To Tip or Not to Tip (Collie Ears)
As long as there are Collies, there will always be ear tipping problems.
The collie ear. It is an enigma in itself! Some owners go through their collie’s whole life without realizing how important ear structure was in the development of collies. For most collies, if left to its own, their ears will prick straight up towards the sky. However, the breed was historically developed to have a slighly bent ear - 3/4’s erect with the upper 1/4 part tipped forwards. Their particuar ear circumference, along with the cupped base and tipped ear provided maximum sound absorbance - something that was extremely important for collies who herded in the sheep fields. They needed to be able to listen acutely for preditors that might sneak up on them or their charges. As mentioned, it is unfortunate that today, due to poor breeding stock and methods, most collie ears do not tip on their own, but instead must be trained in puppyhood. Some show professionals believe that a pointed ear ruins the collie’s natural expression and a lot of energy and time goes into different means of ear tipping their collies.
However, if your collie’s ears do not tip naturally, do not fret! A collie, is a collie, is a collie. He will love you, adore you, and provide many years of affection with or without the top 1/4 of his ear tipped. Would you get angry at your daughter if her hair curled instead of fell strait? Of course not! The tipped ear, outside of historical significance in the field, is something a regular, every day pet owner should not need to concern themselves over.
Do remember though, if you get a collie with the intention of one day showing them, you should invest the time to make sure their ears do tip to maximize your collies chances of winning in the ring. Read books, google searches on collie ear tipping, and - best of all - talk to your collies breeder to find out the best course you should take in your ear tipping endeavors.
What Next? Read more!
- Grooming your Collie
- Fun Facts about Collies
- Collie Bathing
- 3 Keys to Keeping a Beautiful Collie
- Intro to Collie Grooming
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