Why Are My American Staffordshire Terrier Puppy’s Ears Standing Up?

About rose ears, cartilage, ear taping and nearly forty years of (taping) experience at Old Hickory.

Anyone with an American Staffordshire Terrier puppy at home will notice that an enormous amount changes during those first few months. It is not just the body, muscles and head that develop; the ears can also change position from one day to the next. One week a puppy has two beautiful rose ears, and a week later one ear suddenly stands upright. Sometimes even both ears. And perhaps the most striking thing of all: one day the ears sit beautifully, while the next day they are pointing in every direction again.

I regularly get questions about this, especially from owners wondering whether the ears will eventually settle into the right position and whether taping them is worthwhile. Over all those years, I have watched plenty of puppies grow up, taped plenty of ears and also learned when taping is probably unlikely to achieve much anymore. And, of course, I have heard plenty of tall tales along the way. With this article, I want to explain a little about how the ears develop, the different ways of taping them and, above all, my own experiences with this.

What Should an American Staffordshire Terrier’s Ears Look Like?

According to the official American Staffordshire Terrier breed standard, the ears should be set high. They may be cropped, but even so, uncropped ears are preferred! With natural, uncropped ears, two different ear positions are allowed: the rose ear and the so-called half-prick ear. With a rose ear, the ear folds backwards and to the side, exposing part of the inside. This, of course, gives the American Staffordshire Terrier its characteristic appearance. With a half-prick ear, or semi-erect ear, the lower part stands upright while the tip folds forwards.

Both ear positions are correct according to the breed standard. So no preference is expressed for rose ears over half-prick ears. Although I have to say that I can count the dogs I have seen with correct half-prick ears on the fingers of one hand. Fully dropped ears are undesirable according to the breed standard. Fully erect ears are likewise not among the desired ear positions described.

Personally, I think a lovely rose ear looks particularly attractive on an American Staffordshire Terrier. In my opinion, it contributes to the head’s correct expression. And cropped ears?! It is just that cropping is no longer allowed in most countries, but for many people it is still their absolute preference. The expression is completely different, and honestly, I believe that cropping causes the muscles on the head to be used differently, producing a different expression from that of an uncropped dog. But let’s make one thing clear: the position of the ears, and whether they are cropped or uncropped, naturally says nothing about the dog’s temperament or health.

Why Do an Amstaff Puppy’s Ears Suddenly Stand Up?

A young American Staffordshire Terrier’s ears are still very much developing. The outer ear consists mainly of elastic cartilage covered with skin. As a puppy grows, the shape, size and firmness of that cartilage change. Not every puppy has the same ears, even within the same litter. One puppy has small, firm ears with relatively thick cartilage. Another has somewhat larger, lighter ears with supple cartilage. And in my experience, that very difference plays an important role when we talk about taping.

An ear that naturally almost sits as a rose ear and only needs a little support is a very different matter from a small, firm ear that stands completely upright. With the latter, I am much more likely to question whether taping is even worthwhile anymore. That is why I never look solely at the puppy’s age. Above all, I look at the ear itself. How big is it? How firm is the cartilage? Where is the natural fold? And how much support (read “taping”) is actually needed to get the ear to sit correctly? For me, these are important questions before deciding whether taping is worthwhile.

The Ears During Teething

One period when the ears often change is during teething. This usually starts at around three to four months of age and is generally largely over by six to seven months. It is during this very period that you regularly see both ears sitting nicely one day, only for one ear to suddenly stand up the next. In my view, this also has to do with the growth of the skull.

Whether teething directly affects ear position has not been scientifically demonstrated. This period does, however, coincide with a phase in which the puppy is developing rapidly physically. So with a puppy of four or five months, I would not immediately worry if an ear suddenly stands up. It certainly does not automatically mean that this ear position is permanent.

Can You Tape an American Staffordshire Terrier’s Ears?

