his head. In your pup's case, he has a high ear set.
If this was a reputable breeder, they would have sold him with a contract. And, imo, would consider taking him back for not meeting the AKC standard. {And, before I'm thrown off of BHW...it's a real, live, actual event -- they are sold with contracts. My ESS conformation pup had his bite slip at 6 months (even instead of scissor) and I was given the option to send him back (yea, right!) or provide proof of neutering and was offered a replacement.}
He is a cute puppy! I hope you enjoy him for many, many years! Just don't think those ears are going to look quite like what you want. Sorry!
I am with you. I hate to say it, but I'm not sure he is purebred either. Which doesn't make him any less adorable.
I know AKC says a small patch of white hair on the chest is OK, but his patch is fairly large and he has some white spots on his feet too. Maybe he is Lab x Lab mix so his ears aren't sitting where a PB lab would sit?
I have to agree that the dog has excessive white to be registered without a neuter contract HOWEVER the brood stock of the breed (The St. Johns Water Dog ) had white paws, chest, and lips and there are still the few occasions when the recessive genes for this trait pop up. It is EXTREMELY uncommon but it does still happen.
But the issue of your concern is not the color but the ears. I don't think you can do anything to change the set. You can pull the ears down "flatter" by taping pennies to the under sides of the ear tips but it will not change the location of the base, just how flat they hang.
If your guy is not planning on breeding him and the dog shows excessive hunting instinct, try and you are overall happy with the animal you purchased I don't think it really matters how much white he has on him, it just makes him easier to see in the dark!
ETA: If your plan was to breed the dog I might be getting a hold of the breeder, the excessive white and the high ear set is a little concerning for me. I think the ear set is more common in the American type dogs and if your pup is of American lines I would be a little less concerned.
PS: I had a pup that was by my dad's English type registered male and out of an American type registered female, the pup had a thick block head when I picked him up at 8 weeks old but by 12 weeks it started to look a lot like your pup, same ear set and all! Unfortunately my sister's jackass ex-boyfriend ran him over with a trailer so I never got to see how he matured.
This is what I found when I did my research on the white, the St. Johns Water Dog kept popping up, people on the lab forums I read didnt really love the white markings but as I said, it doesn't hurt their ability to retrieve at all.
Ctrygirl- They have gotten much worse since he started teething, and its my husbands preference to fix them if possible.
kasaj- My husband massaged his ears before he left for work and they actually both laid down flat for a while  Going to give that a try for a while. | |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | BlazeFlameHarley - 2014-02-27 1:58 PM Saw both parents and pictures of the other puppies, she only had 4, one yellow, 3 blacks. All of the blacks had some white, the man we got him from said he had more on his chest, thats why he was left. And as I said, he has grown and looks different now, I just dont have any recent pictures. He is not going back for his excessive white. Not his fault and it doesn't hurt his ability to retrieve at all. Some on the white on his feet is starting to go away slowly. I think by the time he is grown they will just have a grey look to them. If you do a search on the internet there are several "mismarks" that can happen on labs. White is a very minor one compared to some(yellows with black splotches, ect). Not arguing, just stating what I have learned because when my husband got him I did research the white, ect.
I was hoping you'd come on again and clarify that he was indeed from a reputable breeder. I don't know much about hunting dogs (as compared to bench dogs), but if the white doesn't bother you, the ears shouldn't either, as neither will affect his performance.
Hopefully, you got the important issues taken care of, such as hip, elbow and eye certifications.
Congrats on your new puppy! I can't imagine having one right now...so much work! lol! Enjoy!!!
PS I've done the penny thing on Shelties. Such a pain! Your hubby will owe you big time if you decide to do it! :)
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| I was surprised when you said your pup was a lab. Taping of ears is usually done on dogs with normally floppy ears whose ears are surgically fixed to stand up right, like Dobermans, Schnauzers, etc. I agree w/the others who say that is NOT a lab. The pup may be part lab, but 1st off there should be NO white, but the longer coat, his head shape, his body shape, nope, not purebred by any stretch. I have bred labs in the past. The fact his ears are starting to try and stand up is just one more reason to believe he is not all lab. Sorry, but he is adorable and can still be a great bird dog.
Edited by bingo 2014-02-27 4:28 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1032
Location: IL | My girl isn't a Lab, she's an Aussie, but her ears were also on the fritz when she was young. I was constantly fretting over them because they went from nice Aussie ears, to one would be sticking out to the side, then to one standing up and the other down. Those ears of hers went all sorts of different directions but eventually they went back to where they were meant to be. Maybe the same sort of deal is going on with your pup! Either way, he sure is a cutie!!
Here's a pic of her when she was younger and also a more recent pic!
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 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | Cute pup....but I really don't see a purebred lab either. His face & ears just aren't the right shape & his ears are way to small compared to the labs I've been around anyway. And I've never seen a "fuzzy" lab pup, they're more slick coated. It could be possible that the other pups where by the lab stud dog and another dog snuck by & is the sire of this one......Purebred or not though I don't think you are going to change how his ears lay. The way they are positioned on his head I don't think you're going to get the typical floppy ear lab look regardless of what you do. | |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I have seen plenty of fuzzy lab pups registered pure bred.. old english type stock and field labs. these are not the show labs that stocky sleek and square headed. google and research .
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Chatty Kathy
Posts: 6634
Location: In Ky following Barrel Races & Walker hounds. | TACKyPaints - 2014-02-27 4:32 PM
My girl isn't a Lab, she's an Aussie, but her ears were also on the fritz when she was young. I was constantly fretting over them because they went from nice Aussie ears, to one would be sticking out to the side, then to one standing up and the other down. Those ears of hers went all sorts of different directions but eventually they went back to where they were meant to be. Maybe the same sort of deal is going on with your pup! Either way, he sure is a cutie!!Here's a pic of her when she was younger and also a more recent pic!
THIS is what I am talking about, not sticking up, but out. Thank you TackyPaints! | |
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