{"id":9967,"date":"2022-07-07T09:18:10","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T09:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/blog\/uncategorized\/cutting-dogs-ears\/"},"modified":"2023-03-30T11:04:25","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T11:04:25","slug":"cutting-dogs-ears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/en-us\/blog\/puppy-health\/grooming\/cutting-dogs-ears\/","title":{"rendered":"Ear Grooming: Cutting Dogs Ears"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

No, no, please don\u2019t misunderstand us when we say cutting dog\u2019s ears we definitely do not mean ear cropping, we mean trimming the ear hair! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever looked inside your puppy’s ears? Take a look…pretty hairy in there isn\u2019t it? We doubt you\u2019ve given it much thought and who can blame you when there\u2019s so much cuddling to do, but ear hair can cause problems if it\u2019s not trimmed or plucked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As usual, Zigzag is here to tell you everything you (n)ever wanted to know about trimming your puppy’s ear hair. We\u2019ll fill you in on when you should be cutting your dog\u2019s ears and how best to do it, training tips to help ear cutting go smoothly, and what the best equipment is to trim ear hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you need to trim your dog\u2019s ear hair will vary depending on their breed, Breeds that commonly need their ears cut are Poodles, Cockapoos, Labradoodles, Maltipoos and other poodle crosses, as well as Maltese and Bichons.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people will recommend plucking over trimming, which you decide to do is a personal opinion, and it can be quite a contentious subject, the plucking vs trimming argument. Generally, dogs who have hairy ears need some help to keep the ear canal clean. Too much hair can hold onto moisture, dirt and debris and be a perfect place for ear mites to take up residence. It can also trap wax and cause a bacterial or yeast build-up, creating infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your puppy is itching or scratching their ears<\/a>, take a good look inside and see if they need the ear hair removed, or a really good clean – the mucky pups!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for help with grooming your puppy, teaching them about the world around them, or having the best-trained hound in town, look no further than the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve created a personalized program based on your puppy\u2019s age, breed type<\/a> and lifestyle, so you get the right content in the palm of your hand, right when you need it. We also have a great bunch of puppy coaches<\/a> on hand to help you whenever you need them, yep 7 days a week. They LOVE puppy pics and learning more about you, so don\u2019t be afraid to get in touch with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Alvan Nee<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When do I cut my dog\u2019s ears?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting your puppy used to grooming<\/a> and handling when they\u2019re young, will come in handy when it\u2019s time to cut your dog\u2019s ears. The more positive experiences they have when they\u2019re little, the better they\u2019ll be at coping with you cutting their ear hair later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all breeds need their ear hair cut, take a look in your dog\u2019s ears, do they need the hair trimming, or is it not thick enough to worry about? Some breeds just need more of an ear cleaning – especially Frenchies<\/a> or Boston Terriers, who have prick ears that collect a lot of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I do it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few different ways to cut your dog’s ears <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to cut your dog\u2019s ear hair with clippers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is probably the way a groomer will do it, but if you get the right grooming<\/a> equipment, you can do it at home too. Your dog will need to be ok with the noise and sensation of the clippers, if they haven\u2019t had any experience with them before, teach them clippers are a nice thing first before attempting to clip their ear hair, as it\u2019s quite full-on for a puppy and can be scary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n