How to Keep Sheltie Ears Down With Moleskin

Owning a Shetland Sheepdog is a point of pride for canine lovers. These purebred dogs regularly wow the masses at dog shows around the world. But if your Sheltie's ears aren't tipped, it's a major fault at any American Kennel Club (AKC) competition. According to the AKC, a Sheltie's ears should be "carried three-fourths erect, with tips breaking forward." If your Sheltie doesn't have naturally breaking ears, you can make up for the lack of auricular flexibility with some moleskin and glue.

Things You'll Need

• 2 3-inch-by-1 1/2-inch pieces of moleskin
• 1 3-inch-by-1/2-inch piece of moleskin
• 2 1-inch-by-1-inch pieces of moleskin
• Grooming adhesive
• Paper towel
• Yarn (5-6 inches long)
• Canine ear glue (JiffySew, Speed Sew, Tear Mender or similar)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Fine tooth comb
• Scissors
• Hammer
• Nail

Instructions

1. Clean the inside of your dog's ears with rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. If necessary, run a fine tooth comb through the hair to restore the nap of fine ear fur.

2. Remove the backing on one of your 3-inch-by-1 1/2-inch pieces of moleskin and place it, sticky side up, on a piece of paper towel.

3. Spray the sticky side with grooming adhesive and allow it to set for a minute. When the adhesive has set, place the side with adhesive against the moleskin side of your other 3-inch-by-1 1/2-inch moleskin piece.

4. Cut your double moleskin piece into two pieces, each 1 1/2 inches square. Trim each piece so it resembles a solid "U." These pieces will sit within the Sheltie's lower ear.

5. Remove any backing from your "U-shaped" moleskin pieces and spray them (sticky side up) again with grooming adhesive on a paper towel, allowing to set for 30 seconds.

6. Place one of your trimmed pieces in the Sheltie's lower ear, with the curved portion near the bony protrusion. Press well to affix within the dog's ear. Repeat the process on the other ear.

7. Tap two small holes in your 3-inch-by-1/2-inch piece of moleskin with a hammer and nail. These holes should be centered near the two edges of the 3-inch length.

8. Thread yarn evenly through both holes and then cut the moleskin into two pieces, 1 1/2 inches by 1/2 inch. Cut the yarn down the center, as well.

9. Remove the backing from your moleskin and yarn pieces and spray the sticky sides with grooming adhesive.

10. Place the small pieces, sticky-side down, on the moleskin already in the Sheltie's ears. These two pieces should go on top of your "U-shaped" pieces, rather than on the curved bottom, with the yarn facing the portion between the dog's ears.

11. Trim your two remaining pieces of moleskin (1-inch-by-1-inch) into circles. Remove the backing and spray with grooming adhesive, allowing another 30 seconds for it to set.

12. Place each circle on the inside tip of each ear and press well, affixing the adhesive side to the inner peak of the ear.

13. Spread your ear glue, sparingly, on the two moleskin circles and tip the ears down, adhering the circles to the top portion of the moleskin in the lower ear.

14. Tie the string between the two ears and trim any excess using your scissors.

Tips & Warnings

• The glue, adhesive and moleskin solution won't last forever, especially when a dog's natural oils and secretions within the ear begin to denature all the pieces within the upper and lower ear. Repeat this process every few weeks, or as often as you deem necessary.

References

• Triumph Shelties: Moleskin Method
• American Kennel Club: Shetland Sheepdog