Dog Ear Shapes and Types
There are a variety of different ear shapes and sizes in the canine world. Here are some of the basics with brief descriptions and examples of breeds with each ear shape.
Large in proportion to the head & upright.
Example of breeds with bat ears: Chihuahua & Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Large, upright ears with blunted or rounded tips.
Example of breeds with blunt-tipped ears: Chow Chow & French Bulldog
A small semi-erect ear with a front flap that folds forward nearly to the skull obscuring most of the ear canal.
Example of breeds with button ears: Jack Russell Terrier & Fox Terrier
Specific ear type of the English Toy Terrier breed.
An upright prick ear that folds over slightly at the tip.
Examples of breeds with semiprick ears: Rough Collie & Pitbull
Created by surgically cropping them shortly after birth so they stand up straight. (This is cosmetic surgery)
Example of breeds often found with cropped ears: Doberman & Great Dane
Can be expressed in a variety of shapes & lengths and specifies only that the ear hang down from their junction with the side of the head.
Examples of breeds with drop ears: Basset Hound & Skye Terrier
An unusual shape to find and named because the ears have the shape of a hazel nut or filbert.
Examples of breeds with filbert-shaped ears: Almost exclusively found in the Bedlington Terrier
Pendant ears that hang in folds rather than hanging flat.
Examples of breeds with folded ears: Bloodhound & Field Spaniel
Small ears that curve inwards from both edges.
Examples of breeds with hooded ears: Basenji
Sharp and pointed ears that stand erect. Can be natural or done by cropping.
Examples of breeds with prick ears: German Shepherd & Pomeranian
A small drop ear that folds backwards.
Examples of breeds with rose ears: Greyhound & Bulldog
Longer, triangular shaped ears that are usually (but not always) dropped.
Examples of breeds with v-shaped ears: Bullmastiff & Hungarian Vizla
Feedback Is Always Welcome
There is quite a bit of conflicting info when it comes to dog ear types and shapes. We did our research, and took what we could from available info. Be sure to check out the ear shape cheat sheet & feedback is always welcome from readers in the know.
Pointy eared dogs are the best, in my opinion.
Tee hee.
I like the type of ear that erect on one side and floppy on the other. I think thats the cutest! This helped alot though, thanks!
these dogs are so cute i was looking for a dog that did not have floppy ears because my dog holly has an ear infection and floppy ears can cause that
thanks so much i need help with describing what kind of ears this dog has thanks
I’m scared that the Pit bull requires a particular sort of operator…these pet dogs, no matter how ‘trusting’ nevertheless have teeth, are still animals not having moral principles and once they DO bite, won’t let go. As in all animals…some often be a lot more suseptable to instinctual habits and time and time again, this breed tends to accomplish just that.
I love pointy eared dogs the best!
Rose ears are by far the superior type of ear. This is well known.
Thank you for putting this up! I have been trying to find what my dog’s ear type was- Button/V-shaped.
THANKS!!!!!
Different ears for different dog breeds–they’re all so cute n’est-ce-pas?
Rose ears are the cutest!
I love all the pointy ears!!
Excellent site showing and explaining dog ear types! Thank you.
That Vizsla picture is the cutest!!
Soo… How do u tell the difference between the candle flame, prick, and hooded ear?
Button ears are the cutest by far. And so are the wire-haired long legged Terriers.
My dog has button ears that are a little longer than the Jack. But the thing is they can pop up straight, prick, like the corgi, and each ear can rotate, probably 90 degrees independently. Do corgis’ do that? I saw her standing next to a corgi and both had one ear up–they looked like cousins, although the face is the only part of Lucy that is at all like that breed. I am just trying to get to the bottom of her background, and it seems like the ears are a feature of something unique.
@ward yes pitbulls do require a particular handler. A owner who is not in to this breed for fighting or being the toughest guy on the block. They are animal aggressive NOT HUMAN AGGRESSIVE. The owner who beats the dog makes the dog that way. I hate the stigmatism with this breed they are great dogs I leave my to play with my nieces and have no worry at all. Ya they are a powerful brees but are a very loyal breed. Little dogs bite too and everyone clumps any dog the looks like a pit as pit. Thought; how did dog fighters handle their dog amd cleaned his wounds if it was human aggressive. Please everyone stop the witch hunt
Hello,
Thank you for taking your time to publish this. It has been a great help.
Although I don’t have favourites as such I do like Button Ears on pugs.
Well Ward, you are scared alright. Have you ever been bitten by a Pitbull? By ANY dog? Do you know somebody who has been? Most likely not. Try Educating yourself. Responsible Pet ownership is the key to a society that lives in harmony. The Pitbull breeds are gentle and playful dogs. Please take a look at all the thousands of Pitbulls who are severely neglected and abused, starved, beaten and have earned every right to bite, yet they do not. You never hear of these dogs. They suffer and die without their sad stories all over the media. Do a search for Patrick on Google. Educate yourself, your fears will go away. This is a very good article on ears, by the way.