I have an 8 month old German Shepherd that always has his ears pointy or erect when he is alone or when he is barking but when he is with family or people he knows he lays them back. Is this normal?
Yes, it’s normal. Perked or erect ears typically indicate alertness and confidence, as he displays when he’s barking at something or when he’s looking out for himself. When he’s with you, he recognizes that he can relax and submit, to put it frankly. He doesn’t have to put on a show of confidence or anything because he trusts that you humans are in control of the situation. He’s at ease and is actively displaying signs of deference to his family, his superiors, by laying his ears back.
When he is alone he is listening for you. When you are there he doesn’t have to.
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A lot of dogs do this, my GSD ears are always erect except for when me, or my boyfriend pet him, he sticks his tongue out and his ears go back like if his enjoying the moment. But some dogs also do this when they feel insecure, some when their happy. and a lot of them do it when they feel threatened or scared. My dog also does this when bigger dogs at the dog park pick on him, he will growl, his hair sticks up and his ears go back. Just watch out for your dogs body language, if you know his a shy dog he might do this because he lacks confident, if his threatened you can tell right away. If his just calm laying down and wagging his tail, you have nothing to worry about.
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Experiance
All dogs do this. When a dog is relaxed its ears lay back (they also do this when they’re having fun or scared). When they’re erect, something has caught their attention.
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Yes, it’s normal. Perked or erect ears typically indicate alertness and confidence, as he displays when he’s barking at something or when he’s looking out for himself. When he’s with you, he recognizes that he can relax and submit, to put it frankly. He doesn’t have to put on a show of confidence or anything because he trusts that you humans are in control of the situation. He’s at ease and is actively displaying signs of deference to his family, his superiors, by laying his ears back.
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Napoleon Bonaparte once said " The German people always tries to become but they never became".
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