[kansas]

OK My Papillon is 16 weeks and his ears are laying down now, when I got him they were up and perky. He did get shots last week could that be it? His stools are also "softer" since the shots. I think I remember reading that there ears go up and down well into 6 mo of age but thay are laying down all the time and from what I know about the line he is from there are not any Phalenes in his line. Any ideas? Thank You for any replies

[briteday]

No idea, ours were always up. But I'm usre someone else with paps will chime in. And your breeder is also usually a good source of info sonce they usually have the parents.

[borzoimom]

Both the phalene ( drop eared) and butterfly ( upright ear) can occur in the same litter.. At 16 weeks old, its still a little young to tell- but could be a dropped ear variety= although more rare- just as accepted! Can you post a picture?

[TFTpwnsYou]

He could just be a Phalene. Or they might stand up again. It is rare to get the dropped ears, but as posted by Borzoimom you can get both in one litter whether there are Phalenes in the lines or not. The gene is in there, but very slight. The ears on mine have always been up, so I'm really not sure why your little pups would drop. Could just be temporary, but if not I'd say you're lucky to get one that would have dropped ears. And yes! Pics. would be wonderful!

[kansas]

OK finally got a pic of him the one in my avatar is when his ears were up all the time. The breeder said that it is because of teething. He acts the same, just looks different.

[borzoimom]

thats a Phalene. More rare in the breed- but there.. CONGRATUALTIONS!

[kansas]

would a Phalene start out with ears up though? The breeder says that there is not Phalene in this dogs line and she can go back 50 yrs...She thinks it is from teething or he isnt feeling good but he acts the same. His ears are just laying down now. And once in a while during the day his left ear will stand up for a little bit.

[borzoimom]

Originally Posted by kansas

would a Phalene start out with ears up though? The breeder says that there is not Phalene in this dogs line and she can go back 50 yrs...She thinks it is from teething or he isnt feeling good but he acts the same. His ears are just laying down now. And once in a while during the day his left ear will stand up for a little bit.

Yes they can drop the ears before 6 months old. See the ear is a muscle and as it developes- the ears can drop.
Its okay- totally in standard, just more rare. But usually a prick earred variety will stay up once up. Falling is a sign of the dropped eared variety and although rare- can occur...

[squirt1968]

Kansas that is a beautiful pup and I think precious with ears down.

[kansas]

Thank You... Yes he is cute either way. I was just sooooo in love with his BIG EARS!!! He will be loved either way...

[borzoimom]

Originally Posted by squirt1968

Kansas that is a beautiful pup and I think precious with ears down.

Oh I agree!!!!

[Laurelin]

Usually if the ears go up once, they stay up. My bet, especially with no phalenes in the line is he's a papillon. It doesn't matter, really. Some papillons end up 'weak eared' where their ears are down but not all the way. That's not a correct carriage of the ears either. It's a bit more complicated than ears down = phalene, ears up = papillon. Some weak eared dogs (meaning the cartilage is just not strong enough to hold the ears erect) will have one up and one down. Sort of a half phalene. I know a funny little dog like that. Some have tipped ears like shelties too.

Gigi, Harry's sister, had one ear drop when she was teething. Both had stood up fine earlier, then one fell. It has since gone back up. Some breeders use suppliments, shave the back of the ear, and might even use tape (though that's rare) to get ears to stand properly.

Simply because phalenes are very not common in the US bloodlines and there aren't any in his bloodline, I'd bet his ears go back up.