Debunking Myths About Doberman Ear Taping Time: A Deep Dive with Science-Based Insights

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Ear cropping and taping are common practices among Doberman owners, particularly those who desire the breed's characteristic alert and erect ear appearance. Here at “A Doberman’s World, " we favor ear cropping, but we also understand the implications and criticism of the topic. As such, even though we support properly done ear cropping, we have seen a trend of extremely long posting times in recent years. These times appear to be often guided by numerous myths surrounding the necessity and duration of ear taping. These myths often persist due to faulty assumptions and observations. In this extensive, in-depth article, we aim to debunk these myths related to teething, the first heat, posting breaks, and ear tip hardening with science-based insights, shedding light on the misconceptions about ear anatomy and physiology that often lead to unnecessary and prolonged posting periods.

• Table of Contents

  1. Introduction

     • Overview of Ear Cropping and Taping Practices

     • The Trend of Prolonged Ear Posting

  2. The Issue of Excessive Show Crops

     • Characteristics of Show Crops

     • Impact on Posting Process and Misconceptions

  3. Investigating Before Committing

     • Importance of Crop Length and Bell Shape

     • Techniques and Their Effectiveness

     • Personal Experience Snippets

  4. Understanding Ear Anatomy and Physiology

     • Ear Anatomy

       • Cartilage

       • Muscles and Ligaments

     • The Myth of Chewing for Ear Support

  5. Chondrogenesis

     • Stages of Chondrogenesis

       • Cell Condensation

       • Proliferation

       • Maturation

       • Nutrient Supply

     • Essential Minerals for Chondrogenesis

       • Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Iron

     • Cartilage Development Factors

       • Genetic Factors

       • Nutritional Factors

       • Physical Support

  6. Maturation of Cartilage

     • Timeline for Cartilage Maturity

     • Common Misconceptions About Extended Posting

  7. Debunking Common Myths

     • Myth 1: Teething Causes Cropped Ears to Fall

       • The Science Behind Calcium Redistribution

       • Clarifying the Impact of Teething on Ear Cartilage

     • Myth 2: Ears Fall During or After the First Heat Cycle

       • The Science Behind Hormonal Changes

       • Genetic Predisposition and Stability of Cartilage

     • Myth 3: Ear Tips Harden Slower Than Bottoms

       • Cartilage Density and Distribution

       • Uniform Hardening Process

     • Myth 4: Ears Falling Will Set Back Any Posting Effort For Weeks

       • Cartilage Resilience and Practical Considerations

  8. The Reality of Prolonged Ear Posting

     • Unnecessary Extended Posting and Quality of Life

     • Discomfort and Ethical Considerations

     • Considerations for Companion Dogs

  9. Conclusion

     • Summary of Key Insights

     • Recommendations for Responsible Doberman Ownership

  10. References

      • List of Scientific Studies and Articles

The Issue of Excessive Show Crops

To begin with, one significant factor prolonging the posting process is the trend of excessive show crops, which plays into the hands of the myths. These crops are not only longer but also extremely narrow at the bell, providing minimal support. While show crops have always been part of the Doberman conformation world (both of our Dobermans had and have long but not excessively long show crops), the increasing length and narrowing of the bell have made achieving the desired ear posture more challenging. Indeed, these show crops often take longer to post, but as we will explore also lead to misconceptions that get mixed into the survival of the myths surrounding taping times.

Investigating Before Committing

Reputable breeders typically crop the ears of the entire litter and will not leave the process up to the new owners. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the length and bell shape the breeder usually goes for before committing your dog and yourself to taping. Not every technique is equally effective in supporting these excessively long crops, and the time required to achieve the desired result can vary significantly by technique. Sometimes, the ears will never reach the desired position for various reasons. The reasons can also extend beyond the length of the crop. In terms of our dogs, Persephone and Sir Francis Drake were both posted in a way that most people do not post their dogs. We wrote about this technique in a different blog post. Please remember the differing techniques when reading about our experience snippets in this blog post.

Understanding Ear Anatomy and Physiology

To understand the misconceptions about ear taping, it's essential to grasp the basic anatomy and physiology of a dog's ears, particularly cartilage development.

Ear Anatomy

1. Cartilage: The key component of a dog's ear that determines its shape and rigidity is cartilage (Reece & Rowe, 2017). This flexible yet sturdy tissue is crucial for maintaining the erect posture desired in cropped ears.

2. Muscles and Ligaments: Surrounding the cartilage are muscles and ligaments that help with the movement and stability of the ears (Reece & Rowe, 2017). The muscles involved in ear movement are called auricular muscles, whereas the muscles to chew are mainly the temporalis and masseter muscles (Budras et al., 2007).

1. A Side-Myth: Some people suggest that bone chewing will make the ears stand or stronger, but that’s what we’d like to call a side myth: While the auricular muscles play a role in ear movement, they do not significantly contribute to the structural support necessary for developing an erect position in cropped ears. Since the muscles involved in chewing are separate from those attached to the cartilage of the ear, well-intended tips that suggest chewing bones can help the ears stand are not based on a proper understanding of a dog's anatomy but on an observational fallacy. Just because the ears may move during chewing does not mean chewing strengthens the muscles attached to the ear. It is true that when the auricular muscles get severed from the cartilage (e.g., another dog pulls too hard on the ear of a young dog), the ear may flop (Animal Surgical Center of Michigan (n.d), but no amount of chewing will make the ears stand. Chewing will also not contribute to strengthening already standing ears either.

