Ear Shape and Set

Bat Ears
The term 'bat ears' as used in Europe, has a similar meaning to tulip ears, being fully erect, wide and forward facing. They are broad at the base, set fairly wide and rounded at the tips, as in a Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

Blunt-Tipped Ears
Blunt-tipped ears, also described as round-tipped ears, can be seen in breeds such as the French Bulldog and Chow Chow. In these the tips of the ears are clearly rounded, rather than pointed.

Button Ears
Button ears are semi-erect, the lower portion standing upright and the upper section dropped downward or folded down in a forwards direction so as to obscure or partially obscure the orifice to the ear canal.

Candle-Flame Ears
The shape 'candle-flame ears' is specific to the ears of the English Toy Terrier.

Cocked Ears
Cocked ears can also be called semi-crop, semi-prick, or tipped ears. In these the tip is bent just slightly forwards, not so much as in button ears. Shetland Sheepdogs' ears are typical of this type.

Cropped Ears
Cropped or crop ears are made to stand erect as a result of surgical removal of a section of the ear lobe, a practice forbidden in Britain and in a few other countries. Such ears can give a quite different expression to the head and in some countries are cropped to enhance the imposing appearance of the heavier breeds.

Drop Ears
The term 'drop ears' can be expressed in many different ways: as dropped, full drop, folded, pendant, or pendulous ears. They are all ears which hang down from their junction with the side of the head. The Skye Terrier is a break in which ears may be dropped or pricked.

Prick Ears
Also called erect, upright, or pricked ears, prick ears are those which are standing up stiffly, and can be seen in German Shepherd Dogs, the Siberian Husky and also the Pomeranian. Dogs with prick ears may, however, have either rounded or pointed tips to the ears, according to their individual breed.

Filbert-Shaped Ears
This is a particularly unusual shape of ear; the term is used most often to describe the ears of the Bedlington Terrier. The term is taken from the shape of a hazel nut or filbert.

Flying Ears
Flying ears are those which stick out or fly away from the sides of the head. In many breeds this is a fault and can be in just one or in both ears. However, in gazehounds this is considered to be perfectly acceptable for, when something catches their attention, they lift their ears to hear sounds better. Flying ears, to a greater or lesser degree, can also be temporary; they are often caused by teething.

Folded Ears
Ears which are folded are pendant ears, but the loves of the ears hang in downward folds rather than hanging flat. Such ears are seen typically in the Bloodhound and the Field Spaniel

Heart-Shaped Ears
Although the heart shape of the dog's ear cannot really be seen due to the coat which covers the ear, it can be felt. Breeds such as the Portuguese Water Dogs and Pekingese have ears shaped like this.

High-Set Ears
High-set ears are those which start from relatively near to the top of the skull, certainly higher than the level of the eye. Such an ear set is associated with quite a number of different types of ear formation.

Hooded Ears
Hooded ears are relatively small, with both edges of the ear curving forward, as in the Basenji.

Lobe-Shaped Ears
Lobe-shaped or lobular ears describes the shape of ear required by breeds such as English Springer, Irish Water, and Cocker Spaniels. Again this can be felt but not so easily seen due to the ear furnishings (fur).

Low-Set Ears
The opposite of high-set ears, these are ears which begin from a reasonably low position on the skull, as in the Bloodhound.

Rolled Ears
Rolled ears are long, pendant and folded. They are associated with hound breeds; the lower tip and edge of the ear are curled inwards.

Rose Ears
Rose ears are fairly small, drop ears which fold over and backwards, exposing the burr on the inside of the external ear canal. Rose ears are found in some Pugs, Whippets and also Bulldogs.

Triangular Ears
Triangular ears are those in which the three sides of the ear from an equilateral triangle. They may be pricked or dropped. Siberian Husky, Norwegian Buhund and the Pyrenean Mountain Dog are examples of this ear type.

Tulip Ears
Tulip ears are often described differently in different countries. In Britain, they are generally rose or semi-drop ears, which, for some reason, are erect and as such are faulty. However, in some countries 'tulip ears' is terminology used to describe ears which are stiffly erect, with edges curved slightly forward, as in the French Bulldog

 V-Shaped Ears
V-shaped ears are triangular and are usually dropped, though not always. There is good length from tip to base, as with the ears of the Bullmastiff or Hungarian Vizsla.