Yes, breeders have been taping ears for many years. The aim is to support the ear in the desired position as it grows, so that it eventually sits as a rose ear on its own. Whether that ultimately succeeds depends on several factors.

Over the years, I have seen many different ears. Some were relatively easy to get into the desired position, while others stood upright again despite prolonged taping. What I find particularly important here is consistency. If you decide to tape the ears, you need to do it properly from the start. Carefully, using the correct method and regularly checking the position of the ears and the skin. An ear that is repeatedly secured incorrectly gains little from all that taping.

If the right tape is applied properly and carefully, experience has taught me that in nine out of ten cases it can stay in place until it falls off by itself. Sometimes that can take several weeks. Of course, this depends on the puppy or dog. If the dog has an allergic reaction, for example, the tape should be removed immediately. Fortunately, I have never had to experience this myself. But again, this is how I do it. And there are certainly many roads that lead to Rome.

At the same time, there is no point in continuing endlessly when you notice that the shape and firmness of the cartilage are barely responding. The real skill is being able to assess each individual ear properly. And that is something you mainly learn through experience.

Different Ear-Taping Techniques

Over the years, I have used different ways of taping. The method I use depends on the ear’s natural position, its size and the firmness of the cartilage. For convenience, I personally distinguish between two techniques.

1. Regular Taping

With this method, the fold inside the ear is first secured, and then the ear is held in the desired position with tape wrapped around it. The aim is to support the natural fold so that the ear sits nicely as a rose ear. For many ears, this relatively simple way of taping is enough, especially when the ear already tends to sit correctly and only needs a small adjustment.

2. So-Called Helmet Taping

This is a more extensive way of taping, which I call helmet taping for convenience. You first use option 1: the ear is taped in the “regular” way, after which the tips of both ears are joined together under the chin. This provides more extensive support for the entire ear, right down to its base.

I use this technique in certain cases when regular taping does not provide enough support. Depending on how the ear naturally sits, I use one of the two techniques or a combination of them. It is important to stress here that this kind of taping must not be too tight, must not cause pressure sores and must not interfere with the dog’s eating, drinking, breathing or normal movements. A connection under the chin in particular requires extra care and checking.

Sometimes people also recommend taping a small counterweight, such as a coin, into the tip of the ear. In my firm opinion, this is completely pointless and even counterproductive. In 99 out of 100 cases, that is not the part of the ear that needs to be secured at all. In fact, I am convinced that this actually activates certain muscles at the base of the ear, with the result that the ear often ends up standing even more upright. So you achieve precisely the opposite of what you actually want.

The fact that a particular technique seems to work well for one dog does not mean it is suitable for every puppy. Ear taping is not an exact science. There is little research into the lasting results of these techniques. My experiences are therefore mainly based on the dogs I have bred and guided myself over the years.

Up to What Age Is Ear Taping Worthwhile?

This is probably the question I get asked most often. People quite often say that taping ears is of little use after six months of age. Based on my own experiences, I do not entirely agree.

I have had American Staffordshire Terriers whose ears I taped right up to the age of one year, and whose ears eventually did settle beautifully into rose ears.

Of course, that does not mean it works with every dog. But again, consistent and proper taping is a must! It does show, however, that you cannot simply give a fixed age at which taping becomes completely pointless. I prefer to look at the shape and firmness of the cartilage. In my opinion, a relatively large, supple ear that already sits beautifully as a rose ear with only a very small adjustment may still have a chance at a later age.

A small ear with particularly firm cartilage that stands completely upright is a different matter. In that case, I am much more inclined to say that further taping is probably unlikely to achieve much. So age is important, but it is certainly not the only thing I consider. Incidentally, it has not been scientifically established that prolonged taping was the reason these ears eventually settled into the correct position. Natural development may also have played a part. It therefore remains important to keep expectations realistic.

But Again, Consistent Taping: Perhaps the Most Important Thing of All!

