Any Fox terrier experts?

L&M

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 March 2008
Messages
6,379
Location
up a hill
Visit site
We have an 8 month old smooth haired fox terrier.

Since about 4 mnths his ears have become pricked - on occasion one or both have flopped back down as per the breed standard, but are now permanently erect.

As he is predominately a pet this is not a major problem, but he does have very good breeding and several CC in his line, and had hoped to show him.

We have tried to tape them down (to try and train them down), but all he does is pull the tape off. I have heard you can 'glue' them but don't really fancy the idea.......we have tried massage and that does encourage them down, but as soon as he is excited they pop straight back up again!

Any thoughts?
 

DabDab

Ah mud, splendid
Joined
6 May 2013
Messages
12,816
Visit site
Jesus, gluing ears down :eek3: :eek3:

I don't think it matters does it? My Westie is pedigree but not a very good example, and she has floppy ears rather than erect. Doesn't stop her being super cool amazing to me.
 

JennBags

HHOSS Wonder Woman
Joined
21 May 2002
Messages
18,344
Location
West Sussex
Visit site
Jesus, gluing ears down :eek3: :eek3:

I don't think it matters does it? My Westie is pedigree but not a very good example, and she has floppy ears rather than erect. Doesn't stop her being super cool amazing to me.

Tried to give you reputation for this post but apparently I need to spread it around more first! Absolutely agree, I can't understand why people are so obsessed with ears, let them do what they like.
 

ponyparty

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 October 2015
Messages
2,327
Visit site
I had terrible trouble with my Manchester Terrier's ears - I wanted to show him, I was advised to try all sorts but none of it worked and it didn't sit right with me anyway. I kept him entire as wanted to show him but eventually resigned myself to the fact that his ears were never going to come right.Such a shame, his dad won BoB at Crufts a few years ago and his conformation is absolutely spot on.
So - I had him neutered (no need to keep the cherries if I wasn't going to show/stud him!) - his ears only bleddy came right then..!
I think a lot of it is excitement related. Also cold - in the warm his ears used to fold forward perfectly, but if it was cold or there were lots of other dogs around they pinged up like satellite dishes. Also it can be teething related; when their adult teeth are coming through at the back it can affect the tendons and ligaments which are responsible for moving the ears.
None of the tricks really work, and they only irritate the dog, you may as well just let him develop and see if they come right by the time he has reached full maturity.
 

MotherOfChickens

MotherDucker
Joined
3 May 2007
Messages
16,639
Location
Weathertop
Visit site
taping ears is very common in the US with certain breeds (smooths, roughs, Aus Shepherds and the like)-and somewhat less common here although it does happen. for the life of me I can't see why they try and adhere to a breed standard that they can't meet through breeding-its not as though shepherds were gluing puppies ears down 150 years ago (which is the argument I got into on FB regarding smooths once lol).

I dont agree with it and wouldnt do it but I dont think its outrageously cruel, its not for very long .it should be done earlier than 4 months though I think-before they are mental little wrestlers :). I got Fitz at 7 months and his ears were uneven-one was tipped and the other was kinda pricked. Once he hit 11 months they were both equally tipped. If you really want to show I'd ask the breeder for advice.
 

CorvusCorax

'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Joined
15 January 2008
Messages
59,937
Location
End of the pier
Visit site
If something is genetic in a dog (such as soft ears in my own breed) and you hide it or fix it cosmetically, and you show the dog, and it does well, and you breed it, and the issue is passed on....well, ask what is being contributed to the gene pool and wonder how popular you will be when people find out!

Agree it may just be a teething issue and your breeder may be able to assist.
 

L&M

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 March 2008
Messages
6,379
Location
up a hill
Visit site
Totally agree GSD and we adore the little fella.

It was only when we got his KC breeding cert and saw all the Champions in his line that showing did come to mind, as was only ever intended as a pet. Doing subsequent research we then realised his ears may be an issue - but they do add a certain amount of character (imagine Sphynx cat in a long legged terrier body!!!!!).

Re the glueing issue I have no idea if it is legal but have a friend who breeds wire haired fox terriers and he said it is a commonly used practice. From what I understand the glue used is of surgical nature and wears off itself over a matter of few days, and only used where the natural fold in the ear is apparent, so a painless, although undoubtedly irritating, procedure.

Again according to my research, 'ear' issues are known in boston terrier, gsd etc as some breeders of show dogs like to encourage the ears to prick up, and some of the methods used would no doubt cause concern on here, but not exactly a cruelty issue imho.
 

MotherOfChickens

MotherDucker
Joined
3 May 2007
Messages
16,639
Location
Weathertop
Visit site
its not illegal-my main concern would be dogs playing/scratching and catching them. as L&M says its surgical glue or tape-not permanent and not horrendous.

I had notions about showing L&M until I went to one to have a look, place reeked of dog pee, most dogs looked fed up as did the handlers and I felt it was all quite grim and not for me and this was a fairly big show.
 

CorvusCorax

'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Joined
15 January 2008
Messages
59,937
Location
End of the pier
Visit site
I wouldn't call it a cruelty issue. But I have seen dogs with weak ears that were taped, being bred, that only leads to more weak ears. Rather than not promoting or breeding from dogs with weak ears.
 

ponyparty

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 October 2015
Messages
2,327
Visit site
However - with this breed there are not many of them left so perhaps in order to keep the gene pool at an acceptable level, some dogs with "weaker" ears would be considered for breeding if their conformation is otherwise sound? I don't know, just musing really. I do love Smooth Fox terriers, you rarely see them about but they are such merry little dogs!
 

ester

Not slacking multitasking
Joined
31 December 2008
Messages
62,055
Location
Cambridge
Visit site
Yes, compared to other things I don't think weak ears should be too traumatic ;). However it would probably be more helpful to know which dogs don't have naturally great ears when planning matings.

Thanks the legality clearing up, I didn't think so and wouldn't consider it a cruelty issue myself either.
 
Top