Big Ears, Big Hearts: 20 Dogs With Ears That Will Melt Your Heart

The Afghan Hound is a breed of hound dog best known for their long hair. The specimens of this breed possess a thick silky coat along with a ring-curled tail.

Called the most glamorous dog in the world, Afghan Hounds have human-like long hair on their heads. These dogs have natural hunting instincts; so they may not necessarily get along with other pets.

Afghan Hounds have long fluffy ears that only add to their beauty. However, it also makes them prone to ear infections. To avoid it, clean their ears at least once a week.

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The Bedlington Terrier is a small dog breed native to Bedlington, England. The dogs of this breed are highly intelligent, friendly, and affectionate.

A dog from this breed named Barry the Bedlington Terrier learned to ride a tricycle; it can even ride a mini Rolls-Royce. This non-shedding canine has dropped ears which are covered by a thick layer of fur. Their low-hanging ears and fur covering don’t let sufficient air or light enter their ear.

Their tassel hair on the ear should be cleaned at least once per week. This dog is also called Rothbury’s Lamb due to its resemblance to a sheep. While they are born dark, their fur becomes whiter as they age.

The Bernese Mountain is a gentle giant known for its affectionate, loyal, and kind nature.It was originally called the Berner Sennenhund. These canines are good-natured, loyal, and deeply affectionate.

Dogs belonging to this breed have long triangular ears with rounded tips. When they are alert, their ears come forward, and the top part levels with the top of the skull.

Their fluffy ears can trap moisture which is potentially dangerous for the dog. It could lead to ear infections and other similar problems. Their ears should be regularly cleaned to avoid ear issues.

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Bolognese is a small dog breed native to Bologna, a city in Italy. It is well–regarded for its thick fur that is soft to the touch.

Bolognese dogs have long ears that are set high. Best known as a companion, it is in high demand as the breed is considered a rarity in the US.

The dog can get along with families and even young children. However, Bologneses are highly energetic and require sufficient training and supervision. They also can’t be left alone for more than a few hours as they get separation anxiety.

So, unless you’re ready to make the commitment, the Bolognese dog is not for you.

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The Briard is a large shepherd dog that was originally used to herd and guard sheep. The breed is named after a part of France called Brie.

These dogs have thick fur which feels sturdy to the touch. It can come in grey, fawn, blue, and black. Their fluffy ears, nearly half the size of their heads, can be cropped or left natural. When they are in an alerting situation, their ears naturally lift up. At times, their raised ears give the looks of a square head.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a toy dog breed named after King Charles II of the British Empire. The small-sized dog has a soft coat of straight hair. It also grows hair on its tail, legs, feet, and ears.

The feathering in its ear is considered one of the best features of the dog. Their ears, which hang on the side of their head help in protecting the inner and middle hearing canals. But, it has a drawback as the ears also block air. These dogs should be checked regularly for wax and any solid particles that may have been stuck in their ears.

The Coonhound is a scent hound breed originally from the United States. These dogs were initially bred to hunt raccoons, feral pigs, bears, cougars, and bobcats.

Coonhounds are large dogs that are currently divided into six breeds: Black and Tan Coonhound, Bluetick Coonhound, English Coonhound, Red Coonhound, Plott Hound, and Treeing Walker Coonhound.

These dogs have extremely long ears that hang below their heads
A black & tan Coonhound named Lou currently holds the Guinness World Record for the longest ears on a living dog. Her ears currently measure 34 cm (13.38 inches) in length.

The Doberman Pinscher is a large dog breed native to Germany. The breed is known for its strength, agility, and durability.

These dogs naturally have floppy years, but most of the Pinschers have pointy ears due to cropping. If you are not aware, cropping is the process of removing some or all parts of the ears’ external flaps and taping the remaining part.

While it was traditionally considered to be an important procedure, it is now labeled as a cruel and unnecessary process. Many countries have banned the cropping of an animal’s ears, including Australia, Belgium, England, Denmark, Germany, and more.

The English Cocker Spaniel is a breed that was originally bred to be a gun dog. It was initially used to retrieve game birds but it became a favorite as a household dog due to its silky coat and companionship.

English Cocker Spaniels have fluffy ears that hang low. Their close-lying ears make them vulnerable to different health-related issues. They need weekly grooming to remove any wax or debris that might have fallen inside their ears. Also, they need regular walks and exercise to keep them in shape.

The French Bulldog is a small breed dog that was originally bred as a cross between Toy Bulldogs and Parisian Ratters. It is a companion dog popular for its charming looks. This breed has a muscular build and poses a soft & loose coat which gives it a wrinkly appearance.

French Bulldogs normally have floppy ears at birth. But, as they grow up, their ears start becoming pointy. This process usually takes between 6 weeks to 18 months of the dog’s birth.

