Ear Taping:
According to the Breed Standard All Hairless Chinese Crested’s MUST have standing (erect) ears; with Powderpuffs on the other hand you can chose to let the ears go down or “drop” (except for the United States where their breed standard calls for standing ears). “fringing” or the amount of hair left on the ear is a matter of personal preference for the owner and can vary from neatly close cropped to free flowing and regal. (See below for some examples)
for your convienienceDepending on the line (family history) of Chinese Crested that you have, ears stand up differently and at different times. A good rule of thumb however is that English lines with their slightly bigger size stand up slower and may require more assistance than American lines whose ears tend to be naturally smaller with thicker, stiffer cartilage. In most cases the ears will initially stand naturally on very young puppies with the ear gradually dropping as the weight of the growing hair pulls it down. Nevertheless, If you are planning to show your Hairless Crested, you must follow up and make sure their ears stand.
There are many ways of taping Crested ears with methods varying from breeder to breeder; again based on the size and shape of the ear. A general method is included via the link below for your convienience. This is a relatively simple and painless process. Once the dogs get used to the new sensation, it really is no big deal for them other than the itchiness for the first couple of hours. Your breeder can direct you on their preferred method and should be willing to provide extra assistance if necessary until your completely comfortable with tapping the ears yourself. It can be tricky at first to find the balance between too loose (falling off during puppy play) and too tight (leading to discomfort and rubbing). Most techniques call for a rest period between applications of your support method and this must be strictly adhered to.
There are many ways of taping Crested ears with methods varying from breeder to breeder; again based on the size and shape of the ear. A general method is included via the link below for your convienience. This is a relatively simple and painless process. Once the dogs get used to the new sensation, it really is no big deal for them other than the itchiness for the first couple of hours. Your breeder can direct you on their preferred method and should be willing to provide extra assistance if necessary until your completely comfortable with tapping the ears yourself. It can be tricky at first to find the balance between too loose (falling off during puppy play) and too tight (leading to discomfort and rubbing). Most techniques call for a rest period between applications of your support method and this must be strictly adhered to.
Remember: All Ear Tapping methods and requirments should be discussed and arranged in advance with your breeder prior to purchasing your puppy.
Generally though it’s better to start while the puppy is still young and many breeders may have already begun this process prior to you purchasing your puppy. If not; you don't want to wait too long to start taping, as delay can sometimes lead to the ear taking a “fold” which is almost like Whippets or Italian Greyhounds. These types of ears are known as “half-mast” and are not permissible in the show standard. On occasions, some Cresteds may also end up with a mixed bag of ear positions; such as one ear up and one ear down or half-mast. This is a result of new owners deciding to no longer tape the ears after the process has already begun; perhaps finding it a bit tricky or for some reason feeling sorry for their dogs. For a pet or companion dog this is inconsequential; it all comes down to personal preferences.
Ear Tapping should continue until the ear stands up perfectly by itself, then off and on as necessary for the first year. Something worth mentioning; during teething, you may find the ears are going soft or down again even if the ears have been standing for a while. You may have to redo a temporary "touch up" taping
Roughly around a year old the ears “set” as the ear cartilage permanently hardens. Past this point it is virtually impossible to correct the ear shape. As Such it is recommended that you chose how you want your crested ears to look early on and stick to it!
Diet can also be a factor in helping your Cresteds ear “Set” fully erect. A well-known herbal remedy is to increase their intake of fish oils such as salmon/cod liver or tasty dried chews like pig’s ears or chicken feet any of which have a number of helpful vitamins and nutrients which will help to strengthen the ear cartilage.
Ear Tapping should continue until the ear stands up perfectly by itself, then off and on as necessary for the first year. Something worth mentioning; during teething, you may find the ears are going soft or down again even if the ears have been standing for a while. You may have to redo a temporary "touch up" taping
Roughly around a year old the ears “set” as the ear cartilage permanently hardens. Past this point it is virtually impossible to correct the ear shape. As Such it is recommended that you chose how you want your crested ears to look early on and stick to it!
Diet can also be a factor in helping your Cresteds ear “Set” fully erect. A well-known herbal remedy is to increase their intake of fish oils such as salmon/cod liver or tasty dried chews like pig’s ears or chicken feet any of which have a number of helpful vitamins and nutrients which will help to strengthen the ear cartilage.
Should you have any questions in relation to Ear Tapping
either for information or assistance,
Please do not hesitate to contact the AICCA via the Link Below:
either for information or assistance,
Please do not hesitate to contact the AICCA via the Link Below: