Cute, fluffy, and downright adorable.
These are only a few words you could use to describe your Corgi!
If you have one, you know their ears are the most noticeable part of their body.
Stand at 6 feet tall!
Just kidding. But I might as well say that.
In comparison to their cute little chonky bodies, their ears are huge!
And on top of that, they’re designed to stand.
But there are some Corgis whose ears haven’t stood up just yet…
Are you worried about your pooch’s ears?
Read on to learn:
- 9 reasons why your Corgi has floppy ears.
- Whether or not you should worry about this.
- 7 tips on how to make your Corgi’s ears stand up.
- And a whole lot more…
When do Corgis’ ears stand up?
Corgis’ ears stand up when they’re at around 8 weeks old. Their ears will then continue to grow for 1 year and completely stop by then. Young Corgis however will have floppy ears that drop. As they grow older, their ears also start to stand up. But there are a few whose ears stay floppy.
9 reasons why you have a Corgi with floppy ears
“I’ve heard that Corgis are supposed to have pointy ears… what’s wrong with my baby?”
Don’t worry, you’re not alone in this.
In order for Corgis to meet the standard, they’re expected to have a certain shape of their ears.
According to the official standard, as stated by the AKC, Corgis’ ears should be firm, erect, of medium size, and tapering to a rounded point.
That’s why I understand if you, as a fur parent, would get a little bit worried if your pooch’s ears doesn’t fit this.
Let’s break down possible reasons why your pooch’s ears haven’t gone up yet!
#1: They’re still too young
We all love seeing our pups grow.
I, for one, enjoy feeding them and watching them develop skills.
It’s no surprise that most fur parents would also want their pooches to grow into full-sized babies.
Or in the case of Corgis, kinda full-sized. For example, most Corgis stand at 10-12 inches (25 to 30 cm.) according to the AKC!
They’re small is what I’m getting at. But they’re sooo cute!
And part of the reason why Corgis are cute are their ears.
However, Corgi ears need some time growing, too.
By the time they’re born up until around their second month, their ears would be floppy and just be droopy all the time.
They haven’t had the time to develop yet.
It’s like a human baby who doesn’t have the strength and control to keep their head upright.
Just be patient – beautiful things take a little time to grow.
#2: They’re still teething
Another possible reason why your Corgi’s ears haven’t grown to their size and shape yet is because they’re still teething.
When your dog is teething, most of the nutrients of their body are distributed unevenly.
Their body is focusing on their teething. And this can result in a lack of nutrients for their ears’ growth.
Don’t fret – this is normal.
“Well, how long will it take?”
Dogs’ teething period usually takes 6 months, according to the AKC.
While in this period, they will be feeling a bit of discomfort.
You may not be able to remove their feeling of uneasiness. But there are a few steps you can do to alleviate the pain.
One way you can help is to give them safe toys they can chew on.
Make sure also that their teeth are falling out.
Well, they can also accidentally swallow their teeth, too. But it’s common in small puppies, so no need to ring the alarm.
However, if you notice that their teeth aren’t falling out, you may need to seek professional medical help.
#3: Their ears have been too exposed to touch
Dogs are fun to be with.
Any person from any age would love to come up to one, talk to them, play with them, and pet them.
Well, except for those who have a fear of dogs.
But for the rest of us, dogs are an unlimited source of joy!
Just to see them running towards you with a big smile and bright eyes makes you love the world a little bit more.
I wonder if Louis Armstrong was thinking of a dog when he was writing “What A Wonderful World”.
It would make sense.
However, there can be negative consequences to Corgis if we constantly play with them.
Their ears, especially during their growing days, are highly sensitive and can be prone to misshaping.
What could happen is that you or someone else could pet your fur baby’s ears in a downward motion.
What this does is inhibit the natural pattern of growth of their ears.
It wouldn’t be as immediate as one would think, but repetitive pets in this way can have negative effects on their ears.
#4: Their meals lack certain nutrients
Meals are very important for your dog’s health.
Even dogs remember when feeding time is.
Have you experienced being woken up by your pooch in the middle of your nap?
They’d sometimes jump up on you and stand over you as if to say, “Hey, hooman! I is hunger! Feed pls.”
Aside from their bodies telling them whenever they’re hungry, dogs are also creatures of habit.
If your pooch is always getting hungry, you need to check that their diet is enough for their age, size, and activity levels.
And more to the amount of food they eat, it’s also important to check the quality of food they eat.
There should be a healthy balance of nutrients in their meals.
It affects their growth and this includes their ears.
If your Corgi’s ears aren’t growing as they’re supposed to, and they’re already of age, their cartilages might be weak.
Cartilages are connective tissues that can be found on ears and joints.
Since ears are mostly made of cartilage, having weak ones will stop them from having pointy and firm ears.
#5: It’s starting to stand up – you just didn’t notice
Yep, sometimes, it’s that simple – it started to stand up, you just weren’t able to see a huge difference.
And that’s okay!
We love to spend time with our pooch.
So much so that we have memorized the smell of their breath.