Chondrogenesis

Chondrogenesis is the process by which cartilage is formed from condensed mesenchymal cells. It involves several stages:

1. Cell Condensation: Mesenchymal cells aggregate and differentiate into chondrocytes (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022), the cells responsible for cartilage formation.

2. Proliferation: Chondrocytes proliferate and produce an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and proteoglycans (Chan, Marston, & Martin, 2022), providing the cartilage with its characteristic resilience and flexibility.

3. Maturation: The cartilage matrix continues to develop, and chondrocytes become embedded within it. This matrix is primarily composed of collagen type II (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022), which gives cartilage its structural integrity.

4. Nutrient Supply: Chondrocytes receive nutrients through diffusion from the surrounding perichondrium, a layer of dense connective tissue (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022; Syed, 2024). Unlike bone, cartilage does not contain blood vessels, making this diffusion process critical for cartilage health and maintenance.

Essential Minerals for Chondrogenesis

Several minerals are crucial for chondrogenesis due to their roles in supporting chondrocyte function and the extracellular matrix:

1. Calcium: Regulates chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation from fibroblasts. This is calcium’s main function concerning cartilage, and this process is frequently misinterpreted and misapplied to support ear myths.

2. Phosphorus: Vital for energy metabolism and a component of ATP.

3. Magnesium: Cofactor for enzymes in collagen synthesis.

4. Zinc: Important for DNA/RNA synthesis and collagen production.

5. Copper: Cofactor for lysyl oxidase, aiding collagen cross-linking, which is the main process that aids in the maturation and hardening of the cartilage.

6. Manganese: Supports glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

7. Iron: Cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase in collagen stabilization.

Cartilage Development Factors

1. Genetic Factors: The primary determinant of ear cartilage strength and structure is genetics (Szwedowski et al., 2020). The thickness (Castaño-Betancourt et al., 2016), elasticity, and overall quality of ear cartilage are inherited traits. Even though they can act on genetics, environmental factors are secondary.

2. Nutritional Factors: Proper nutrition, particularly adequate protein, vitamins, and minerals, is vital for healthy cartilage development. Collagen synthesis, crucial for cartilage, relies on nutrients like Vitamin C and specific amino acids, which are the most completely present in animal proteins.
   
   Vitamin C: One piece of advice many breeders give is Vitamin C supplementation, which can be indeed helpful since Vitamin C is heavily involved in collagen and, therefore, cartilage synthesis (Fascetti et al., 2024). Therefore, Vitamin C supplementation may benefit some dogs, especially during periods of stress, such as growth (Seagal, 2007). Although dogs can synthesize Vitamin C, the amount produced might not be sufficient during stressful periods. Supplementing with Vitamin C can support cartilage development during these critical times. Ensure the vitamin C supplement is suitable for dogs, and consult with your veterinarian before implementing any supplement.

3. Physical Support: During the developmental stages, physical support through taping helps mold the cartilage into the desired shape. Proper taping techniques during this period are crucial to make the ears stand correctly. The technique also influences how long one needs to post the ears since some techniques are prone to developing issues. For example, so-called pockets that need correction for the ear to stand properly and not sag and fold over the head are a common problem with techniques that do not properly support the ears to stay pulled up in the posts.

Maturation of Cartilage

There are approximate timelines that can indicate cartilage maturity. Taken from a poll of 3000 German shepherd owners, which is a breed in which the ears will go from floppy to naturally erect ears, the ears stood in 75% of dogs by age 9-10 months, and 18 percent never stood, even though that number may be somewhat skewed by polling error (Shepards, 2023). The earliest time the ears stood in those naturally erect ear dogs was 3-4 months, and by that time, 28% of dogs had erect ears (Shepards, 2023). Another 25% reached erect ears by month 5-6, and another 16% between 7-8 months (Shepards, 2023). From there on out, the % decreased from 6% at 9-10 months to 3% at 11-12 months and 4% after 1 year (Shepards, 2023). In general, breeds classified by size follow the same general maturation schedules (Lewis, 2019). As such, it follows from naturally erect ears that cartilage in a Doberman's ears very likely reaches maturity, or enough maturity by the age of 6-10 months to stand permanently. Per this research poll, only a very small percentage, possibly some number similar to 7%, would need any longer posting times that exceed 10 months of age. The reason is that dog cartilage maturation is largely a process that follows species timelines likely per dog size rather than individual large differences per the process itself within similar-sized dogs. As such, unless German Shepherds versus Dobermans have a stark difference in genetics that could influence cartilage maturation to a significant extent, one would expect similar timelines. Thus, as long as the dog’s genetics, posting technique and schedule, and general health are supportive, dogs of similar sizes will likely not differ significantly in ear cartilage maturation timelines. During this period, consistent and proper taping is essential to support the ears' erect posture. While every dog may vary, for most dogs beyond the age of 10 months, the cartilage becomes less malleable, and the structure is mostly set.

