Oh, Those Ears!

- Provided from The Alaskan Malamute: Yesterday and Today by Barbara A. Brooks and Sherry E. Wallis (page 259)

"Developmental timetables are subject to a great deal of variation, and the age at which ears become erect varies between lines. Many factors contribute to their rising. Amoung the are: the saze and thickness of the ear, ear placement, shape, and set. Ear cartiliage can be damaged or torn during rough play or it may not stiffen quickly because of the growing dog's metabolic demands.

Many puppies have erect ears by the age of eight weeks, some as early as four. However, pups with very heavy or very thin ear leather may still have soft ears at three months. Ear placement, especially a very low-set, can exacerbate the difficulties.

When teething begins between four and six months, many dogs relax an already-erect ear to relieve the pressure on swollen gums exerted by the muscle which runs from the jaw to the base of the ear. If the ear was up and the puppy dropped it, you needn't worry; it will return to its erect position once the pup has teeth. "