9 Dogs with Long Ears
Do your ears hang low and wobble to and fro? For these pups, the answer is a clear and resounding “yes”.
Long ears on dogs are thought to help funnel scents directly from the surrounding environment to their sensitive noses, which helps explain why they’re a common feature on scent hounds and other tracking breeds.
These days, you probably don’t need your dog to be able to use their ears to track your next meal, but those long ears are as cute as they are useful, and remain a distinctive trait on many popular dog breeds. If you’re interested in what those breeds are, here are nine of the most commonly known dogs with long ears.
1. Bloodhound
The most famous long-eared dog might just be the Bloodhound. This large and affectionate breed has been helping humans hunt scents since Medieval times.
Bloodhounds are prone to ear infections, so regular cleanings are a must to keep dirt, debris, and bacteria out of the folds and canal of their delicate—and impressive—ears.
2. Afghan Hound
The origins of this ancient breed are hard to nail down since they’re thought to have been around since long before people started writing about them. What we do know is that they can be traced back to several regions in Afghanistan and that their long and flowing ears are as distinguishable a part of the breed as their luxurious coat.
These long-haired coats need a lot of maintenance, so Afghans are best suited to homes that can dedicate the time to this task.
3. American Cocker Spaniel
Long ears are a pretty dominant trait in Spaniels, including the American Cocker Spaniel, the Field Spaniel, and the Welsh Springer Spaniel.
The American Cocker Spaniel’s happy disposition and kid-friendly personality are two things that make them popular family pets (along with those curly-haired ears, of course).
4. Basset Hound
This list wouldn’t be complete without the lovable Basset Hound, a charming breed that’s as famous for their agreeable nature as they are for their outstanding ears.
Their scent tracking abilities are second only to the Bloodhound, and those long and droopy ears certainly help explain why. Just be prepared for some stubbornness, as this is a typical characteristic of the breed.
5. Beagle
Beagles are among the most popular dog breeds in the world, and have been for some time. That’s due in large part to their reputation as excellent family pets, with carefree attitudes and a knack for easily adapting to their environments. We think those adorable long, floppy ears might have something to do with it too.
6. Treeing Walker Coonhound
Long ears are a common trait among Coonhound breeds, as evidenced by the Treeing Walker Coonhound. This intelligent American working breed uses both their striking ears and their distinctive bark to help humans out hunting.
As with many scenthounds, you might have to put a little extra work in when it comes to the recall training.
7. Havanese
One of the smaller breeds on this list, Havanese are clever pups with long ears that are proportionate to their bodies and a silky coat that necessities regular grooming.
These dogs are often chosen by owners prone to allergies. While there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog, Havanese shed hair minimally.
8. Lhasa Apso
Another small breed, the Lhasa Apso originated in Tibet more than 2,500 years ago and has a dense, durable coat coupled with (you guessed it) some seriously long ears.
Their ear fur runs longer than their ears itself, so check it regularly for tangles and debris. This is another breed that has a high-maintenance grooming regime, but, on the plus side, they don’t shed much.
9. Weimaraner
Rounding out this list is the Weimaraner, a graceful and affectionate sporting breed with captivating eyes and ears that are useful when they’re on the hunt.
Those velvety, oversized ears are thought to be the product of some interbreeding with Bloodhounds back in the day, but these days they’ve made the trait all their own – and their length is a little more manageable.
Weimaraners are athletic and energetic and will need a home that can offer them enough exercise and stimulation to prevent problem behaviors from developing.
