When Do Westie Ears Stand Up?

Individual dogs are all unique in their own way just like individuals are all unique in their own way. In brief it depends on the dog. On what? His or her surroundings.

The ears will straighten when they are playful or excited but if they are nervous or anxious the ears will curve downward.

West Highland Terriers have an extremely difficult time telling when exactly their ears will start standing up straighter.

The typical age of such a baby is between eight to twelve weeks. Some Westies however may take as long as six months to straighten out their ears. Sounds like quite a puzzle does not it?

You’re in luck because in this article we’ll tell you exactly what you need to do to get a better estimation and how to take care of your friends ears!

Thats enough chit-chat for now shall we get down to furry business?

Ask the breeder

The best way to do this is to ask the breeder (since they know your pal and his or her whole family). The breeder might need to know two things:

Purebred Certificate

Just like the star your Westies are everything should be official and verified. The first step to determining whether your dogs ears are supposed to stand is to identify and better understand their breed and characteristics. Their wolf ancestry is one way to determine whether their ears should stand.

When do the ears of most of their pups stand?

Chances are if your furry friend has brothers sisters or cousins with standing ears in less than 3 months yours will too! When their ears do not stand within 8 months it is unlikely that they will stand at all.

What physically makes a dog’s ears stand up?

In this case it is their Cartilage so it is no surprise that it has to do with a dogs body structure. When our furry pal reaches four to six weeks of age the cartilage in its ears will start to mold and harden.

Do not panic just yet if it still would not stand! You might even have to wait six months for your dogs ears to be strong enough to stand on their own. In contrast if your precious little pal has thick and heavy ear leather chances are it will remain like that for its entire majestic lifetime.

Why do some people tape their Westie’s ears?

Dog owners have used ear-taping as one of the most common methods to get those ears standing tall and proud. Through the use of a medical cloth tape the ear is aligned and kept steady to “train” the ears to stand on their own.

During this procedure it is imperative to remember that everything must be done correctly and adequately. We do not want our Westie to have any problems. Here are a few important things to keep in mind before you tape those furry ears to ensure it is done properly and safely.

Does teething affect dog ears?

We might surprise you by telling you that teething has an effect on dog ears (who knew?). Puppies grow a new set of teeth as they mature so teething is a normal part of maturing. Is there an explanation for this? Of course.

If your Westie is teething his body naturally needs calcium to help grow those newly formed teeth so he can eat those delicious treats. As some calcium is lent for teething the ears may fall back down if they were previously erect. Once teething is over your pups ears should stand straight up again if it was standing before teething began (may all pups rejoice at this time).

Should I be worried if my Westie has one ear up and one ear down?

Relax by taking a deep breath. As a Westie matures and develops over the years it is completely normal for it to only have one erect ear. What is the reason for this?

Born this way

It is important to keep in mind that the “when” depends on the breed itself. Some breeds might have it early while others might not. It might also be a cuteness-enhancing feature.

Around 8 months old most puppies will have both ears fully upright which means teething is finally a thing of the past. Try to hold back your tears even though it may be difficult as you watch those ears graduate from standing school.

Attentiveness

Because dogs have sharper ears than people they can pay more attention and be aware of their surroundings. It is possible that this is a way of showing off their awareness skills when one ear stands while the other remains asleep.

Possible Health Roadbump

Westies are usually known for having pricked ears but if you see a floppy ear after they develop that is not an unusual occurrence. Your pup should be checked by a veterinarian if you notice anything concerning to his health:

Injury: Check for any possible wounds on your dog as he may have been injured while exploring the local park for example.
Ear infections: As a result of a bacterial infection in the ear otitis media typically causes inflammation in the outer middle and even inner ear. The floppy ear and constant head shaking may indicate this (but not in rockstar mode).
Abscess: It usually occurs due to dirt buildup in the ear which can be painful as it may cause swelling and itching.
Ear hematomas: (what the hema is this?). This happens when the dogs ear blood vessels burst causing blood to leak somewhere between the dogs ear cartilage and skin. This is usually caused by nasty mites nestling in your pets ears or a previous infection that caused them to scratch.

You should always keep an eye and an ear open for any of these symptoms in your beloved Westie. As a knowledgeable dog owner you should seek help as soon as possible once you identify the condition.

Westie Mix Breeds (that don’t have erect ears)

If your Westie is mixed or not purebred erect ears may not always be the case! To give you some examples that may not have erect ears (you’re very welcome) here are a few of them:

(love the name BTW) Westie Miniature Schnauzer Mix (also known as Wauzer)
Westies and Beagles (West of Argyll Terriers)
Bichon Frise Westie Mix (Wee-Chon)
Cavestie or Westie Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Mix (oh fancy!)

Breed mixes of some of these dogs may or may not have erect ears. Regardless of Mother Natures ear shape you can rest assured your furry friend will always be adorable just how they are!

How to care for your Westie’s ears?

It is important to take care of those enticing ears especially to avoid those frightening health problems (never fun). Tipping is a common practice among Westies for taking care of each other. The ears edge is carefully trimmed to achieve a nice “V” shape. To accomplish this and to give your pal a sharp look you must take note of and follow proper instructions.

Tipping your Westies ears will not help its ears to stand but it will keep them clean.

Conclusion

Even though we’d love to tell you an exact time we are not fortune tellers. The development process and environment of Westies vary depending on their breed (purebred or mixed). As a result each pair of dog ears rises and shines at its own pace just like the sun and moon. Have patience! You never know when that special moment will come.

Relevant Resources:

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.