Considerations

Arguably, while there might be differences in when the ears will stand per inter-breed differences in maturation schedules, differences, in this case, may be small, and the issue of when the ears will stand is an important factor to add when looking at myths about whether they will fall after they stand reliably. Large breeds, classified as 25-40 kg (44-88 Ibs), usually mature in their musculoskeletal system between 11-18 months (Lewis, 2019). Inter-breed differences arise largely from genetic differences, whereas intra-breed differences can be largely attributed to both genetic, including sex, and environmental differences (Lewis, 2019). While they physically may still fill out, German Shepherds and Dobermans are both said to largely have matured at 18 months (Sams, 2011; Humphries & Walker, 2007). As explored, research suggests 53% of German shepherd’s ears perk up naturally by 6 months of age, which is long before their entire musculoskeletal system matures fully. By 10 months, 75% of German Shepherds have erect ears. These variabilities can be attributed to genetics, sex, spaying/neutering, diet, and other environmental factors. However, within a period of  7 months, ear cartilage was mature enough to keep the ears up. Since both German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers are said to follow very similar maturation patterns, we may expect some inter-breed differences, but likely not so large that their musculoskeletal maturation differs significantly. The only difference is that we cannot find reliable comparables because we do not know when Dobermans’ ears would stand up independently since they need to be posted. Posting relies on testing whether the ears stand reliably and most Doberman owners do not test the ears early on, and as we will argue further, keep the dogs in posts for extended periods of time out of fear that the ears will drop. Hence, we do not reliably know when the majority of their ears would actually be done. While this is more a question of when the ears will likely reliably stand rather than whether there is any reason why they would fall, getting a general understanding of cartilage maturation gives us an insight into when most Dobermans may be able to keep their ears up reliably, so owners can start testing their Dobermans ears once they learn in this article that the myths that keep many Dobermans in their post for much longer are just that: myths.

Many Doberman owners will use anecdotal evidence to explain that the ear cartilage of most, if not all, Dobermans is significantly malleable after 10 months of age, and, hence, the ear may fall. However, the same owners usually have consistently posted for over a year and never tested the ears during that period. Most will tell you they only leave the ears unposted to change the posts, which is usually somewhere from 15-30 minutes. Hence, they cannot tell whether the ears would have fallen if they had stopped earlier. Most Doberman’s ears do not flop immediately after being out of posts when they have been properly posted for 2-3 months already. They, too, often go by stories told between them about these myths. Independent of when the ears stand reliably, as you will learn in this article: If ears are reliably standing without support for a week or two, there is little to no chance that they will fall. That is unless injury or health issues affect the ear.

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Myth 1: Teething Causes Cropped Ears to Fall

One prevalent myth is that teething will make a Doberman's cropped ears fall during taping. The theory behind this claim is often that the dog pulls calcium out of the ears to support tooth development, leading to drooping ears. However, this notion lacks scientific backing and outright disregards anatomy and physiology.

Unfortunately, this myth is widespread not only in the Doberman community but also among some veterinary professionals, such as Dr. Chris Brown (Brown, 2021) and Adrienne Farricelli, CPDT-KA, DIP.CBST (Farricelli, 2023). Dr. Brown’s article appears on page one, spot one after advertisements in a Google search for “ears not standing calcium” conducted when writing this article. As such, even though Dr. Brown’s article is mainly about naturally standing ears, it is likely influencing many Doberman owners investigating the teething-calcium connection.

Before dispelling these perpetuated myths, we want to make sure to address one thing right at the beginning: Do not supplement your puppy’s diet with extra calcium to make the ears stand. As you will see, no logical or scientific evidence supports the ear-calcium myth. Excess calcium is related to and can cause, for instance, growth abnormalities in your dog (Dobenecker, 2011). Therefore, do not add additional calcium to your puppy’s daily regimen to make the ears stand.

Science:

1. Calcium Redistribution: There is no physiological process that involves the redistribution of calcium from the ears to the teeth. Calcium metabolism is tightly regulated in the body, with bones serving as the primary calcium reservoir (Reece & Rowe, 2017), not the cartilage in the ears.

2. Cartilage Development: Ear cartilage and bone are different tissues. Cartilage development is influenced by genetics and proper support during the ear-taping process, not by calcium drawn away for teething. The cartilage matrix does not contain any calcium (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022; Fontaine, n.d). Hence, there is no calcium to borrow from the ears.

3. Nutrient Needs: Additionally, there is no other nutrient that erupting teeth require from the ears or compete for to grow in a healthy dog that eats a balanced diet. The nutrients required for tooth development are absorbed from the bloodstream and not sourced from localized tissues like ear cartilage. Again, the body tightly regulates the processes involved in growth, and given a proper diet, the nutrients available in the bloodstream are not going to compete to support the processes happening at the same time, at least not to the detriment of one process over the other.

Clarifying the Impact of Teething on Ear Cartilage

Teething does involve the movement of teeth through the gums, a process that requires some physiological changes. However, the teeth are already partially formed beneath the gums and do not significantly draw calcium from other critical structures and not from ear cartilage at all. Here’s why:

Teeth Development and Eruption

1. Teeth Formation: Puppies are born with their deciduous (baby) teeth already developed beneath the gums. These teeth begin to emerge through the gums typically between 3 to 6 weeks of age.

2. Permanent Teeth: As puppies grow, their permanent teeth form underneath the deciduous teeth. The eruption of permanent teeth occurs around 4 to 6 months of age, pushing out the baby teeth. By the time one sees the crowns of the teeth breaking through the gum, a good portion of the teeth is already developed. Usually this process is finished with the dog’s 7th month of life (Reece & Rowe, 2017).

Calcium Utilization

1. Calcium Regulation: Calcium levels in the bloodstream are tightly regulated by the body (Reece & Rowe, 2017). Even during teething, the amount of calcium required for tooth eruption is relatively small and does not significantly impact the overall calcium levels.