Or the sound of their footsteps when they’re hurrying to ask you for a treat.
And it could be because of all that time spent together that you didn’t notice the small changes!
This phenomenon is called change blindness.
It’s when we don’t see the minor differences in the visual stimulation introduced to us.
Corgis’ ears grow in small increments.
They’re not like Jack’s magic beans that sprout overnight and reach the skies.
Give it time – your pooch’s towering ears will rise.
#6: They’re part of the Corgis whose ears just won’t stand
As mentioned, having firm, standing, tapered, and having a rounded is the standard ear shape of Corgis.
It’s just a part of their DNA to have this type of ear shape.
However, your pooch might be one of the very few Corgis whose ears can’t stand up.
According to the AKC, there are some Corgis who will have faulty ears.
These are the ones who have button, rose, or drop ears.
It might be that they aren’t purebred Corgis.
But don’t worry – this rarely happens.
And if so, would it really matter?
We love our pooches unconditionally!
#7: You may have used the wrong techniques to make it stand
There are fur parents who don’t have access to proper information when it comes to helping their Corgi’s ears stand.
Before trying anything that involves your dog’s ears, always consult your vet if it’s healthy for them.
Using the wrong techniques in making your dogs’ ears stand may affect their growth negatively.
Instead of helping it become pointy, rounded, and stiff, it might become floppy.
Some might even develop infections and injuries.
#8: Bites and rough play with other dogs and pets
Your Corgi is a very energetic dog and loves to play around.
They may even make new friends at your local park.
Who knows, maybe they’re even the center of attention there?
Maybe you got a little chonky celebrity!
I’m telling you right now, Chris Hemsworth has got nothing on your bay poochie.
However, you’ll never know the kind of friends your Corgi will make.
There could be some aggressive dogs and other pets that your dog will interact with.
Some playmates might bite too hard on your dog’s ears causing them to have wounds, injuries, and other ear-related problems.
This could also inhibit the proper growth of their firm ears.
You might also like: 13 Weird Reasons Why Dogs Lick Other Dogs’ Ears
#9: There might be some injuries and other illnesses involved
“Wait, dogs can have illnesses that affect their ears’ growth?”
You bet!
Your dog’s ears are very susceptible to diseases.
Bacteria and other foreign elements have easy access to it.
If it also has internal wounds, it can be difficult to locate and cure.
Fungal infections and parasites may also come into play.
We don’t want our pooch to have injuries in their ears, right?
“Of course, I want them to be healthy!”
Here are the most common issues you need to look out for:
Otitis
An inflammation causes otitis in the ears and it can happen to your Corgi, too.
The inflammation is mainly caused by infections due to bacteria.
What usually happens is that the bacteria enter your dogs’ ears. Unfortunately, it can also affect other parts of their face.
If you see that your fur baby scratches their ears more than usual, you need to have them checked by a vet.
Aggressively shaking their head can also be a sign of otitis.
Otitis can occur in different parts of your dog’s ears.
- External otitis.
- Internal otitis.
- Otitis media (occurs in the middle part of their ears).
You might also like: Why Is My Dog So Calm (All Of A Sudden)? 11 Weird Reasons
Pus
Another cause of your fur baby’s ear infection is the presence of pus in an open wound.
If left uncleaned, even small cuts can become big trouble.
Make sure that your dog doesn’t have any lesions that could be infected.
Thoroughly check their ears both outside and inside to ensure that they stay healthy.
Ticks and mites
One thing that could potentially hinder your Corgi’s ears’ growth is ticks and mites.
Well, they don’t have an actual direct impact.
But when your fur baby has ticks and mites in their ears, what happens?
…They scratch that thing till eternity!
Frequent touching of their ears can inhibit their proper growth.
Keep your dogs free of parasites.
Make sure that their environment is free of anything that can cause them to scratch their ears endlessly.
Read next: Why does my dog act like something is biting her?
7 tips to help your Corgi’s ears stand up
#1: Give them food supplements
As mentioned earlier, the quality of food and diet can affect your dog’s ears.
Well, not just their ears, but their growth in general.
Ears are mostly made of cartilage and can only stand up if they’re well-maintained.
This includes giving them enough nutrients that support its growth.
Adding glucosamine supplements in their meals can help them improve their joints and cartilages.
This can help their growth in general.
Glucosamine may also provide them
Make sure that you consult your local vet before purchasing these supplements.
Also, ensure that you’re giving them the correct dosage.
#2: Keep an eye out during playtime
As mentioned, rough play can hurt your Corgi’s ears.
Whenever you go out to the doggie park, keep your pooch away from aggressive dogs and rough players.
Overexcited canines can accidentally – or willingly bite and harm your fur baby’s ear.
Physically active pets can be rough when it comes to playing.
I mean, you’ve seen how some dogs can be, right?
Jumping up and down on the couch.
Running around like crazy.
Play biting anything.
And if your Corgi plays with them, their ears might be pushed or stretched in a harmful way.
“What can I do to keep them from being roughhoused?”
