For the last few days Strykers' right ear stands erect (Straight up). I checked him to see if the base of his ear was swollen and rubbed around to see if it caused him any discomfort which it doesn't and his ear is rather clean but no matter what I do, his ear wont fold over like his other one. Any clues as to what might cause this as I've not see a lab whose ear(s) stand straight up at all times?
I forget, is Stryker full Lab? I'd love to see a picture! I know some Labs get a thing called "rose ear", where it can sit funny - this happens most often when the pup is teething, and normally settles down afterwards. I've not heard of them standing completely up, though!
Ah, I just went and found your first thread, where you said that he could be half Australian Shepherd. Well, to me, looking at some of his photos, I'd say he doesn't look 100% Lab (to my novice eyes). I'm making that assessment solely on his tufty chin I can see in some pictures, so I could be waaaaay off the mark! But, if he is half Australian Shepherd, some of those have standy-up ears, so it may just be that he's growing up and losing his puppy ears. I think you may just have to wait and see! And, in the meantime, take lots of pictures! This is the pic I was talking about with the tufty chin. I wouldn't say he looks anything like an Australian Shepherd, either, though!
Is he teething? There is some connection between teething and ears standing up. It happens in Labs, (not necessarily all Labs) I've seen many comments on it, they go back down. In breeds where the ears are supposed to stand up this might be the start of them attaining their final erect position. In a mix all bets are off.
Is that certain? In your first thread, you said the breeder wasn't sure which of her boys had "done the deed", so to speak In any event, he looks super cute at the moment! It may go back down once teething has finished, but if the other goes up, and they stay up, I think you can start suspecting his parentage
The vet said the found no traits of shepard but black/chocolate lab. Getting him to sit still in the truck to get this picture was impossible But you can see the brown in the sun
A mix of black and chocolate Lab doesn't give you mottled, though. It gives you solid black or solid chocolate. Other than mis-marks (like white bits) or fading due to sun/shedding, you only get solid colours. So, I would say that the brindle look is probably more likely to mean he's a cross. You can get DNA tests done pretty cheaply, which would give you a definitive answer
I'm going to ask them to do a full DNA test on the 20th when he goes in for his last shot/check up. Not that it really matters. Even though he's a pain in the butt I've become rather fond of the little turd monkey. Except for when he's doing things he's not suppose to... ..Wait that's like 23 hours a day, maybe 22 if he sleeps in.
According to a book I read to follow each month of puppy development, "Your lab puppy month by month"...the end of a lab's ears reach the inside of their eye (I guess when pulled forward/across the eye). Not that this is really related to your question, but I found it interesting! We also enjoyed that the book says that a lab that will develop a "proper coat" will have a twizzle at the end of the tail when a puppy...no clue if either of these things are true!
When talking to people about him the best way I can describe him is I tell people, "He's my little wined up toy that's stuck on stupid." or "He's like the Energizer Bunny of a shredding machine. If it fits in his mouth, considered it destroyed." He's really smart though but it's funny getting a reaction out of people when I say something odd about him.
Oh that ear is just too presh, it'll be interesting to see what happens from here. Oh interesting. Xena has a twizzle, but she also has the dreaded "wave" along her back. I'm hoping the wave disappears with age, which it will do...if your book is correct!
The wave is cute! I think I read somewhere that a wave would not disqualify from showing...will check the book haha!
My willow had what I called a "cow tail" when she was a puppy - that little tuft right at the end. And she has a good coat. Not massively thick like some show types, but the wiry feel with a proper double layer. Whereas Shadow had a fishtail effect on his tail and he's just a fluffy bunny.
I have no idea how to tell about the double coat - is the undercoat more fluffy and soft and the top the stiff more wiry hair? Or would that fluffy hair be puppy fur that hasn't been shed yet?
The undercoat is fluffy, soft and pretty short and often has a wave or crimp in it. You mainly find it along the sides of the dog and around the thighs. Not so much on the top or tummy.
