My Dog Keeps Getting Their Ear Posts Off. What Do I Do?

If your dog keeps getting their posts off before your next appointment, it's usually not bad luck. In most cases, it comes down to your dog's environment and daily habits at home. Owners with high energy or out of control dogs run into this the most, because posts take more of a beating during play, scratching, and everyday chaos than most people expect.

Here's what I tell my clients to focus on between posting sessions.

1. Crate train. A crate gives your dog a place to settle down where posts aren't at risk. If your dog is bouncing off the walls all day, the posts are taking that same beating.

2. Limit play with other dogs. Wrestling, tugging, and rough play are some of the fastest ways to knock a post loose. Save the playdates for after posting is finished.

3. Limit scratching and pawing at the ears. This is one of the biggest culprits. Dogs paw at their ears when the posts feel new or itchy, and that repeated pressure works the tape loose fast.

4. Don't leave your dog unsupervised for long periods if it's not necessary. The less time your dog spends alone with nothing stopping them from messing with their ears, the better your posts hold.

5. Use a cone. If your dog is a repeat offender, a cone removes the temptation completely. It's not glamorous, but it works.

If you're doing all five of these consistently and your dog is still getting their posts off before your next posting session, it may be time to apply a small layer of glue to help hold the post in place.

Here's the part most owners don't realize. The goal isn't just to post the ears, it's to keep them posted as consistently as possible. Even one day out of posts can set your dog back and extend the total time it takes to get lasting results. Every time your dog gets them off, that stretch of healing starts over again.

If your dog keeps getting their ears out no matter what you try, that's usually a sign it's time for a professional to take a closer look at your dog's specific ears and posting setup. It may also be time to look into training, since a dog that can't stop scratching, pawing, or acting out is often dealing with an underlying behavior issues.