Some dog breeds have really unique features. These can range from a super thick, curly coat, to webbed paws. In our opinion, one of the cutest features a dog can have is long ear hair. If you’ve ever owned dogs with long ear hair, you may have wondered if it’s normal for them to have.
And the answer is yes! Longer ear hair is not uncommon and occurs in a lot of different breeds. It was mainly developed in dogs who have a history of digging to keep the dirt out of their ears and protect them. Let’s take a look at some of the breeds that are known for their long ear hair.
9 Different Dogs With Long Ear Hair
Excessive ear hair can be perfectly healthy in a dog, after all, it does prevent most debris and dirt from getting inside their ears. However, it can also lock in moisture and eventually lead to an ear infection. If your dog tends to get ear infections or has extra itchy ears, plucking the hairs safely can help them out.
1. Afghan Hound
Average Lifespan: 12-18 years
Average Weight: 50-60 pounds
Coat: long, straight
Afghan hounds are one of the most notoriously luxurious dogs, often competing in dog shows. The reason that they are seen as being so glamorous is because of their long, silky coat that covers their whole body, including their ears.
The ear hair on an Afghan Hound is so long that it can actually be used to create unique hairstyles for an interesting look. There are plenty of owners who have posted pictures on the Internet of their Afghans sporting a ponytail, a french braid, or even bangs.
These dogs do require grooming every 8-10 weeks because their hair can get too long, whether in the ears or over their paws.
2. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
Average Weight: 13-18 pounds
Coat: medium, wavy
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels love to be the center of attention, and this is easy for them to achieve due to their unmistakably iconic ears. Their ear hair on average is about an inch to half an inch long, but can vary from dog to dog.
Their ears are particularly sensitive, so be careful when grooming them. They should be brushed with the rest of their body a few times a week to prevent matting. And Cavaliers aren’t exclusively hairy on their ears, they are also one of the few dogs that continually grow hair on their paws!
3. Briard
Average Lifespan: 12 years
Average Weight: 55-100 pounds
Coat: long, wavy
Briards have slightly wavy hair that covers them from head to toe, literally. They often have their eyes hidden behind a curtain of bangs that flow into their ear hair.
On some Briards their ears hang low and the hair follows, becoming incorporated with the rest of their fur. On other ones, their ears are cropped and pointy, and the hair falls down them.
Briards will need their ear hair trimmed a little more often than other dogs because they are susceptible to having bacteria growth when the hair is long. You can do this yourself carefully or take them to a groomer.
4. Pekingese
Average Lifespan: 12-14 years
Average Weight: up to 14 pounds
Coat: straight, long
Pekingese are tiny walking fur balls. Their hair is about the same length all around their body, making them a perfect cuddle body. And like Briards, they are susceptible to having otitis, or chronic ear infections.
The longer and floppier your Pekingese’s ears are, the more often they should be cleaned. Their ears can easily hold in mites, fleas, and bacteria. You can use warm water and a cotton cloth to gently wipe down their ears roughly once a week. Make sure to towel dry them anytime they get wet, as wet ears can create more bacteria.
5. Bearded Collie
Average Lifespan: 12-14 years
Average Weight: 45-55 pounds
Coat: long, silky
True to their name, Bearded Collies have an excessive amount of hair, which is very common for dogs with long ear hair. This creates their “beard.” The hair also extends to their ears, giving them a covered face similar to the Briard.
These dogs were bred to be herding dogs, so the development of their ear and face hair was most likely to protect them from the sun. Their ear hair often protects their ears from infection and should be left alone unless your Beardie is showing signs of having one, then a vet visit is recommended.
6. Lhasa Apso
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
Average Weight: 12-18 pounds
Coat: long, straight
Lhasa Apsos have dense, thick fur around their face and ears. Unlike most of the dogs on this list, they absolutely need their ear hair removed. It grows so thickly inside the ears that no air is able to reach them, meaning moisture is retained and ear infections are likely.
Don’t let that fact scare you off though, because Lhasa Apsos are wonderful and friendly companions, often living into their teenage years. They are great with kids and make for perfect lap dogs.
7. Maltese
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
Average Weight: <7 pounds
Coat: long, straight
Maltese have very fuzzy outer ears, but depending on the dog, they may or may not have the same thick hair on the inside of their ears. If your dog does have hair on the inside of their ears, it may not bother them or be an issue!
Maltese can get ear infections, but they are easily avoidable when you keep their ears clean. Like the Afghan Hound, they do not mind you putting their ear hair into fun styles, and you’ll often see them sporting a clip or bow on the top of their head.
8. Papillon
Average Lifespan: 14-16 years
Average Weight: 5-10 pounds
Coat: medium, silky
Papillons are named for their ears, Papillon means butterfly in French, so it’s no surprise they make the list of dogs with long ear hair! You can see their ears from a mile away, with their perky and fuzzy fur flowing out of them.
You don’t need to trim a Papillon’s ear hair, but many owners do to frame their face and keep it from matting. The color of a Papillon’s coat can even come into play for the amount of ear fringe they have. The red and white coated ones typically will have less ear hair.
9. Schapendoes
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
Average Weight: 26-55 pounds
Coat: long, wavy
Like the Briard, Schapendoes have bangs made of thick and wavy fur that cover their ears and eyes. They were also bred as sheepdogs, so it makes sense that the two appear so similar.
These dogs are excellent jumpers and energetic and friendly. They were little known outside of Holland until the 20th century, and even today they are not commonly mentioned. Even though their fur is very dense and long, they shed very little.