How To Make My French Bulldog’s Ears Stand Up?

If you would ask us to describe French bulldogs, we would say they’re one of the most iconic-looking dogs in the world. Besides they’re famous for their friendly and affectionate personalities, their flat skulls and bat ears make them stand out from the crowd. However, many people don’t know that Frenchies don’t have erect ears from birth. The French bulldog’s ears may need up to 8 weeks to stand up completely.

Why are my French bulldog’s ears down?

French bulldogs are born with flopped ears, and when their teeth start to grow, the ears should gradually start to stand up. It occurs due to frequent changes in calcium levels in the dog’s body. Therefore, you shouldn’t be concerned if your Frenchie’s ears one day stand fully erect and another day fall down again. It is a sign that cartilage and muscles around their ears are not yet fully developed.

It’s also important to note that the dog’s genes can affect the development of their ears too. That’s why you have to buy a French bulldog puppy from a trusted breeder who will ensure you that your puppy is purebred.

How to fix a French bulldog’s flopped ears?

No need to panic until your dog is 2 months old. Your furry friend’s ears should rise naturally, and if you don’t see any improvement until the 8^th week, then you can start tapping them. Your Frenchie will need months for his ears to become fully developed.

By tapping your French bulldog’s ears, you will speed up the process, however, if nothing works, then your dog is not purebred. Even though tapping the dog’s ear might look cruel, the process is actually an important part of the French bulldog’s growth. This is how you can tape your French bulldog’s ears:

• Buy a masking tape that is about 1.5 inches wide. Do not use any other tapes because they can hurt your dog’s skin and remove the fur.
• Gently wrap the tape around your Frenchie’s ears and make sure you leave the ear flat.
• Form the ears into the upright position and use a longer strip of tape to connect them and hold them erect.
• Leave the tape around the dog’s ears for about 3 days and then gently remove the tape to see if there is an improvement. You can take a break for 2 days and then continuously repeat the process for the next month.

Extra tip – How to fix my French bulldog’s flopped ears?

Many dog owners claim that calcium supplements helped their Frenchies’ ears to stand up. However, this method is unproven, especially if we consider the fact that dog ears are made of cartilage. We don’t recommend including calcium supplements in your French bulldog’s diet on your own because hypercalcemia can cause weakness, listlessness, increased drinking and urination, and loss of appetite. In extreme cases, prolonged usage of calcium supplements may lead to the formation of bladder or kidney stones.