If there is one thing I have learned over all those years, it is that you need to work carefully and consistently when taping. To me, being consistent does not mean you have to keep taping without a break. It means consciously choosing a method and applying it carefully.

The first time I tape a puppy’s ears, I usually do it late in the evening, just before they go to sleep. I often have a good long play with them first, so that they are tired and do not pay too much attention to the tape afterwards. They then usually fall asleep quickly, and by the following morning they are often completely used to it. If, on the other hand, you do it in the morning when they have just woken up and are full of energy, they may start obsessively scratching at their ears to get the tape off.

I also make sure that two puppies or dogs are never together if one or both have their ears taped. This is because dogs will often do everything they can to pull the tape off each other. With all the consequences that entails.

Which Ears Are Difficult to Correct?

Personally, I find this perhaps the most interesting part of the whole story. Not every ear is the same. I have seen ears that were relatively large, felt very supple and sat beautifully as rose ears with barely any support. But I have also seen small, firm ears that naturally wanted to stand upright and would have required quite a lot of force to get them into a different position.

In such a case, you have to ask yourself whether taping is still worthwhile. An ear with cartilage that is already particularly firm and hardly any natural fold will generally be harder to influence. By contrast, in my experience, a large, light ear with supple cartilage, which already almost sits correctly, may offer a more favourable starting point.

The position of the fold also plays a role. Sometimes the fold is just not quite in the right place. With other ears, the desired fold is almost completely absent. That is why I think it is important not to simply apply one standard method to every puppy. First, you need to understand why the ear sits the way it does.

What If Only One Ear Stands Up?

That happens regularly. Some puppies have two ears that sit exactly the same way, while others have one beautiful rose ear and another that stands upright. That can look quite strange, especially when one ear is completely erect. My advice is to tape both ears anyway!

Does Vitamin C Affect Ear Position?

Another subject regularly discussed among breeders is giving vitamin C while taping ears. Tall tales! The thinking behind this is that vitamin C plays an important role in the formation of collagen, an important component of connective tissue and cartilage. That is correct.

But the question, of course, is whether extra vitamin C actually helps an ear to sit better as a rose ear. And there is no convincing scientific evidence for that.

I know the stories about vitamin C capsules and liquid vitamin C in combination with ear taping, but I would not claim that this has a demonstrably positive effect on the eventual ear position.

Does It Matter If the Ears Ultimately Stay Upright?

No, certainly not when we are talking about the dog’s health and ability to function. An American Staffordshire Terrier with upright ears is no less healthy, no less intelligent and no less suitable as a family dog. For the show world, of course, things are a little more nuanced. There, a dog is judged against the official breed standard, and the ears form part of the overall picture.

But of course, the American Staffordshire Terrier is much more than just a pair of ears. Temperament, conformation, movement, health and the other general characteristics typical of the breed are at least as important.

Need Help Taping Your Amstaff’s Ears?

I can well understand that owners sometimes do not know what to do with their puppy’s ears. Should you start taping? Is it already too late? Which method of taping is most suitable? And is taping your dog’s ears actually still worthwhile? These are all understandable questions.

If you would like photos, videos or additional information about ear taping, I would be more than happy to send them to you. If I can help someone a little further with my many years of experience, I am glad to do so.

Aaaah, almost forgot… And perhaps the most important thing of all: which tape do we use? Very simple. We use standard Leukoplast, 1.25 centimetres wide, on a 5-metre roll. The familiar red-and-white roll. No second-tier brand, no own brand. Just standard Leukoplast!

Do not use special tape for sensitive skin or anything like that either. My experience with it is that you tape the ears neatly, only for the tape to fall off again ten minutes later. That is obviously no use at all.

We have been using regular Leukoplast for years and are extremely happy with it.

So as far as I am concerned: standard Leukoplast sticks best and stays on longest!

Finally

And above all, do not forget that an American Staffordshire Terrier is much more than its ears. Ultimately, a healthy, well-balanced dog with a good temperament remains the most important thing.