How to Cut Dog Hair in Ears

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How to Cut Dog Hair in Ears

Medium

10 - 25 Minutes

6 Weeks

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Introduction

Trimming hair in your dog's ears can be quite a big task. But you can cut the hair on your dog's ears with a short pair of sharp scissors. You can also clip this fur in his ears with a small set of trimming shears or trimming clippers. Many dog groomers will pluck the hair in your dog's ears by small sections. Some dog owners don't like to do this for fear of harming their dog in a sensitive area and opt to use scissors or clippers. Your dog’s ears will look tidy and clean with the hair in the ears cut. A tidy ear also stays cleaner and healthier.

Dog's Perspective

Anytime you have scissors or a set of clippers near your dog's ears you're going to need to pay close attention to your dog and keep his head as still as you possibly can. You don't want your dog jerking his head to one side or another causing the scissors to injure his face or inside his ears.

The Scissors Method

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Scissors

Step

Prepare

Prepare your workspace with short, thin scissors. You’ll need a size appropriate for your dog’s ear size. Ear powder or talcum powder can be helpful in easing irritation in the ears during trimming. If your dog is small, a towel on a table or counter will help keep him still. If you have a larger dog, a blanket on the floor might be a better working space.

Step

Powder

Sprinkle a small amount of powder into your dog’s ears. It might be best to use your fingers to sprinkle rather than dumping from a container. This will help condition the fur inside his ears as well as tend to sensitive skin after trimming.

Step

Trim

Hold your dog’s head very still as you enter the ear with the tips of short scissors. Carefully cut the ear hair as close to the skin as possible. To get a clean cut, hold your trimming shears or scissors parallel against the skin. To avoid cutting the ear, do not press down on the skin inside the ear.

Step

Wipe out

Wipe out the ear with a damp cloth. This will remove any excess fur and keep fur from dropping inside the ear canal.

Step

Repeat

Repeat these steps for each ear. You may need to enter each ear several times to get all of the hair from all different angles.

Step

Treat

It's always a good idea to end any grooming session with a delicious treat for your puppy.

The Clippers Method

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Scissors

Hemostat

Clipper

Step

Prepare

You will need clippers small enough to enter your dog's ear. Consider also having a soft damp cloth for cleaning and some treats on hand.

Step

Secure your dog

You will need to secure your dog's head so he does not jerk it, causing injury, or try to run away. You can use a partner to hold his head or consider attaching him with a leash and harness to a secure surface.

Step

Treat

Start with a treat. This sets this awkward grooming tasks off on a positive note.

Step

Clippers

If your dog is nervous, scared, or anxious about clippers, turn them on, let him hear the sound, and hold them up against his neck so he can feel the vibration and hear the noise close to his ears. Feel free to give him a treat during this task so he is associates a delicious treat with the sound of the clippers.

Step

One ear

Hold the clippers inside one ear while pulling the outer ear away from your dog's body with your other hand. Try to clip as much fur as you can from inside the ear. Be cautious of any folds and wrinkles hidden inside that ear. Your goal is not to shave it but to just shorten the fur inside the ear.

Step

Repeat with second ear

Repeat the above step for the second ear. Be cautious of any folds or wrinkles hidden inside the ear underneath this ear hair.

Step

Tidy up

Check both ears for any additional areas that require trimming or clipping. If you feel scissors or hemostat would be better to trim these areas that are left over after clipping feel free to use scissors to clip extra fur. You can also use your fingers or hemostat to pluck any fur leftover.

Step

Cloth

Dampen a soft cloth and use it to wipe out to the interior of your dog's ear. This should remove any excess fur left inside the ear. Try to get out as much fur as you possibly can to avoid any debris inside the ear canal which could potentially cause pain or infection.

Step

Reward

End your ear grooming session with a reward for your pup. Save some high-value treats for the end of the session to ease any pain and help your dog get over any anxiety caused by trimming the fur in his ears.

Caution & Considerations

Many dog owners do not wish to pluck the hair in their dog's ears as it may be painful for the dog.
Some dog owners and groomers argue plucking opens pores and follicles, creating the possibility for bacterial growth and potential infections.
Trimming your dog's ear hair with scissors or clippers is easy to do. Just be sure you are keeping your dog safe by controlling his head movements.
No matter how you cut your dog's ear hair, you want the passage to his ear canal to be as clear as possible.
Ears that are dirty with a bad odor need to be cleaned on a regular basis.
Have your veterinarian check your dog's ears if they are red, swollen, or particularly dirty.
Keeping your dog's ear hair clipped or cut will help keep the ear canal clean of debris and bacteria that may cause infection
Anytime you cut the hair in your dog's ears, be sure to wipe out the ear canal with a clean a wet cloth or paper towel to remove any loose hair before it enters the ear canal.
Apple cider vinegar and water is a good wash for wiping down the inside of your dog's ear.
Avoid placing anything in your dog's ear further than your eye can see.

Conclusion

Cutting the hair in your dog's ears gives him a dapper and tidy look. But don't let this pretty pooch look fool you. Keeping on top of long ear hair is also important for the overall health of your pup's ears. Give your dog clean ears free of debris and odors so he can hear your commands and be the best companion ever.