Sheltie Ear Training
740.707.7781
ellen@armitageshelties.com
One of the most asked for advice and guidance is how to train Sheltie ears. I have come to find that each set of Sheltie ears can present their individual challenges, but in general, I will list the products I use and list directions on how I train ears in general.
If you are having specific problems with a set of Sheltie ears I will provide consultation and training at a nominal fee. I cannot guarantee I can correct the issues you are having, but I can provide additional help to you in my home. The most important pieces of Sheltie ear training advice I can give you are;
Before you start: Wash your hands thoroughly. Make sure you have clean grease free moisturizer free hands. Dirt, grease, moisturizers will inhibit the adherence of the tape to the ears.
Clean inside of ear leather with Skin Prep Wipes and ALLOW plenty of time to dry. This product when wet will remove tape and the residue it leaves behind, but when absolutely DRY, it forms a barrier on the ear that allows tape to adhere more securely and protects the skin from most irritation.
Be consistent in your Sheltie ear training efforts - even if it takes re setting your Sheltie's ears on a daily basis, make this your number one priority.
Don't wait too late to seek help. Do not think that Sheltie ear issues can "wait" a week or two, it doesn't work that way. In most cases, don't wait 24 hours!!
Oh and a third piece of advice... don't call me to complain of what a pain training Sheltie ears can be. Ha ha When I am training Sheltie puppy ears, I make a commitment to dedicate my time and effort to training my Sheltie's ears; yes, that often means I am late to meet friends for dinner or to go to the movies; and when I arrive my fingers may be sticking together from the glue and tape, or you may find I have traces of Sheltie ear glue or ear tape residue on my fingers and hands! I am that serious when I say, "Don't wait." Yes, if you want pretty Sheltie ears, only you can make that your priority!
Ear Training Supplies Available through Armitage Shelties:
Please email me with your order, I will send you an invoice through PayPal. You may pay by PayPal, check, money order, or credit card.
Skin Prep Wipes - helps remove tape, and tape residue, as it cleans and preps skin for tape, allows tape to stick better and protects skin from most irritation. $15.00, box of 50 wipes, plus shipping
Elastikon Tape - stretchy tape that I like to use on older puppies, age 10 weeks plus, after the initial ear setting and tipping has been acheived. This tape allows the ear to grow and stretch naturually. This tape is NOT very sticky, you need Osto-Bond in addition to the tape. Elastikon tape, 1 roll, $6.00, plus shipping
Osto-Bond - lightly coat the sticky side of the elastikon and let dry for 2-3 seconds before applying it to the ear. Contact us for current availability.
Doc Brennan's Spray Adhesive - can be used on the Elastikon, but Osto-Bond will hold longer. This product makes the tape more sticky and is much more convenient and a lot less messy than the osto-bond method, 1 can, 14.5 oz, $15 plus shipping
Zo-eze or Detachol may be used to clean clean ears of tape residue and adhesive, however, I use Skin-Prep wipes for this.
Scissors
For Support issues - I have a couple secret weapons;
Proper Supplementation - including Pet Cals
Moleskin, use osto-bond with this
Foam curlers, use osto-bond with thisPlease contact me for additional information on how to use these products to help low, weak ears. Low weak Sheltie or Collie ears need helped right away! Don't wait too late.
ALL TRIMMING DONE CAREFULLY NOT TO REMOVE TOO MUCH HAIR IN THE EVENT YOU WANT TO SHOW THE PUPPY. Hair will grow back, but ever so slowly - so trim with caution; if you don't know how to trim and showing is in your puppy's future, seek help from someone who does know how to trim.
1. Clean the inside of the ear leather with skin prep wipes thoroughly; this removes the oily residue from the ear leather to allow proper adhesion of the tape to the ear.
2. Trim the excess hairs from the inside edge of the ear leather, thin out hair at the base of the ear where the ear meets the back skull.
3. Once the ears are COMPLETELY dry from the skin prep then you can begin to apply the tape. Before messing with the tape wash your hands thoroughly to remove excess oil from your hands/fingers. It will affect the tape.
4. Cut the cross piece of tape, and make necessary cuts to make it into what appears to be the handle of a phone or a dumbbell. The cross piece should be just slightly shorter than the base of the ears, elastikon stretches... so it will pull the ears up where they should be. DO not get the ears too tight on the top of the head. There should be a little distance between the ears. If they are too tight, you'll create more problems for yourself in the future.
5. Cut two strips that will reach from the mid-base of the ear to 1/4" beyond the tip of the ear. As you apply these strips in the ear, rub the tape on the ear as you pull the tape upwards. The excess tape that goes beyond the ear tip should be curled under and stuck to the same vertical piece running up the ear. There again, the tape is stretchy, so it makes a nice rounded tip instead of a flat flat of an ear.
6. Lightly paint the sticky side of the tape with Osto-bond and let it dry approximately 2 or 3 seconds prior to applying it to the ear, I apply the cross piece first (osto-bond only on the stick ends); and then the vertical strips
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