Rounded or Blunt Ears
Dog breeders have been able to modify the pricked ears of the wolf through selective breeding. This has resulted in an upright ear with a curved tip. This ear type can be found on French Bulldogs.
As the name implies, bat ears are large, V-shaped ears that resemble those of a bat. They are often outwardly inclined and extend beyond the sides of the dog’s head. Breeds with this type of ear design include the Chihuahua and the Corgi.
Rose dog ears are erect ears that fall to the side at the midway point and resemble a rose petal. The American Kennel Club has strict breed standards in place for dogs with this ear type. For example, Whippets must have a small, refined rose ear shape while they are relaxed.
In the dog world, there are numerous variations of erect ears, including the hooded ear. This elegant variation, which is on the Basenji, features curled sides to give off the appearance of a cowl.
Pooches that have rigid ears that flop over at the tip are considered to have semi-pricked ears. Common breeds with this ear type include Collies, Fox Terriers, and Shetland Sheepdogs.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has breed standards that state that Border Collies can either have pricked or semi-pricked ears. If they are semi-erect, the ears must fold forwards or outwards.
The cocked ear, also called the semi-erect, semi-crop, or tipped ear, is an erect ear with a slight bend at the top – similar to the button ear, but the fold does not cover the ear canal in the same way. These dogs have exposed ear canals, which may help them to remain alert for quiet sounds. This ear type is common in Border Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs. For Shetland Sheepdogs, ears that are three-fourths erect are part of the breed standard, so many owners will “tip” their puppy’s ears after some time. While some Sheltie’s ears tip naturally, others will not – because of this, it’s important to wait to see what the situation with the puppy’s ears is for a few months first.
Your dog’s ears are one of the best clues as to how they are feeling. Perhaps one of the most obvious body language changes comes when your dog pins their ears back – this indicates stress, anxiety, or fear. Another obvious change is when your dog pricks their ears up and forward. This signals that your pup is attentive and alert. When your dog is relaxed, their ears will rest comfortably in their normal position.
There is a variation of the drop-ear known as the folded ear. People often confuse this ear with the “floppy” or “cocked” ear – the folded ear is still long. However, instead of falling straight down, this type extends away from the face first and then folds downwards. This type is seen in Bloodhounds, for example.
There are several variations of the erect ear type. For example, bat ears are large in proportion to the head and are common in Chihuahuas and Cardigan Welsh Corgis. Hooded ears are less common than other variants – rather than sitting straight up, this ear type curves inwards slightly, as seen in the Basenji. Just like how erect ears can be pointy, they can be blunt and slightly round too, as seen in French Bulldogs and Chow Chows. Last but not least, a breed-specific variation of the erect ear is seen in English Toy Terriers. Experts describe the ears as a “candle flame” shape in the breed standard. These ears are set high on the head and are proportionately close together. They have pointy tips and slight indents in the sides.
Many people are familiar with their dog’s amazing sense of smell but are less aware of their hearing abilities. A dog’s sense of hearing is more sensitive than our own – in fact, they can hear sounds as high as 45,000 to 65,000 Hz! As such, their ears are specially adapted to pick up faint sounds. The way that they do this, however, varies from breed to breed. This brings us to the different types of dog ears.
Also a popularly spotted style, drop ears come in many shapes and length varieties, from fully dropped to pendant or pendulous ones. But they all share this similarity: they hang down from their junction at the side of the dog’s head. Basset hounds, like the dog shown here, always have drop ears.
At first glance, this ear type can look similar to those found on a Frenchie. However, bat ears are not only upright, but they’re also in proportion to the head size. Chihuahuas have them, as do cardigan Welsh corgis, like the dog shown here!
A slightly dropped button ear by any other name still looks as sweet! Whippets, bulldogs, and greyhounds have something called rose ears. The way to tell these from a button ear is that the rose style is a small, drop version that folds a bit backward.
As the name implies, these ears look like the letter “V.” On the longer side and always the same triangular shape, v-shaped ears may be dropped or not. Breeds sporting this style include the bullmastiff and the vizsla, shown here.
Keep scrolling to see photos and learn more about the 12 most common ear shapes dogs have – which type does your pup listen with?