Why Aren’t Your Yorkie’s Ears Standing Up?

Perky Yorkie ears help frame the sweetest puppy face, so you may be puzzled if your dog's ears are kind of on the floppy side. Truth: Yorkshire terriers are characterized by a set of small V-shaped ears that are supposed to be erect, as if standing at attention, according to the American Kennel Club's breed standard. If your Yorkie's ears are bent over, there may still be hope for erect ears down the road, depending on your dog's ear size, shape, and the amount of hair on each.

The most important takeaway here might be the issue of cropping a dog's ears to achieve a desired look, whether more erect or smaller in size. Cropping is a surgical procedure that removes the floppy portion of some dogs' ears in order to force a certain kind of shape (in some cases, dogs' tails are also cut or docked, which is the amputation of a portion of a dog's tail).

But these practices are opposed by many veterinarians as well as some major pet organizations, including the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association, because they can be harmful to the animal. These unnecessary operations, which have been banned in the United Kingdom, much of Europe, and Australia, may lead to complications from the anesthesia that's used. And it's possible that an infection may develop in the postoperative period.

Since dog ear cropping isn't medically indicated, be very wary of the suggestion that this cosmetic procedure is necessary to make your Yorkie ears stand up correctly. Your pet's veterinarian can inform you about the practice of cropping if you have questions or concerns.