2. Dietary Intake: A balanced diet ensures adequate calcium is available for all bodily functions, including both teething and cartilage development.

3. Low Calcium: When calcium levels in the bloodstream get low, the body will first resort to utilizing hormones to reduce the kidney’s excretion of calcium in the urine (Victoria State Government, n.d). If this process does not alleviate the issue, the body will draw calcium from the bones first to remedy the low calcium levels (Victoria State Government, n.d). As such, claims that some people make that to support teeth formation, the body draws calcium from the ears as they’re less important than the bones, are unsupported even if there were (small) amounts of calcium in the ears. Again, there is no calcium in the ear cartilage matrix.

Chondrogenesis and Cartilage Health

1. Local Nutrient Supply: Cartilage development (chondrogenesis) is a localized process supported by nutrients diffused from the surrounding perichondrium. This includes the consistent supply of collagen and proteoglycans essential for cartilage strength and flexibility.

2. Independence from Teething: The process of chondrogenesis operates independently of tooth eruption. The nutrients required for cartilage and tooth development are sourced from the bloodstream, which maintains a balance to support multiple functions simultaneously. Calcium, which is, as discussed, tightly regulated in this instance, is mainly needed for the differentiation of fibroblasts into chondrocytes.

Can Cartilage Weaken?

1. Maturity of Cartilage: Once ear cartilage is fully developed and matured, it becomes relatively stable. External factors such as teething or minor nutritional shifts do not weaken mature cartilage. The end of teething coincides with the main maturation of cartilage, which, as previously discussed, is likely 6-10 months for a large percentage of Dobermans in as much that if the ears are standing by that time, there is no reason to believe they will fall because of teething. Does that mean you can stop posting before the dog is done teething? The answer is independent of the teething but the cartilage maturation in your dog, which you can test by gradually leaving the dog out of the posts. Personally, we would not start any ear standing trials before the ears have not been consistently posted for 2.5-3 months. Moreover, we highly encourage you to use your best judgment based on the dog in front of you. Our statements are based on averages, not individual cases, as there are too many variables to consider. The ears need to stand completely straight before you should start testing them.

2. Infections and Injuries: Only significant health issues such as infections, injuries, or severe nutritional deficiencies could potentially weaken ear cartilage maturation or weak bonds, but these conditions are not related to teething or routine physiological changes.

3. Correlation: Some owners seem to report a temporary drooping of the ears around teething, but this is likely more caused by the overall additional stress teething can put on the dog than teething itself. Even adult Dobermans will often put their ears into airplane mode when they do not feel well or are tired. As such, teething and the dog not putting up the ears as they usually do is an observed correlation but has no causal relationship to any physiological processes that involve teething. Most reports also indicate that the dog won’t put up the ear but can when really alert, which is another indication that the ears did not lose their ability to stand by means of lost strength of cartilage.

4. Personal Experience: Sir Francis Drake finished teething at six months of age, and we stopped posting him at 5.5 months of age. His ears never drooped, and he had straight ears all his life. Persephone was done teething at six months of age, we finished posting at six months. She experienced one week of teething (at around four months of age) when she lacked the desire to put her ears up, especially her left ear, up when she was out of her posts. However, she could lift both ears easily when she was interested in something. The ear improved the longer she was out of her posts. She was re-posted after 3 hours of being out of her posts. The next time we took her posts out about five days later, she did put her ears up immediately again. In retrospect, Persephone suffered from GI upset the week she showed less desire to put her left ear up. Both dogs were, in total, posted for 3.5 months. The endpoint is merely different because Persephone started to be posted slightly later than Drake.

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Myth 2: Ears Fall During or After the First Heat Cycle

Another common belief is that a Doberman's ears will fall during or after their first heat cycle. This myth has also led to the practice of posting ears for extended periods, sometimes up to 1-2 years, to prevent this perceived issue because some Dobermans go relatively late into their first heat, which can be anywhere from 12-18 months when late.

Science:

1. Hormonal Changes: While hormonal changes during the heat cycle can affect a dog's overall physiology, there is no direct evidence linking these changes to ear cartilage integrity or strength. While estrogen levels are connected to cartilage pathology, the damaging interconnection effects are related to pathological estrogen levels over a significant amount of time (Sadeghi, Esfandiari, Hashemibeni, Atef, Salehi, & Shabani, 2015; Xu et al., 2019). In a normal heat cycle, the levels are not pathologically low, and increases are short-lived and cannot be considered pathological in this normal process; rather, the levels go from normal to increased and back to normal within 2-4 weeks (Davidson, 2020).  If normal hormonal changes did influence ear cartilage negatively and cause ears to droop, this effect would theoretically occur during every heat cycle, which does not seem to be observed and reported in the Doberman community. Again, ear cartilage largely has matured at around eight to ten months of the puppy’s life, even if the argument is that somehow the hormonal changes in their first heat affect immature cartilage, at the point of the first heat, the cartilage that has built and is holding the ear up is likely mature, especially when dogs go into their first heat past eight months of age.
   
   Moreover, while there is evidence that estrogen may affect chondrogenesis, this connection likely plays no part in the ability of the ears to stand. Research indicated that estrogene can have an inhibitory impact on type II collagen gene expression (Sadeghi et al., 2015). As such, it is possible that the normal estrogen level changes during a first heat cycle could have a momentary effect on cartilage maturation. However, given the timepoint of the first heat and the timeline for the maturation in dogs, it is unlikely that such a halt would cause ears to drop because if they are already standing reliably, they possess mostly, or at least enough, matured cartilage.
   