Once the ears are fully erect, they form rounded tips with wide bases. Their ears often resemble bat ears.

The Golden Retriever is possibly one of the most beloved dog breeds in the world. These canines have a soft double coat of fur popular for their golden appearance. However, they can also be found in different shades from light cream to dark red.

Golden Retrievers have V-shaped ears with fur growing on the outside. Sadly, like many other breeds with similar traits, their ears can block the flow of air, leading to yeast and other infections. Vets advise dog parents to regularly clean their ears and dry them as soon as possible after taking a bath or a swim.

The Irish Setter is a large breed of dog adored fur its size, speed, and looks. This breed has a wavy coat of silky fur that comes in chestnut and mahogany colors. 

These outdoor dogs are extremely intelligent, friendly, and loyal to their owners.

Irish Setters have long fluffy ears that hang below their heads. They normally possess curly or wavy feathers on the external flaps of their ears. Like many other dog breeds, Irish Setters are vulnerable to ear infections and other health-related problems.

Try to schedule a weekly appointment with your nearby professional dog cleaner to remove wax and debris.

The Leonberger is a breed of giant dogs that originated from Leonberg, Germany. The breed is mostly used as a family dog due to its playful, kind, robust, loyal, and intelligent nature.

These dogs have fleshy pendant-shaped ears that drop to the level of their mouth’s inner corners. Their ears rise from between the top of their skulls and eyes. Owners are advised to clean their hair and nails regularly to avoid any health problems.

The Newfoundland is a breed of large working dogs. While this breed mostly has black-haired dogs, it can also come in grey, black & white, and brown.

These canines have thick coarse fur which helps them survive in extreme cold weather. They have floppy ears accompanied by long ear canals. Their ears normally blend with their heads; ears too high or low should be checked by a vet for possible health problems. 

The Papillon is a breed of short, spaniel-type dog. This breed is intelligent, affectionate, and family-friendly. These dogs have single-coated fur that can easily survive summer but makes them vulnerable to cold weather.

The most iconic part of these tiny dogs is their butterfly wings-like hair generated by the fringe ears. While Papillon are famous for their ears, dogs of this breed with spaniel ears are called Phalene.

The Pharoah Hound is a hunting dog native to Malta. The breed has a short but glossy coat of either chestnut or tan color.

One of the most distinct features of this dog is its naturally large pointy ears. Like French Bulldogs, their ears are flat at birth. But, it doesn’t take long as their ears become erect within 4 weeks of their birth. Their ears are triangle-shaped and have an excellent sense of hearing. Due to this feature, they were used to hunt across rough terrain with minimum visibility.

The Saluki is a sighthound dog with an excellent sense of vision. They are hunting dogs that use sight instead of smell to chase and hunt games.

While these dogs can normally run at a speed of 30-35 mph, some specially trained dogs from this breed have reached a speed of nearly 50 mph.

The Saluki is a close relative of the Afghan Hound. So, it’s no surprise that this dog has developed long fluffy ears that resemble its cousin. In fact, the resemblance is so uncanny that people not aware of their breeds have confused them to be the same breed. But, unlike the Afghan Hound, the Saluki is reserved and quiet. Also, it has much less hair than its cousin.

The Spinone Italiano is a hunting dog native to Italy. Dogs from this breed are excellent swimmers and can even survive in cold water due to their water-resistant fur.

These canines have hair on their ears that go down the ear canal to protect the ear drum. This feature is very rare in dogs and only a few breeds possess it. Italianos have long fluffy ears that hang lower than their face.

To check if they have any problems in their ears, smell the inner parts. They should not smell anything other than wax.

The Tibetan Mastiff is considered the biggest dog in the world. These sheepdogs have thick fur to survive extremely cold weather and can walk comfortably in temperatures of -4°F.

Tibetan Mastiffs have V-shaped ears on the top of their head that droops slightly forward. Their ears also have soft fur to insulate them from the cold. As they live in cold temperatures, they are at much lesser risk of catching infections. While they need regular baths, their ears don’t need to be cleaned unless they show signs of uneasiness in their ears.

The Weimaraner is a large dog breed often called the Grey Ghost due to its unusual appearance.

Originally bred to hunt large games, these dogs are now dearest pets to thousands of dog owners. The dog’s distinct feature is its short and coarse coat of hair that comes in a range of colors, including charcoal-blue, grey, blue-grey, and silver-grey. Due to a single coat of hair, the breed can’t survive in extreme cold.

These canines have large fluffy ears on the sides of the top of their head. They are low-hanging and can reach the level of their mouth. Like any dog breed with fluffy ears, Weimaraners are constantly at risk of ear infections. If you find one repeatedly flapping its ears, there’s a high probability that there are some medical issues in its ears.