WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A DOGS EARS ARE BACK

Question
I HAVE A 5 MONTH OLD LAB RETRIEVER AND WE HAVE GIVEN HER TO A TRAINER FOR OBEDIANCE---SHE HAS BEEN THERE A WEEK ---WE WENT TO SEE HER YESTERDAY AND THE FIRST THING THAT I NOTICED WAS HAT HER EARS WERE BACK ----DOES THIS MEAN EXCITEMENT ? FEAR ?

Answer
I don't like that.  Labs don't do as much with their ears as erect ear breeds, but an excited,  happy dog won't have its ears back.  It is quite possible you have entrusted your dog to a trainer using older, harsh methods.  Much of the dog training world is moving to well proven, positive methods.  The older methods will take a long time to die out.  Cesar Milan is a major problem, popularizing them, see http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/15/CMGPHL9D1N1.DTL

Unless you know the the trainer is using positive methods, I would end the program as soon as you can.  No program does much good without trainer the owners too.  Look for APDT certification.