Do you have a German Shepherd? Ever wonder, why do my German Shepherds move its ears back? This is a type of body language that you should know to be a better dog owner. There are several reasons for this, and it is important to be familiar with them. When you know why your German Shepherd moves its ears back, you can respond accordingly.
Offhand, your German Shepherd may be moving its ears back for three usual reasons. First, it is excited about something. Second, it is doing it as a show of submission to you. And third, it may be warning you about something. These are some of the things to take note of when you analyze this type of body language.
3 Reasons for The Ear Movement
Below is a more in-depth explanation of each reason why your German Shepherd is moving its ears back:
Reason 1: Your German Shepherd is feeling excited.
Your German Shepherd may be excited if it moves its ears back. Another clue that can help confirm this is yet another type of body language. If it is accompanied by the wagging of its tail, then it may indeed be very excited! These two movements usually occur when something exciting happens to your dog.
It may feel excited when it sees you arriving home at the end of the day, for example. Another reason may be when it anticipates a trip outside the house, which it probably likes and looks forward to.
Reason 2: Your German Shepherd is being submissive.
A German Shepherd may move its ears in a backward fashion as a sign of submission. There are other signs to confirm a submissive stance apart from moving the ears back. One is when your pet´s ears are pinned back in a downward, hanging fashion. To add, it may also lower itself down on the ground soon after.
You may also see it accompanied by crying or hiding. Your German Shepherd may demonstrate this submissive move when it does something it is not supposed to. One common example is when it pees indoors when it knows it should not. If it pulls its ears back and downward, it may be feeling guilty for the error and knows it annoyed you.
Reason 3: Your German Shepherd may be warning you about something.
If your German Shepherd is moving its ears back, be very alert and extra careful. This could be a sign that it is telling you to back off. You will know this if it also pins its ears straight back. Other signs that can confirm this include baring its teeth, snarling, and standing rigid or stock-still. This reason may arise when it is eating and does not want to be disturbed.
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Timing of the Ear Pull-Back
You should also contextualize the situation in which your German Shepherd puts its ears back. As a sign of being excited, it may do this in several contexts. One, it does this every time you arrive home. Two, you notice it when you are getting ready for a walk. Three, it puts its ears back when you shower it with attention.
Sometimes, the timing of when German Shepherds move their ears back are because of a negative context. This sometimes means they need to display aggression. Again, it is usually when they are busy eating. Other times, it is when they are feeling threatened.
Other Signs Worth Checking Out
As mentioned earlier, there are other signs that help confirm the different reasons for the ears moving backward. This means you also need to pay attention to the German Shepherd´s other features.
1. Eyes.
You can easily tell about your German Shepherd´s mood by looking at its eyes. If it has a wide-eyed look, it may be feeling afraid, stressed out, or aggressive. The wide-eyed look shows a lot of white on the eyeballs with dilated pupils. On the other hand, if you see it squinting it may mean it is feeling relaxed.
2. Mouth.
Is your German Shepherd´s mouth hanging open? An open mouth is another sign that your German Shepherd is feeling relaxed. Is its tongue out, and is it making a panting sound? If yes, then that’s also another sign that it is relaxed.
However, excessive panting might mean your German Shepherd is feeling frightened. Other signs of fright may also be a closed mouth, or drooling when there is no reason for it. If your German Shepherd bares its teeth, then that may indicate aggression. But if this is accompanied by a wagging tail, then it might display submission. Squinting and the flattening of ears are also two signs of submission by German Shepherds.
3. Tail.
An excited German Shepherd is one that normally wags its tail. Sometimes, they may also decide to raise it high up in the air as a show of excitement. But if your German Shepherd tucks its tail between its legs, it will mean something else. A German Shepherd that does this is exhibiting a sign of fear.
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4. Hair.
Look carefully at your German Shepherd’s hair, because it can be an indicator of what it is feeling. Do the hairs appear to be raised up in the air? If so, it might mean that your German Shepherd is upset. It can also indicate a sense of arousal in it.
The same hair appearance might also suggest that your German Shepherd is feeling aggressive. The last reason is usually accompanied by other indicators of aggression mentioned earlier. These three reasons are all strong feelings and should be addressed immediately.
5. Panting.
If your dog is panting, it is usually because it is trying to stay cool. But if the panting behavior is excessive, then it might be because it is stressed. If your German Shepherd pants with a tight mouth, that’s a sign that your dog is anxious.
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