13 Dogs with Big Ears That Are Next-Level Adorable Cavan Images/Getty Images We’re all ears
There are some cute dog breeds out there, and by “some,” we mean “all.” And yet there’s just something about oversize ears that makes pups extra adorable, no matter how big (or small) the rest of their body may be. From floppy-eared bassets and beagles to pointy-eared French bulldogs and Ibizan hounds, dogs with big ears come in all shapes and sizes.
Why do some dogs have big ears?
But why exactly do some dogs have jumbo ears? It has to do with how dogs evolved once they started living with humans. “The dogs morphed into different forms over the years because we found that dogs built one way have a skill that dogs built another way don’t have,” says Patricia Craige Trotter, a longtime dog breeder and dog show judge. “Humans bred their dogs to have the skills they needed.”
Some sought out dogs with big, pointy ears because they believed they would have better hearing abilities. Others demanded dogs with long, floppy ears because they were reputed to be better at tracking. (Their ears supposedly “stirred up” the scent as they dragged along the ground.) Are those theories true? It’s hard to say. “There might be some truth to it, but we don’t have the data to back it up,” says Dayna Dreger, PhD, a senior staff scientist with the National Institutes of Health’s Dog Genome Project. And in some cases, it might be that dog breeders just liked the way their dogs looked with big ears. “It could be an aesthetic thing,” says Dreger. “Not everything is functional in dog breeds.”
Dog breeds with big ears
Ahead, get the lowdown on over a dozen dogs with big ears, including some of the most popular breeds around. You’ll find more than cute photos (though you’ll definitely get plenty of those!). Reader’s Digest talked to five dog experts with a range of expertise to find out which breeds have the biggest ears, plus key information about these lovable pups.
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About the experts Patricia Craige Trotter has been judging dog shows around the world for more than 30 years. She received the American Kennel Club lifetime achievement award in 2014, judged Best in Show at the 2021 Westminster Dog Show and is the author of the dog-show guide Born to Win, Breed to Succeed. Dayna Dreger, PhD, is a senior staff scientist at the National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute, where she works as a researcher on the Dog Genome Project. She leads studies aimed at understanding the genetics of canine behavior and breed history. Jerry Klein, DVM, has worked as an emergency veterinarian for over 35 years. He’s the chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club and has served as chief spokesperson for the Chicago Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center and Med Vet Chicago, where he serves as emergency department head emeritus. Jamie Ruden is the founder of Dog Spotted, a web-based community for dog owners.
Reviewed for accuracy by: Caroline Coile, PhD, an award-winning journalist specializing in canine breeds, health and science. She’s the author of 34 books, including Barron’s Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.
Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images Bloodhound
With its large, droopy ears and big, sagging eyes, the bloodhound might look like the Eeyore of the dog world. But this breed isn’t down about life! These dogs are legendary scenthounds that can trace their tracking talents all the way back to the Middle Ages. “The lore with scenthounds is that when their head is down, their ears form a little cone shape, and it channels the scent into their nose,” says Dreger. Bloodhounds can be stubborn, but they are also known for being affectionate and patient, making them a great dog breed for kids.
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