Angels Aussies and Dobies

Ear Posting Instructions

Welcome to my ear posting primer. Interestingly, you will meet people who tell the "one" way to do it, and truthfully, there are many roads to Rome and they are all CORRECT!!! This is my favorite saying, because with ear posting, as well as any other endeavor one embarks upon, there are so many ways to do it. Take this as a primer on the 2 different types of postings, that I find most easy. The bottom line is: Its not a fashion show, its a thing you do until the cartilage has grown into an upright position. Some dogs can stop posting at 6 mo, and some go 14 months (think extra long show crop). The more simple it is, the better you will do! Feel free to email if you have any questions!

Here is posting using Tampons --I prefer this method as its fast, and if you use 3M low tack tape, (instead of sport tape) it breathes and easily tears off when changing the posts. I do not like having scissors around their ears, I have heard so many horror stories of "oops the scissors slipped" so if you use low tack tape you can gently tear it off.

With any material you decide to choose to post, you can strengthen them by using Gorilla or Duct tape around the outside to keep the post firm. (see pictures)--The materials I list are below, but you can use stir sticks from coffee shops, straws, tampons, etc.

I WANT TO STRESS THE GORILLA TAPE DOESNT TOUCH THE HAIR/SKIN OF THE EAR!!! ITS TO STRENGHTN THE TAMPON OR ROD, or wrapped on top of low tack tape.

You could substitute Backer Rod instead of Tampons, if you do that, the Backer Rod would need to have Gorilla tape around it to keep it from bending. See picture to right.

***NOTE**NEVER USE DUCT TAPE OR GORILLA TAPE ON THEIR EARS, the adhesive can cause allergic reactions and the lack of breathability causes them to get gross, gooey and infected.

After the tampon or backer rod is stiffened, follow the instructions below --for my example I used a tampon with Plastic body, I actually prefer cardboard ones, but this is what I had to take pictures with. Tampax is good for cardboard ones, get a box with 3 sizes, as the ears grow, and they sizes correspond nicely. The Backer rod is found at Home Depot, start with smaller size and get bigger size as your puppy grows.

Start with a tampon that is the length of the puppies ear, here is pictures of a tampon, and 2 types of backer rods, one bigger, one smaller, already stiffened with Gorilla/Duct tape

Take the tampon, and tape the top to the bottom to length; pulling some fluff out-the bottom; the fluff protects ear canal and absorbs moisture.

Backward wrap painters tape on the tampon, (or Backer rod) and insert in ear, fluff side down. If using Backer rod, insert with a side down that you cut half off, so it rests gently in ear canal.

Have strips of tape ready, and stick the tampon in the ear and wrap top, then bottom, do other ear, then add more tape all around. I don't use a bunch of tape until the tampon is set right, so I can adjust it if necessary.

What is Needed! + Tips

Tampons (cardboard preferred) or Backer Rod
3m low tack tape (Plus small gorilla tape if using Backer rod to stiffen the rod--do not put GORILLA TAPE OR DUCT TAPE ON dogs ear! ITS ONLY for the backer rod to stiffen it)
Patience
A PUPPY!
TIP: Never Wrap over open wounds
TIP: FEED YOUR PUPPY WHILE DOING EARS, make it a fun thing!
TIP: some people use Torbot glue, instead of backwards wrapped tape to attach rod to ear..(I am not a fan of it, its messy, and back wrapped tape is just fine for me)

Wrap the strips around base and top and gently before wrapping the whole ear

Make a bridge of tape between the ears to keep them from flopping-the bridge can be at bottom to prevent tipping in, or at the top to prevent tipping out.

My ear postings last up to a week, --I dont leave them on too long, as the ear should breathe in between postings, and the ear needs cleaned. Plus as the ears grow, the tampon may need lengthened. If I had an event to take the dog to, I would also dress up the tape with an external layer of brightly colored athletic gauze, --no other reason than I hated looking at other puppies beautiful fresh wraps and then looking at my puppy who had rolled in the dirt on her new wrap!