   Similarly, while progesterone levels may have a connection to cartilage health, they likely play no part in whether the ear droops during or after the first heat. Progesterone levels are closely tied to estrogen levels in females (Kültür & Zengin, 2021). Some studies suggest pathological progesterone levels can negatively impact articulate cartilage (Kültür & Zengin, 2021). Ears are not made out of articulate but elastic cartilage (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022). However, a comprehensive search of medical human and veterinary databases yielded no results on the interconnection between sex hormones and elastic cartilage. While this does not indicate no connection, abnormal levels would likely warrant a higher likelihood of a negative or positive effect on mature cartilage, similar to the research on articulate cartilage. Otherwise, we would see ill effects in young dogs outside of their heat cycles routinely as well; all Dobermans would have drooping ears during or after their first heat cycle or a mediating factor, such as illness at play. However, the heat as a normal part of a female dog’s life does neither subject the dog to pathological levels of progesterone nor do we see all Doberman bitches with drooping ears during their heat cycles, including our Persephone.

2. Genetic Predisposition: The ability of a Doberman's ears to stand is primarily determined by genetics (Harroff, n.d). Proper taping techniques during the critical periods of cartilage development help to reach the desired ear posture, regardless of normal hormonal changes during heat cycles.

Can Hormonal Changes Weaken Cartilage?

1. Temporary Effects: Hormonal changes might temporarily affect the firmness of tissues, but they do not cause permanent weakening of mature ear cartilage. When ears stand reliably, the cartilage can be considered mature. As discussed, ear cartilage appears to mature for a significant portion of large-breed dogs around 10 months of age. Any correlation between the first heat, which on average occurs around 8-12 months of age (Prima Doberman Pinschers, n.d), and ear drooping is likely just that: a correlation. Going through the first heat is a significant stressor in the dog’s system due to all the first-time hormonal changes occurring. Hence, similarly to teething, they often do not feel particularly well, especially during their first heat. When Dobermans do not feel well, they often let their ears droop. Some dogs do not enter their first heat until they’re fifteen or even eighteen months old. Out of an unfounded fear that the ears may drop, owners often post beyond the first heat, extending their dog’s time in posts excessively to up to two years, and do not even test the ears because of additional fears of setbacks, which we will discuss subsequently.

2. Stability Post-Maturity: Once the cartilage has matured, it remains stable unless affected by significant health issues unrelated to normal physiological processes like teething or heat cycles.

3. Personal Experience: Our Persephone went through her first heat one week before she turned eight months old. By that time, she had been out of her posts for two months already. She never experienced drooping of the ears during or after her heat. Her first heat was uneventful medically, although she developed a short-lived incontinence right after she finished her first heat. The heat never affected her ears. When writing this post, she’s been three weeks past her first heat. Her ears are strong and without change.

Myth 3: Ear Tips Harden Slower Than Bottoms

Many believe that the tips of a dog's ears need significantly more hardening time compared to the base, leading to extended periods of posting.

Why This Notion is Incorrect:

1. Cartilage Density and Distribution:

• The base of the ear has denser and thicker cartilage compared to the tips. Simplistically speaking, there is more cartilage volume on the bottom than on the top.

• This density difference means the base appears sturdier sooner because there is more cartilage to provide support.

2. Proximity to the Skull:

• The base of the ear is closer to the skull, providing additional support and stability from surrounding structures.

• This proximity contributes to the base standing earlier and more firmly than the tips, which are farther from the skull and have less structural support.

• The auricular muscles, which are responsible for ear movement, are attached to the backside bottom of the ear (Budras et al., 2007; Tiger, 2013). These muscles provide additional stability and strength mostly to the bottom portion of the ear, making it appear as if the bottom matures faster than the top. This added stability from the muscles can give the impression that the lower part of the ear is more developed, even though the cartilage matures largely uniformly throughout the ear.

3. Uniform Hardening Process:

• Cartilage throughout the ear hardens at the same rate. The hardening process is uniform, albeit some cartilage spots throughout the ears may mature at slightly different rates.

• The perceived difference in sturdiness is due to cartilage's volume and support, not the hardening rate.

4. Visual Perception of Sturdiness:

• Since the base has more cartilage, support from muscles, and proximity to the skull, it reaches a visibly sturdy state earlier than the tips.

• The tips, having less cartilage and being farther from the skull, take longer to show the same level of visible sturdiness, even though they harden at the same rate as the base.

• This brings us back to the excessively long show crops with a narrow base. The narrower the base, the less cartilage to support the ear standing. The longer the show crop, the less cartilage there is at the top, as the parts underneath are already narrow while further away from the skull. No number of postings for years will change this anatomical fact. People have stated that when they perceive a slight unwanted deviation at the tips after having the ears untaped for some time after the dog is eight months old, they will return to posting, even if the dog is well over a year old. Anecdotally, they state that the ear improves. The chances that these anecdotes are not more guided by perception than actual improvement are somewhat likely since the little bit of cartilage at the tips is not susceptible to any great changes after ten months of age, even though it may vary and some dogs may show some malleability a couple of months beyond.  However, even if the stated improvement is possible, such nitpicky approaches that extend into well over a year of posting in conformation dogs may be understandable but are certainly questionable for companion dogs.

