ears back?what does it mean?

katie_daily · 07-06-2007, 07:01 AM

Hi,
I posted last year sometime about my wee westies. One is a year and a half - Sweep, and the other is nearly 2-molly. I'm just interested to know if anyone knows what it means when a westie puts their ears back flat against their head? Sweep is always doing it! Generally if she's just sitting on the sofa and often when she wants to be stroked or played with. Her ears go so flat that if you look at her head on, she looks like she doesn't have any!!
She's done it ever since we got her as a pup. Any ideas why???

Thanks
Katie

IceyBlueSibes · 07-06-2007, 07:03 AM

I believe the ears back can mean more than one thing.

I've noticed dogs to put their ears back when they're relaxed, and also when they're nervous. If my dog gets in trouble, their ears immediately flatten onto their head. But that also happens if they're getting pet, or are just very relaxed

Ritz459 · 07-06-2007, 09:03 AM

Chloe (she has half prick ears) lays her ears back on her head when she is being submissive/happy dog and when she is scared/nervous. Dogs will also lay back their ears in aggression....a snarling wild eyed dog isn't going to have perk ears, his ears will be pinned back to his head.

Camz · 07-09-2007, 02:19 PM

When I'm petting Orchid, she always puts her ears back and "grins" at me. It must be a sign (as the other posters mentioned) of relaxation/submission IF she's doing it when you pet her.

But Icy is right, and you have to look at their body language as a whole to understand what they are saying.

For example, if a dog has its tail low between its legs, is averting its eyes, and is whining and ALSO has the ears pinned back, it is likely upset or frightened by something.

Hope this helps!

Shelties · 07-10-2007, 09:11 AM

casey's ears go back when he's being petted or you're talking to him or you call him over or when you approach him or when he gets excited to greet people. It just a submission, when he does this his tail is wagging. Chloe's ears go slightly back but not all the way like casey does. Casey is a very submissive dog...your dog could just show signs of submissive.

borzoimom · 07-17-2007, 09:09 AM

Depends on the breed. My breed keeps their ears folded all the time. Up ears is high interest like for a chase. Our joke here is - left ear up- run left, right ear up- run right, and both ears up- run straight on.. lol..

britishbandit · 07-17-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borzoimom

Our joke here is - left ear up- run left, right ear up- run right, and both ears up- run straight on.. lol..

Too funny!

katie_daily · 07-26-2007, 05:30 AM

Thanks everyone for you response!
She's never been aggressive and never comes across as the nervous type! It must just be a submissive thing then. She also tends to roll over and lie on her back and just stays there - so i'm guessing she's just a very submissive westie!
Thanks again
Kate

07-06-2007, 07:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
katie_daily Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0	ears back?what does it mean? Hi, I posted last year sometime about my wee westies. One is a year and a half - Sweep, and the other is nearly 2-molly. I'm just interested to know if anyone knows what it means when a westie puts their ears back flat against their head? Sweep is always doing it! Generally if she's just sitting on the sofa and often when she wants to be stroked or played with. Her ears go so flat that if you look at her head on, she looks like she doesn't have any!! She's done it ever since we got her as a pup. Any ideas why??? Thanks Katie
katie_daily Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0

07-06-2007, 07:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
IceyBlueSibes Eyes = Mirror to the soul Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Jupiter, Fla. Posts: 7,757 Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 273	I believe the ears back can mean more than one thing. I've noticed dogs to put their ears back when they're relaxed, and also when they're nervous. If my dog gets in trouble, their ears immediately flatten onto their head. But that also happens if they're getting pet, or are just very relaxed
	__________________ Sheiba, Denali, Ike, Nitro (Siberian Husky), Kelso (GSD x), Lugar (Boxer/Pit x), Willah (Shepherd/Husky x), Tibby, Cheech, Chong (Chihuahua), and any foster we have in the house! 9 Kitty cats!

07-06-2007, 09:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ritz459 "Nothing is ever easy" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,722 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 235	Chloe (she has half prick ears) lays her ears back on her head when she is being submissive/happy dog and when she is scared/nervous. Dogs will also lay back their ears in aggression....a snarling wild eyed dog isn't going to have perk ears, his ears will be pinned back to his head.
	__________________ ~Blackie, Rose, Chloe (dogs), Pheobe (cat), Casey, Dameon (ferrets), Joey ('Tiel), Dot, Louie (cavies), Pickachu (hamster), Rush (R.I.P. 15yrs), Lucy (R.I.P. 4yrs)~

07-09-2007, 02:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Camz Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 180 Rep Power: 47	When I'm petting Orchid, she always puts her ears back and "grins" at me. It must be a sign (as the other posters mentioned) of relaxation/submission IF she's doing it when you pet her. But Icy is right, and you have to look at their body language as a whole to understand what they are saying. For example, if a dog has its tail low between its legs, is averting its eyes, and is whining and ALSO has the ears pinned back, it is likely upset or frightened by something. Hope this helps!
Camz Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 180 Rep Power: 47

07-10-2007, 09:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Shelties Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 336 Rep Power: 63	casey's ears go back when he's being petted or you're talking to him or you call him over or when you approach him or when he gets excited to greet people. It just a submission, when he does this his tail is wagging. Chloe's ears go slightly back but not all the way like casey does. Casey is a very submissive dog...your dog could just show signs of submissive.
	__________________ "shelties are like a bag of potato chips, you can never have just one"

07-17-2007, 09:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
borzoimom Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 192 Rep Power: 0	Depends on the breed. My breed keeps their ears folded all the time. Up ears is high interest like for a chase. Our joke here is - left ear up- run left, right ear up- run right, and both ears up- run straight on.. lol..
borzoimom Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 192 Rep Power: 0

07-26-2007, 05:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
katie_daily Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0	Thanks everyone for you response! She's never been aggressive and never comes across as the nervous type! It must just be a submissive thing then. She also tends to roll over and lie on her back and just stays there - so i'm guessing she's just a very submissive westie! Thanks again Kate
katie_daily Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0

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