When should your dog's pricked ears stand up?

Q My wife and I recently purchased our fourth German shepherd. Two have passed, and we have one who is 11 years old. Our previous puppies' ears stood up at about 2 to 3 months, but our new addition turns 4 months tomorrow, and her ears still droop. We feed her a brand of puppy chow, she has had all her shots, and is otherwise healthy. Is this a normal progression, or do some dogs take longer to develop?

Bruce,

Las Vegas

A A German shepherd puppy's ears can take up to six months to stand erect, it and generally occurs sometime after teething. You are still well within that time frame for it to happen naturally. Her ears may be a little further apart on her head compared with your other dogs, which may contribute to the slower progression. Too much play with other dogs and too much head petting by you and your family can also break down the cartilage some and keep the ears from standing erect.

For now, I wouldn't worry too much, but I suggest visiting your veterinarian between her fifth and sixth month to discuss options. Your veterinarian may recommend taping her ears at this point to help things along. You can also add a teaspoon of cottage cheese or plain yogurt to her food daily to provide a little extra calcium, which helps in the formation of cartilage.

Q I have a 1-year-old terrier mix who is very calm and sweet all day until bedtime. She comes to bed with us and immediately begins to scratch and paw at the bed covers. This behavior continues until I pick her up and calm her down. Finally, she will lie down and then sleep through the night. How can we make bedtime more relaxing for us all?

Nancy,

Dix Hills 

A This behavior is completely normal. Dogs often make a spot for themselves by pawing the ground and/or pulling and pushing nearby blankets and covers. And, it's not unusual for them to do it for quite a while until they have their special space just right. Have you thought of adding a small blanket to your bed, so she has something to paw at rather than your covers? If you think she is unnecessarily anxious, give her a little melatonin about an hour before bedtime. Your veterinarian can recommend a brand and dosage, but generally, 1 milligram is what's recommended by Dr. Linda Aronson of Petshrink.com in Berlin, Massachusetts, who conducted research on dogs and melatonin.

While I wouldn't worry too much about this behavior, you should be able to tell your dog to "stop" or "leave it," depending on what you have taught her, and she should stop whatever she is doing and listen to you. Clap your hands or use a Pet Corrector (compressed air) to interrupt the behavior and then call her to you. Reinforce this training, so you can halt the behavior without having to pick her up. But remember, it's normal for dogs to paw at their beds.

Q I read the recent column about a cat scratching furniture. My cats would never use scratching posts. They love and use the cardboard scratching boxes that sit on the floor. You can buy them at most cat supply places. I think it must be the feel of the cardboard and that they can sink their claws in further.

L. Weichbrodt, via email

A I recently visited my son and daughter-in-law and watched as their cats clawed one of their expensive fabric bar stools. They decided not to do anything about it since, they said, it kept their cats from clawing anything else in their house. The moral of this story is, every cat owner must determine what works for their cats, understanding that cat-scratching is a normal and healthy behavior necessary for sharpening their claws and marking their territories. The flat scratch boxes you recommend are a popular choice for many felines.