5. Development Timeline and Indicators
   By around 8-10 months of age, if the ear tips are not standing properly, this may indicate other factors might be at play. These factors could include excessively long show crops, poor cropping jobs, (improper) posting technique, poor genetics, nutritional deficiencies, or other health issues.

6. Genetic Influence:

• Genetic factors significantly influence ear cartilage development. Some dogs, due to their genetic makeup, may have a natural predisposition for softer ear tips or the entire ear pinna.

• Understanding and recognizing the dog's genetic potential is crucial for setting realistic expectations and achieving proper ear standing. Look at the parents' and grandparents' ears to understand what to expect in your puppy. If you have no lineage access to your puppy before purchase, you should stay clear of the breeder.

7. Holistic Factors:

• Nutrition, overall health, and physical activity also play roles in ear cartilage development, although physical activity is more indirectly connected than other factors.

• Ensuring a balanced diet and maintaining good health practices are essential for optimal ear development and hardening, which is simply cartilage maturation that follows a relatively predictable pattern within a certain timeframe independent of the crop's length. When maturation is done, it is done.

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Myth 4: Ears Falling Will Set Back Any Posting Effort For Weeks:

A common concern among Doberman owners is that if the ears fall or droop, it will set back any posting progress for weeks. This idea may have originated from a 23-year-old post on the Doberman Pinscher Club of America’s website that reads, “Always put the ears back up immediately. Remember that for every day the ears are left to flop you have 2 extra weeks of taping ahead of you. GOOD LUCK!,” (Doberman Pinscher Club of America, 2001), at the end of the article. It would appear that this idea may not be entirely incorrect, even though it is questionable how the author determined the one day equals two weeks theory. Moreover, how much or if any of a setback one may experience by a day of flopped ears may depend on when the ears are left flopped in the posting timeline. Today, this quote has been taken to the idea, however, that any short flop at any time will cause significant setbacks. This likely hearsay cascade can be seen in in another author’s (Judy Bohnert’s) cautionary words, in which she states on the same website, “If you have allowed this to happen you have set yourself and your puppy back by at least 2 weeks and have extended the taping procedure by the same amount or more!!!” (Bohnert & McNealy, 2010). As you can see, nine years later, on the same website, by means of two different authors, the “two weeks” (Doberman Pinscher Club of America, 2001) have turned into “at least two weeks… and (you) have extended the taping procedure by the same amount or more”(Bohnert & McNealy, 2010).

Independent of how we arrived at the idea that any short ear flop at any time will cause significant setbacks, this myth is based on the idea that immature cartilage is extremely fragile and that any lapse in posting will undo much if not all, previous progress. While falling ears can be an issue early on in the process because the cartilage is very much immature with minimal bonds, the longer you have consistently posted, the less of a concern the ear dropping becomes.  Here’s why:

Science:

1. Cartilage Resilience: While ear cartilage is more malleable in young dogs, it is not so fragile that brief periods of drooping will cause long-term damage. Elastic cartilage is resilient to pressure and flexible (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022). As such, unless another dog aggressively pulls or chews on your puppy’s ears (Animal Surgical Center of Michigan, n.d), cartilage is resilient and can withstand temporary lapses without (permanent) harm.
   Personal Experience: We frequently hear stories that any droop will set owners' efforts back at least two weeks. We are unsure how this number came about, but we are almost certain that no one conducted any research on this issue to support this argument. It is anecdotal evidence. As previously stated, we do not recommend leaving puppies out of their posts during the first 2.5-3 months of posting unless there is an issue, such as an infection or injury concerning the ear. However, when you tape correctly and use a proper posting technique, such issues usually are no concern. Our two Dobermans never had any issues, infections, or injuries with the technique we used.

2. Short Breaks: Short breaks from posting, especially once the cartilage has begun to strengthen and they can lift their ears entirely, even if they are still somewhat wonky, are unlikely to undo weeks of progress. The cartilage neither reverts to a completely immature state with a brief period of drooping nor will it break that easily from a simple, short-lived drop.

3. Genetic Factors: The primary determinant of ear posture is genetics. Proper taping helps guide and train the cartilage into the desired position, but genetics play the most significant role in whether the ears will stand.

4. One-Day —Two-Week Theory: Logically, this theory would mean that a dog who needs to be out of their posts for one week due to, let's assume, a raw spot on the ears would be set 14 weeks (3.22 months) back in their posting. Given the cartilage maturation schedule as well as general information on cartilage we have provided in this article, this theory appears to be anecdotal evidence, which can be highly unreliable to use for generalizations across a population.

What to Avoid

1. Breaks Too Early: We cannot recommend leaving your Doberman out of the posts for any extended periods of time during the first two and a half months of posting. Use your best judgment. The cartilage is usually too immature overall to stand the ears up for long, but this statement is also based on averages.

• Personal Experience: Even though Persephone could lift her show-cropped ears entirely for a few seconds without ever having been posted, we never let her get a couple of hour breaks from posting during the first 2.5 months. This was not a random decision but guided by multiple factors (see next point)

2. Overnight Breaks: What you do want to avoid, however, is overnight breaks or any unposted periods when the dog falls asleep. The reason is that when the dog, for example, folds the ear and sleeps on it for several hours, it can indeed cause the still malleable cartilage to take injury. Moreover, the cartilage may warm up, so to speak, which may cause problems in the immature bonds that cartilage consists of largely. As such, prolonged exposure to warmth and pressure may cause the cartilage to soften temporarily, making it less likely to maintain an erect position because it can injure immature cartilage. While this issue can be corrected, it can be indeed a setback as cartilage injuries generally take longer to heal than other tissues (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022) and, depending on the seriousness and type of the injury, scar tissue may replace cartilage (Sosnowski et al., 2022; Valieva et al., 2023), which can prevent the ears from standing properly. Arguably, for scar tissue to form, especially when maturation has not finished, one would expect other variables than simply sleeping on the ear to play a part.

