Dear Fifi:

Hi. I have a new puppy, Cody, who is a full breed Corgi around 8 - 9 weeks old. When we first got him both ears stood up. It was so cute. But now ... one flops over. Is this something we should be concerned about and have checked by a vet when he goes for his check-up. What could cause it to flop? I've heard so many things that could be the cause.

Thank you for your help.
Loving parents, Rodney and Charlotte Davenport

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Dear Davenports:

Oh, Miss Fifi loves Corgi's. They're horizontal dogs, like me. Rest assured, I'm sure there's nothing wrong with Cody's ears. He's still a little young for his ears to both stand up—if he were closer to four months with floppy ears, then a little concern would be more warranted. I've known quite a number of Welsh Corgi in my day, and even spent a good deal of my youth romping around at Buckingham Palace with them ... but that's a story for another day. Suffice it to say, some ears need time to stand up on their own.

I asked an old friend, Winston, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi descended from royalty (no doubt), how old he was when his ears finally cooperated. "Well, my dear Fifi," he said, "as I recall, I was around twelve weeks. My humans never had to do anything so rudimentary as taping them ... but the vet did say that the muscles in my ears were a bit lazy. Mother said it was something I'd inherited from my father's side of the family. Anyway, the remedy was simple and all together enjoyable. In the evenings, as we lounged in the conservatory, I used to lay in Henry's lap for a relaxing ear massage."

So there you have it, my dears. Some might find asymmetry in their Corgi's ears endearing, while others may find it worrisome. But give Cody a few more weeks to develop on his own before you really panic. Treat him (and yourself) to a leisurely bit of effleurage in the evenings, and Miss Fifi guarantees that a dozen years down the road, Cody will still welcome an evening respite in your lap, much like my friend Winston.