These are simple step by step instructions for ear taping that leaves the base of the ear
open rather than sticking a stay inside of the ear. Remember that taping should be a fun
and easy experience for your puppy. It often helps to have another person to hold and
praise the puppy for the taping process.Be sure to completely clean the puppy's ears
before beginning taping. Tapes should be removed every 7-10 days with an adhesive
remover (I like GooGone or DeSolvIt). Clean ears and retape as soon as possible.
Rule of Thumb: Every day out of tapes is another week in.
Supplies:
Torbot Bonding Cement- from medical supply store.
1 1/2" wide Zonas tape (Johnson&Johnson)
Two 8" zip ties with ends cut off
1" wide piece of pipe insulation (hardware store in plumbing)
Gold Bond Medicated Powder

Prepare your supplies before hand so that the puppy only
has to sit still for a few minutes.
Put the zip ties side by
side on the tape and
found tape lengthwise
over the zip ties. Be
sure to leave a bit of
extra tape on each end.
Cut the stay in half
so that you have a
4" stay for each ear.
Cut the pipe
insulation in half so
that you have two
equal pieces.
Wrap tape around
the stays and
foam pieces so
that the sticky
side is facing out.
Apply Torbot adhesive to one
side of each stay and one
side of each foam. Let set for
a few minutes so that the
adhesive becomes tacky.
Apply a second coat before
taping ears.
Apply Gold Bond
Medicated Powder to
the outside of the ear
along the natural fold at
the front of the ear.
Cut or tear tape.
Two 8" pieces to go over the top of the stay
One 4" piece, tear lengthwise into two pieces to wrap
around tips
Two 8" pieces to go around the foam and base
One 8" piece, tear lengthwise into two pieces to form
the bridge
There is a button of skin
on the inside of the ear.
This is where you will rest
the flag end of the stay.
Press the flag end against
the button. If the stay
doesn't reach the tip of
the ear, you may need to
use longer zip ties.
Fold 8" wide tape over the
stay. Be sure that the tip
if the ear is not curled in
the tape.
Use 4" narrow tape to
tape the tip. Be sure the
fold it gently around the
ear in the direction of
the ear fold.
Do not wrap the tape
around. Lay it around
the tip of the ear and
press it down.
Press the sticky side of
the foam piece to the
button of the ear. It
should not be inside the
base of the ear.
**Important**
Be sure to pull the ear up and out away from the puppy's head before taping
the foam piece into place.
Using the 8" wide base tape,
tape around the foam piece and
base of ear using the same
process as on the tip. Do not
wrap the tape, lay it in place and
press it down. Wrapping the
tape tightly will cut off the blood
supply to the ear and could
possibly damage the ear tissue.
Repeat the process on
both ears. (Doesn't
Cadet look thrilled to be
my model?)
Using the 8" narrow
strips, make a flag
around the base of
each ear with the
sticky side of the tapes
facing each other.
Wrap the sticky ends of
each flag together to
join the bridge. Be sure
the ears are straight up
and down.
This is a good example of
the finished, correctly
taped ears on baby India.