• Personal Experience: After the first 1.5 months of posting his ears, our Doberman Sir Francis Drake took a couple of 1.5-hour breaks from posting during the days we would re-post him and wanted him to play at the beach. Persephone started at 2.5 months. These breaks consisted of several hours, but we never left them to sleep on their ears at any time of the day. They both were only posted for 3.5 months total, and both (had) have straight ears and never suffered any setbacks. The biggest reason Persephone started later with the breaks: Unlike Drake, we usually (un)taped her when she was tired and sleepy.  Hence, she would have slept on her ears. We have pictures of Drake being out of his posts at the beach for an hour when he was only posted for 1.5 months. His ears held up, and he put them in airplane mode, but they did not drop. However, at the end of these hour breaks, they would droop to a degree, and we kept posting him for another two months. During these two months, we continued breaks and used our best judgment to increase the break time to test the ears’ maturation and see how secure and resilient the cartilage structure was. Use your best judgment!

3. Massaging: Massaging the ears when re-posting can hurt the maturing cartilage. With maturation, the collagen fibers undergo a process called cross-linking, where chemical bonds form between the collagen molecules (Chicatun et al., 2017). This cross-linking strengthens the cartilage matrix and increases its durability (Chicatun et al., 2017). Mechanical stress can have a negative impact on the cartilage (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022). Synthesized cartilage does not contain blood supply and is kept alive by diffusion (Chang, Marston, & Martin, 2022). As such, when people think they increase the blood flow in the cartilage by massaging the pinna, they are mistaken. However, excessive mechanical stress from massage can likely disrupt the cellular structure and function by breaking up the somewhat weak bonds that have formed during the maturation process, so to speak. Although some mechanical stress may also aid the healing and replacement of damaged cartilage with new cartilage (Chicatun et al., 2017), heat and mechanical stress on immature cartilage could break the bonds and trigger an inflammatory response, which may be interrelated. This inflammation can cause further damage to the cartilage tissue, exacerbating the problem and delaying maturation due to breaking up the bonds. Overall, we do not recommend massaging the maturing ear cartilage as the risks likely outweigh any supposed benefits.

• Personal Experience: We never massaged the ears of our two Dobermans. They were only posted for 3.5 months, and both (had) straight ears. Not massaging the ears did not set us back, and we knew about the potential issues that come with massaging the ears. Neither our breeder nor his dog handler ever recommended ear massaging, and they have a combined 65 years of breeding Dobermans under their belts. This statement, however, is not to be confused with stretching the ears during the healing process of the stitches. Failure to stretch the ears (with a focus on the edges) may cause the edges to crease. Moreover, stretching the ears when posting is also necessary and is not the same as massaging.

Practical Considerations:

1. Consistent Effort: While consistency in taping is essential during the critical developmental period, minor lapses should not cause significant setbacks. Owners should focus on maintaining a regular posting schedule but not be overly concerned about occasional short breaks.

2. Monitoring and Adjustment: Owners can monitor the ears' progress and adjust the posting schedule as needed. If the ears show signs of weakening, resuming posting promptly can help reinforce the desired posture.

The Reality of Prolonged Ear Posting

Unnecessary Extended Posting:

Prolonged ear posting, sometimes recommended up to 1-2 years, is often unnecessary. Many owners fear that the ears will fall if not continuously posted, leading to extended taping periods. However, if the ears are already standing reliably, further posting may not provide significant benefits.

1. Quality of Life: Dobermans have an average lifespan of about nine years. Posting ears for 1-2 years means subjecting the dog to taping for a significant portion of their life—about one-ninth to one-fifth of their total lifespan. This extended period can impact the dog's comfort and quality of life. Considering that a 1-year-old Doberman is roughly equivalent to a 15-year-old human, and a 2-year-old Doberman is about 24 in human years, it's clear that extended posting is a significant part of their lives. While it may be true that many Dobermans get used to the posts in their ears, that does not necessarily mean they are not bothered by them. The argument that they show little signs of being bothered may mean little since Dobermans are known not to show many overt signs of pain, discomfort, and illness, often until they are almost dead, such as in many cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

2. Minor Adjustments: Often, owners become fixated on achieving perfectly straight ears, leading to unnecessary additional posting. These minor adjustments might not significantly alter the ear's appearance and may not be fair to the dog.

Discomfort and Ethical Considerations:

1. Use of Backer Rod: Many ear-taping techniques involve inserting a backer rod into the bell of the ear. While this method can be effective, it can also be uncomfortable for the dog, especially if used for prolonged periods. (Disclaimer: Neither of our Dobermans was posted with Backer Rod or Cable Ties. We are not in favor of these posting techniques for a multitude of reasons) Update: Since we released this blog post, we have found one of Persephone’s siblings on social media. The person who owns that female Doberman started out with the breeder’s recommended posting method that we used (plus an addition that stems from his go-to taping method from 12 years ago) but immediately switched to backer rods. In comparison, she states that Persephone’s sibling's tips have not stood at nine months old and still flop over. While other factors than the posting method may have influenced this outcome, genetics may be the least likely given that Persephone’s ears stood reliably without flopping tips at six months of age).

