Settlebox - Ears
Week 3
A Discussion on Ears
Helping your puppy become comfortable with ear handling is an important part of early training. Teaching this while your puppy is calm and relaxed helps prevent stress during grooming, vet visits, and health checks later in life.
This exercise also helps you learn what your puppy’s ears look and smell like when they are healthy so you can quickly notice when something is wrong.
Quick Notes
Some dogs are more prone to ear infections depending on their ear structure.
Erect ears with airflow tend to have fewer ear infections.
Floppy ears or ears with hair inside the canal can trap moisture and debris, increasing infection risk.
Dogs that swim or get wet often may also have a higher chance of ear infections.
Always dry your puppy’s ears after swimming, baths, or getting wet.
Common signs of ear infections:
Scratching at the ears
Strong or unusual smell
Redness inside the ear
Discharge or buildup
Head shaking or tilting
Sensitivity when ears are touched
Ear infections can be painful, so early detection is important.
Checking your puppy’s ears regularly helps you learn what healthy ears look and smell like.
Knowing your puppy’s normal baseline makes it easier to recognize problems early.
Basic ear care tips:
You can clean ears with cotton pads, cotton balls, or tissues.
Never use Q-tips, since puppies move suddenly and they can damage the ear canal.
Ask your vet for recommended ear cleaner or medication to keep in your puppy’s first aid kit.
Having supplies ready can help you handle issues quickly without an emergency vet visit.
Demonstration
Teacher Demonstration with puppy in class
Now Laura demonstrates how to introduce the “Ears” cue using puppy Winnie. While Winnie is calm in the Settle Box, Laura gently lifts Winnie’s ear, says the word “ears,” briefly looks and smells the ear, and then rewards her with a treat. This helps Winnie learn that having her ears handled is safe and positive. Practicing this regularly builds comfort with ear checks and makes future grooming and vet visits much easier.
Class Experience
Practice at home!
Now it’s your turn to try with your puppy. Practice gently checking your puppy’s ears while they are calm, saying the cue “ears,” briefly looking and smelling the ear, and then rewarding with a treat. Regular practice helps your puppy become comfortable with ear handling and makes grooming and vet visits much easier in the future.
Upload a video
Be sure to send us a video demonstrating this behavior as well so we can give you personalized training advice with our virtual video service.
More Discussion
Additional tips and content
Some breeds may require regular ear maintenance, especially dogs with floppy ears or hair inside the ear canal. Groomers may occasionally remove hair from the ear canal to help prevent moisture buildup.
Puppies that swim, play in water, or get wet frequently should have their ears checked and dried afterward to prevent trapped moisture that can lead to infections.
You can clean the outer ear using a cotton pad, cotton ball, or tissue if needed.
Avoid using Q-tips in your puppy’s ears. Puppies move suddenly, and the tip can go too deep and potentially cause injury.
If you plan to use ear cleaning solutions, talk to your veterinarian about which products they recommend.
It can be helpful to keep basic ear care supplies in your puppy’s first aid kit at home, including ear cleaner recommended by your vet.
Some owners choose to keep ear infection medication on hand with veterinary approval, especially if their dog is prone to ear issues.
Building a good relationship with your veterinarian makes it easier to ask questions and get advice about preventative care for your puppy’s ears.
Regular ear checks help you quickly notice changes in smell, redness, or irritation, allowing you to address issues early before they become more serious.