Ear Taping for AKC SHOWS

Taping Pug Ears

Pug with badly folding ears
Human to hold Pug (optional but helps)
About 3-4 inch length of half inch wide adhesive tape

Looking at the Pug ear from the front draw an imaginary straight line from the tip of the ear up (Image 1) and fold the ear along this line, fur to fur. Attach one end of tape to the skin side of the ear and wrap around the folded ear several times. Since the ear has a tendency to stick out of the head when first taped, you'll have to adjust it so that the end result looks similar to Image 2 and like the ears on puppy in Image 3. Leave tape on for no longer than one week, then carefully cut it along the front where the folded sides meet. Be careful not to cut the ear. Leave tape on, it'll usually fall off in a day or two. The tape you choose has a great bearing on the success of the procedure. The "ouchless" kind is pretty well useless and falls off almost before it can be applied. I like the cloth tape that is really sticky, either white or the brown stuff. The inside of the ear might become a bit sore, which is the reason the tape should not be left on for more than a week. If the procedure has to be repeated, wait a few weeks. Instead of tape, some people reportedly use eye lash glue. I have never tried it (I can't find the glue), but it would do some temporary damage to the fur side of the ear (since that is where the glue would go). However, it would be gentler on the skin. A puppy who is teething (at around 4-5 months) often has flying ears, which correct themselves. This procedure should be done before the pup is six months old if any kind of permanent results are to be expected. After that, correction tends to be temporary (long enough to show the dog). Leave tape on for no longer than one week, then carefully cut it along the front where the folded sides meet. Be careful not to cut the ear. Leave tape on, it'll usually fall off in a day or two. The tape you choose has a great bearing on the success of the procedure. The "ouchless" kind is pretty well useless and falls off almost before it can be applied. I like the cloth tape that is really sticky, either white or the brown stuff. The inside of the ear might become a bit sore, which is the reason the tape should not be left on for more than a week. If the procedure has to be repeated, wait a few weeks. Instead of tape, some people reportedly use eye lash glue. I have never tried it (I can't find the glue), but it would do some temporary damage to the fur side of the ear (since that is where the glue would go). However, it would be gentler on the skin. A puppy who is teething (at around 4-5 months) often has flying ears, which correct themselves. This procedure should be done before the pup is six months old if any kind of permanent results are to be expected. After that, correction tends to be temporary (long enough to show the dog).

Pug Dog Ear Taping

Overview

If you have a Pug, you most likely have heard about the method of "taping a Pug's ears".

We will discuss this topic and cover the questions of:

Why do some people tape a Pug dog's ears?
What does taping a Pug's ears actually mean?
What purpose does this serve?
Should this be done?
If so, what age do you tape a Pug's ears?
How do you tape a Pug's ears?

Why Pug's Ears Are Taped

There are 2 types of Pug dog ears: The "rose" ear and the "button" ear. The rose ear is one in which the ear folds over and back, usually producing an ear that lays to the side of the Pug's face. The button ear on a Pug is one in which the ears fold forward, pointing toward the Pug's eye. In almost every recognized dog show, the button ear is the preferred look for a Pug for conformance events. Therefore, more points will be given to a Pug dog with button ears (ones folding down toward the dog's eyes).

What Does "Taping a Pug dog's ears" actually mean?

This is a non-surgical method that is quite literally what it sounds like. Tape is used to hold a Pug's ears into preferred position.

What purpose does this serve?

While there is absolutely no guarantee that taping will produce the desired results, there is a chance that it will. For those dog owners who wish for their Pug to meet dog show standards, taping is a non-intrusive way to gently urge the ears to point forward.

Should you tape your Pug's ear?

There is no reason to tape your Pug dog's ears unless you wish to show your dog in conformance events. Ears that lay to the side do not produce health issues or any type of problem. There are millions of Pug dog pets that do not have button ears and there is no reason for them to.

The age to tape a Pug dog's ears

Taping can be effective if done before the dog is 6 months old. After the age of 6 months, taping may work temporarily. Some dog owners with Pugs over 6 months old, will tape their Pug's ears before an upcoming dog show. The ear will usually point forward for 2 to 3 days; just long enough for the dog to score higher in a conformance event. The ear will then slow go back to laying to the side.

How to tape a Pug's ears

Cloth adhesive tape is used to tape a Pug dog's ears. The ear is folded over to the front and the tape is used to wrap around the ear as in the photo above. The tape should be left on for 1 week at a time.

Each time the tape is removed, the ears should be cleaned and allowed to air out for 1-2 hours before being taped again.
How long should you keep taping a Pug's ears? The ear is in charge on this one! If the tape is removed and the ears does not fall to the front as desired, it would then be taped again for another week. Some owners may get results in a few weeks, some a few months and some...never.

Please Remember

While showing a dog can be a very fun, rewarding experience it is important to remember that our love of our Pug dogs must not be connected in any way by the details of their appearance. Just as every human in unique, so are Pug dogs. Floppy ears, uneven ears, rose or button ears, all Pugs are beautiful animals.

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