All things prick ears!
Supplies
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- Scissors
- Q tips
- String/Rope here
- Moleskin here
- Torbot here
- Breath rights here
- Yarn needle here (or something sharp to poke a hole with)
I also want to note that I recommend bathing puppies before doing ears as you should keep them as dry as possible while ears are in! Sets typically last a week or two depending on how hard the pup is on them. When I notice they start to look a bit grimey, I let them play in water and they typically fall out shortly after.
Cut the moleskin into the shape that you want, ideally in the shape of the ear. I leave a little more room on the "inside" side of the ear to poke a hole and put string through it later on.
Once you have a shape cut, stick it in the ear to make sure it fits correctly before continuing on. Modify as needed before moving to the next step!
If you are using the q tip method that I show here, each side will require 2 sets. Take the piece you just cut and make an identical set.
Next, you will make the set for the other ear. Flip the set over that you just made, so the extra spacing on one side will now be on the opposite side.
You should now have two sets. Reminder that there should be slightly more space on the inside of each set so there is room for string to poke through.
Take 4 Q tips and cut them to the same length.
Put 2 Q tips in each ear, and set the identical moleskin on top. Make sure to leave enough room around the edges so there is no space to easily pull them apart.
Take your needle and poke holes through each set, lower on the set is ideal to pull the ear bases in and help support the ears standing.
Make sure the location of the holes identical on each side.
(I obviously did not make sure they were in identical locations for this set as you can see one hole is much higher than the other.)
Cut two pieces of string of identical lengths. I prefer to cut more than I think I need so I have extra to work with when tying the ears together. You can always cut it shorter after!
Use a yarn needle to pull the rope through each hole. If you don't have one, you can use clear tape to keep the rope from fringing while pulling it through.
Place a light layer of glue on the back of the moleskin and place the set in your puppies ear. It should rest on the ear anthelix otherwise known as the small nub at the base of the ear.
Repeat on the other side!
I typically give my puppies a really good chew to keep them busy for a few minutes while the set dries! I like to wait at least 10-15 minutes so the glue is nice and dry. If they aren't dry when you go to tie them together, your sets will move and the ears will not be symmetrical!
Take the string and tie the sets tightly together! For the knot I recommend two tight quick knots before puppy starts to fuss! Take a look and make sure all looks well, and then cut the excess string. Leave enough that you can retie if needed.
Before, during & after
