Kind of like dogs with wrinkles, too dogs with long ears everyone really likes them. The large and long ears give your four-legged friend a really tender and sweet air which pushes, even the most reticent, to pamper them without an end.
This really sweet feature also brings us back numerous childhood memories. In most cartoons, in fact, dogs always have long ears: see Pluto, Snoopy, Leone the cowardly dog and many others. It is therefore natural for us to associate long ears with a personality affectionate, naughty e loyal.
What are long ears in dogs for?
The long ears also give the four-legged animal a more airy look submissive and submissive in the eyes of man. To demonstrate its hierarchical inferiority towards the dominant specimens, a large part of the animals tends to flatten the ears as a sign of surrender or fear.
According to the scholar Desmond Morrisas well as a sense of submission, the long ears in some breeds also resemble i human hair. This feature makes the animal even more similar to man and therefore much more familiar and suitable to be chosen.
Since 2010, in Italy it is absolutely prohibited by law (Law 4.11.2010 n.201), cut the ears to make them erect like those of many other species.
Why do hunting dogs have long ears?
As with humans, dogs’ floppy ears also have a functional reason. Most dog breeds that have long ears are very useful for hunting. Almost all hunting dogs have long or droopy ears, just like the bloodhound or beagle.
Straight eared dogs have an uncanny ability to use hearing to very easily locate the exact point from which every single noise comes. On the contrary, hunting dogs have to concentrate primarily on smell to smell the prey. Long ears therefore have the function of covering the eardrum reducing hearing to the bare minimum and thus allowing to prevent the dog from being distracted by the thousands of noises present in the woods and concentrating only on the prey.
In addition to an auditory function, long ears also have the task of to protect the animal from possible plants, thorns or earswhich could injure him while hunting.
How to take care of dogs long ears?
If you are considering adopting a long eared dog, you should know that they are a very sensitive point of your pet and which therefore must be cleaned very well. It is very important to take care of their acoustic pavilions since, given the drooping shape of the ear they are almost never in contact with the air.
As in the case of dogs with wrinkles, it is therefore necessary to check your pet’s ears daily to prevent humidity and lack of air from causing the proliferation of fungi and bacteria. If they are not cleaned regularly, these harmful microorganisms can result infections to the ears and severe otitis which jeopardize your pet’s auditory tract, causing him a lot of pain.
Basic steps to clean your dog’s ears
So do not hesitate to frequently clean your furry ears with the help of disposable hypoallergenic wipes. Then you have to dry the ear well in order not to leave traces of humidity. Heat and humidity are breeding grounds for thousands of microbes and bacteria. If you notice traces of earwax, clean the area well with the help of classic cotton sticks or with simple cotton wool to remove all the accumulated dirt. Be careful not to push the dirt into the ear canal and above all not to injure the animal.
In case you find some black tracksyour dog is likely to have gli acari: don’t hesitate to take him to the vet.
5 dog breeds with long ears
Short-haired Italian Hound
The smooth-haired Italian hound is one of the most used hunting dogs in the Alps and in Po Valley. It has a very fine sense of smell and is very agile and fast.
Although it is considered a hunting dog, it is also very affectionate and faithful, suitable for all families.
Afghan Hound, a dog with long furry ears!
The Afghan Hound, in addition to having very long ears, also has a thick and very long hair.
It has a very particular and elegant appearance and its speed has distinguished it in many dog races. He loves the cold and is a really balanced and intelligent dog.
Basset Hound, the short dog with long ears
Just like the Bloodhound, the Basset Hound also has ears that are as long as the half its height. It is in fact longer than tall, like a dachshund, and is skilled in pursuing prey on very difficult terrain.
It is a very dog sociabletherefore also perfect for staying with the family.
Beagle
One of the dogs could not be missing from the list most loved by Italians, the Beagle. With large ears and short legs, it is one of the bravest burrow hunters ever.
Faithful and playful, it is increasingly found as a companion dog.
Cocker, the dog with long ears par excellence
Cockers have ears so long that they far outstrip their muzzles. They are dogs extremely sporty and activeindispensable for hunting and especially love water.