Most French Bulldog puppies develop their signature upright “bat ears” between 4 and 10 weeks of age. During the teething stage, their ears may go up and down or stand unevenly. In most cases, the ears will stand naturally once teething is complete.
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One of the most endearing features of French Bulldogs is their adorable bat ears! Many new Frenchie owners worry whether their puppy will have floppy ears or only one ear standing. Watching a Frenchie’s ears go up is an entertaining process, especially during the teething stage when their ears behave unpredictably.
Many new Frenchie owners become concerned when their puppy’s ears remain floppy or when only one ear stands up. This can make owners wonder if something is wrong. However, ear development in French Bulldogs is a natural process and often varies from puppy to puppy.
French Bulldog puppies develop their signature bat ears at different stages of growth. During the teething phase, their ears may move up and down unpredictably. Some puppies’ ears stand early while others take longer. Understanding this natural process helps owners stay patient while their Frenchie’s ears gradually become erect.
Watching a Frenchie’s ears go up is an entertaining and interesting process. When they do start to go up, they frequently don’t go up at the same time. Their ears do all kinds of wonky things in the teething stage. One ear might be up and one might be down, then the next day the opposite ears will stand and lie down.
One or two ears might start going up, and then the next day they both might be down.
One ear may be up weeks before the other ear stands up. Also, when they do start standing up, they are often not completely erect and can look more like airplane wings. The point is that when he or she is done teething, the ears will generally stand correctly.
Each puppy is on his or her own timetable, even puppies from the same litter. Some puppies have perfectly erect ears at 4 weeks old, while others may take 10 weeks or longer for their ears to stand up perfectly straight.
Usually, if the ears are going to go up on their own without help, you will see signs that they are starting to go up by about 7 weeks. In these cases, it is normally best to just let them go up on their own.
However, there are a few puppies (less than 5%) that have stubborn ears that just don’t want to stand up on their own. In these cases, it is necessary to train the ears for 3 to 5 days by taping them.
The best way to tape the ears is to start by taping each ear individually with 1.4 inch wide masking tape (Duck brand General Purpose Masking Tape is recommended). Tear off a small piece of tape just long enough to loosely wrap around the ear one time towards the base of the ear while keeping the ear flat.
Do the exact same thing on the other ear. It is better to put at least two wraps of tape on each ear so that they are taped from the extreme base to the extreme tip to provide the best support.
Once both ears are wrapped, orient them properly on the top of the head where they should stand once erect. Envision the ears standing at 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock so they are not canted to the sides when erect. Then tape a bridge from one ear to the other.
Leave the tape in place for several days (generally no more than 5) and then gently remove it. If the ears were close to being ready to stand up on their own, they should stay up indefinitely.
Occasionally, they will need to be re-taped a day or two later, and very rarely a third time. But with patience and perseverance, you will be rewarded with beautiful, erect Frenchie ears. Give them a little help and see how naturally things turn around.
Most French Bulldog puppies develop upright ears between 4 and 10 weeks. During teething, their ears may move up and down before eventually standing naturally.
Frenchie ears typically stand fully upright between 4 and 10 weeks. However, some puppies may take slightly longer depending on teething and individual growth patterns.
French Bulldog ears down is common during early development. Teething, muscle growth, and genetics can cause temporary floppiness before the ears eventually stand upright.
Yes, it is completely normal. During the teething phase, French Bulldog ears may rise, fall, or appear uneven before settling into their signature upright bat-ear position.
Yes, some puppies take longer than ten weeks. Every French Bulldog puppy develops differently, and ears may stand later depending on genetics and overall growth.
If you want to continue learning about raising a healthy French Bulldog, check out our detailed diet/care guides. If you’re looking to bring home a new companion, browse our available puppies for sale.
Have questions about your puppy’s ear development? Our team is happy to help—simply reach out through our contact page.
