Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a show-quality registered Rhodesian Ridgeback. He is 15 weeks old and his ears do not lay down yet. Does anyone know if they will lay down? Is there anything I should be doing to form the cartilage? I would appreciate any help that anyone can offer me! Thanks!

Honestly I am not sure. Have you asked the breeder? Is this a fault in the show ring? Age may have something to do with it. Let me know what you find out.

Cheryl

Yes, actually the breeder is one of my good friends in Vet school with me at LSU. She had 5 in the litter. The two pet quality pups ears are laying down and the one female show quality has hers laying down. The one she kept has one ear down and one up, and mine has both up. I'm really not interested in showing mine, but yes it is a fault. I don't have the time to train him right now because school is ALL I have time for. But, I wouldn't mind it if his ears layed down! He is extremely precious and loveable and VERY well behaived so far and that is what is most important to me. I called the vet that I worked for before Vet school and she kind of doubts they will lay down. We are thinking of trying to train them to lay down with positioning and taping. But, I hate to do that to him! He is a beautiful dog with a very nice ridge if it wasn't for those ears! Any suggestions?

Well no I have no suggestions to fix the ears. I think it is just one of those things that either with age they correct themselves or you just kind of live with it.

If you have a great loving dog be thankful you have a good friend. But obedience training is essential.

Cheryl

Often it is part of the puppy phase with these guys, typically around the teething phase. I believe you said about 4 months in age? That would be the right time.

The best thing you can do for the ears to develop is make sure to give an excellent diet and add some vitamin C. Find the ester c powder and give it with each of his meals. The trick I've learned for vitamin c is to give it to stool tollerance, don't use a black and white amount in a guide. Instead use the guide as an approximation and then increase/decrease as the stool allows - too much and the stool becomes loose. So give as much as doesn't develop loose stool.

Good luck!

Any pictures of your boy? He sounds like a cutie!

Well, really, what RR pup isn't?

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tabitha
Kayo, Kahla, and Dante'

Well, yes I have pictures but I have no idea how to attach them to the message! I am horrible with computers! I tried to copy and paste them and it wouldn't let me. Any suggestions?

Read PHFasDog instruction on how to post pix on the boards.
Hope to see some pictures soon.

Cheryl

Hi!

Here is how you would post photos:

First, you need to upload your photos to our Photo Gallery.

Click on Login and sign in.

Click on Upload Photos.

Chose your category. Depending on what you are uploading depends on what category. We have several dog breed sections if you own a dog of that breed. If we don't have your breed, just put them in the "Dog" section. Other types of photos such as personal photos of family or friends need to be placed in the Member Gallery.

Browse your computer to find where you have your photos saved and chose your photo you wish to upload.

Enter a title. (Optional)

Enter a keyword. (Optional)

Enter a description. (Optional)

Then click upload photo.

Once you have photos uploaded to your gallery, when you come back to post a message, you will not see a dropdown menu where you can select images from the Photo Gallery.

Have fun!

Melody/PHFasDog