2. Hearing Implications: The use of backer rods inserted into the bell may also affect the dog's hearing over time. Prolonged exposure to muffled sounds can potentially lead to hearing issues or discomfort. Human research has shown that chronic use of bilateral hearing aids can lead to an increase in ear infections by way of an alteration of the ear canal flora (Orji, O Onyero, & Agbo, 2014) and, hence, potential hearing issues over time (Moriello, 2018). Given the anatomical and functional similarities in the ear structures, these principles can be cautiously extrapolated to dogs, especially because dogs, unlike hearing aid users, do not take out the posts overnight. In fact, most of the time, the recommendation is to change the posts every four days (96 hours). This is, on average, 32 hours (1/3rd) longer than someone with hearing aids if they only took them out at night for 8 hours. Moreover, the dog's ear canal is designed to capture and direct sound waves efficiently, and any obstruction, like a backer rod, can interfere with this natural process.

3. Comparative Discomfort: Whether you are using full or half posts, prolonged taping can be likened to a child wearing earmuffs for years. Although the latter may be less bothersome to most dogs, just as a child would find such an experience uncomfortable and restrictive, many Dobermans show signs of discomfort with prolonged ear posting. This can occur at the beginning, the end, or throughout the taping process. While a few months are usually necessary to achieve erect ears (depending on the length of the crop), the excessive posting length is likely unnecessary for most dogs.

Considerations for Companion Dogs:

Most Doberman owners have companion- not conformation dogs. For companion dogs, the emphasis should be on the dog's well-being and comfort rather than striving for perfection in ear posture. That is not to say that conformation dog owners are not concerned for the wellbeing of their dogs. Our experience is quite the opposite. However, given what is on the line for them and the connected near perfection needed to be successful, some discomfort may not cause them to stop the ear posting. Rather, they may find ways to help alleviate the discomfort in exchange for an attempt to produce the straightest ears possible.

1. Balanced Approach: If the ears are standing well and the dog is comfortable, it may be time to consider ending the taping process. Evaluate whether the additional taping is truly necessary or if it's driven by an unrealistic standard.

2. Veterinary Guidance: Consult with a veterinarian experienced in ear cropping and taping to assess the dog's ears. Their professional opinion can provide a balanced perspective on whether continued taping is necessary.

Stop The Fear

The myths surrounding Doberman ear taping—such as teething causing ears to fall and ears falling during the first heat cycle—are not supported by scientific evidence. Prolonged ear posting, often recommended for up to 1-2 years, is usually unnecessary and can impact the dog's quality of life.

Most owners should focus on the dog's overall well-being rather than achieving minor cosmetic adjustments. By understanding the science behind ear taping and prioritizing the dog's comfort, owners can make informed decisions that benefit their Dobermans' health and happiness. It is time to stop the fear and use common sense, evidence, and not myths to guide us through responsible Doberman ownership. Ear cropping is a highly controversial topic, and the excessive posting times some people subject their Dobermans to are guided by myths and not by facts. One of the facts we discussed repeatedly is genetics, which seems to be a topic many people like to overlook or avoid. Research tells us that the reality is that many Dobermans may have compromised genetics overall. It would appear that this situation may extend to the ears in some cases, whereas, in other cases, other factors may play a role if the ears do not stand. However, while interrelated, not standing ears is a different issue we may consider in a different blog article.

While the information in this article may not be exhaustive, we hope it equips you with the necessary in-depth insights you need to judge the information on the internet and social media better. Do not act out of fear induced by people who try to scare you into prolonged posting if your dog’s ears have already been standing for a week or two.

In the worst-case scenario, you will need to re-post the ears if they show weakness. If they drop and the dog does not put them up even when alerted (multiple times over different situations), you should not let them drop for long and retape them relatively fast to avoid any cartilage injury by sleeping on them. Not being able to lift them is a sign that the cartilage is likely still too weak to stop posting.

However, remember, it takes quite a bit to damage mature ear cartilage, and a simple drooping will not set you back weeks or months. As such, do not overreact. Dobermans naturally put their ears down for brief or even longer periods. Some do more than others. This airplane mode, even with a bit of a downward bend, does not indicate that the cartilage in their ears has disappeared or weakened. Most of the time, they just do it, are tired, in a mood, or not feeling well.

Do not let strangers on the internet tell you your dog’s ears deviate by a millimeter from their standards. Even though we advocate for proper posting to achieve the best results, since we already subjected them to the procedure (with a fair share of criticism), your dog’s health and happiness are more important than any random beauty standard opinion online. Stay calm and make an informed decision for the sake of your furry family member.

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We understand that some of our readers may find this information contradicts their beliefs or personal experiences. We invite those people to engage in meaningful conversation and offer their evidence-supported arguments. Please remember that individual cases may vary for a multitude of reasons. This article is about averages, not exceptions, outliers, or any specific case.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other healthcare professional. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease or prescribe any medication or other treatment. Always consult with your veterinarian or other qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your pet's healthcare regimen, especially if they have or suspect they may have a health problem. The author and publisher of this article are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any suggestions, products, or procedures mentioned in this article. The use of this information is at the reader's discretion and risk.

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