Be present during playtimes
Your presence alone can help keep your Corgi from being trampled.
As a fur parent, you can train your pooches to listen to you when you notice them being excessively active.
Kinda like a referee during their playtimes.
If you see them or other dogs being too rough, give them verbal cues.
A stern “no” or “stop” should be enough if they’re well-trained dogs. If that doesn’t work, remove your Corgi from the situation immediately.
Provide individual spaces for your pets
After stopping the roughhouse playing, tell your pets to go to their own spots.
It’s important for dogs to have their own corner of the house to rest in.
Whenever they get tired or just want to stay away from others in general, a safe and cozy spot will help them.
One way you can do this is to assign each pet one room in the house.
For example, your Corgi can stay in your room (if you allow pets inside).
The other pets can stay in the living room.
#3: Be gentle when petting your Corgi
Rough play with other pets isn’t the only reason your pooch’s ears won’t grow properly.
Any motion that will push their ears down should be avoided.
I know, I know…
We get excited when we see them…
They run up to us with wide smiles.
Their tails wagging as fast as they can.
As they reach you, you can’t stop yourself from hugging them tight and…
Petting their head!
I can’t blame you, really. I do this, too!
But if your fur baby is a Corgi, you need to watch out.
If you pet their ears aggressively, they might not stand up.
If their ears do grow, it could become floppy – we don’t want that, right?
#4: Tape their ears
You could try taping your Corgi’s ears.
It’s kinda like wire training a bonsai.
Meaning, it’s more effective to do it while they’re still young.
As you may recall, your dog’s ears are made of cartilage.
The good thing here is cartilage is easily bent and very compliant.
Meaning it can copy the shape you put it in.
What I mean is you can train your Corgi’s ears to follow a form using tape.
Most people do this by the time their Corgis reach 8-10 weeks old.
Especially when it doesn’t show any signs of standing up.
“Awesome! How do I do it, then?”
Here’s a quick video you can watch:
Please remember that this isn’t a surefire solution.
Taping your dog’s ears will only help with the growth.
Before you proceed: Make sure that the tape you use is safe for dogs. It shouldn’t stick to their fur and pull on them. If your pooch feels pain because of the tape, they might not let you do it again.
#5: Have your Corgi’s ears cleaned
This is related to tip #4.
And is highly important!
When taping your pooch’s ears, the tape has to stay for a long time.
If their ears aren’t cleaned properly, bacterial infections can form.
Ticks and mites can also continue to breed in their ears if not removed prior to taping.
Pro tip: Before putting the tape on, make sure your pooch is comfortable with the material. Let them smell it, feel it, and play with it. If they’re not introduced to the tape, they might not like it.
Because of their dislike, they could scratch it off which will cause further damage to their ears’ growth.
#6: Always keep your area free from parasites
As I previously mentioned, parasites can affect the growth of your pooch’s ears.
They can live in the area near their ears which causes them to scratch or shake their head.
All these aggressive motions can stop your Corgi from having pointy ears.
“What do you recommend I do?”
Use vet-approved sprays
Mites and ticks can be kept away from your dog with the use of sprays.
Spray them around your house.
Like the sofa, rugs, carpets, and other items in the house that have a hairy texture.
It can also help if you spray it on your doors and windows to keep them from entering your home.
Make sure that these don’t contain anything that can hurt your pooch.
Always ask for the opinion of your vet.
Use Anti Flea Products on your dog’s neck
There are several items you can purchase to help your pooch.
Treating them ahead of time would be best in keeping parasites away from them.
In looking for anti-flea products, make sure that they are vet-approved.
It would also help if it is waterproof so your pooch stays protected even if it rains.
A few drops of Frontline Plus can be a great help to keep flea eggs away from your fur baby.
Keep off the grass
This is what you’re supposed to say to the ticks in your backyard.
You see, parasites like them thrive in bushes and tall grass.
Keep them away from your dog’s playground!
They can quickly jump onto your dog’s fur once they’re out in the yard.
Trim the grass, bushes, and other plants in your surroundings.
You can also use disinfectants.
Make sure that you consult your vet first.
These chemicals may be harmful to your pooch.
If you can find ones that are dog-friendly, the better!
General cleaning
Sweeping and turning your household upside down to clean it isn’t that bad of an idea!
If you have fur babies, it’s best to do a general cleaning of your house at least once a month.
Make sure that all corners are cleaned.
Focus on the areas where your fur babies are staying most of the time.
Wash their beds frequently and as much as possible, let it dry under the sun.
#7: Just wait for it!
Good things come to those who wait!
Don’t worry.
Your dog’s ears could only be taking their time to grow.
Look, Corgis naturally have pointy ears.
Nature already took care of that.
Sometimes all you gotta do is wait and see.
Just make sure that you avoid anything that hampers your Corgi’s ears’ growth.
Provide them with all the necessities for their growth.
Always be on the lookout for their well-being – not just their ears.
And always love your pooch no matter their ears!
After all, they love you unconditionally – dogs are wonderful like that.