Ears

[Daelene & Molly]

We are new doodle owners and new to grooming.  Molly is 11 weeks old.  When do we start plucking the hair from her ears, and won't this hurt her?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks from Molly & her mom ♥

[sandy b]

I've never plucked hair from Max's ears. I'm not sure why this is done. I clean his ears frequently with a ear solution and he has never had infections. Does Molly have a lot of hair in her ears?

[Daelene & Molly]

She has her fair share, I just don't want her to have issues with her ears down the road.  Thanks for your reply.

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

 

I started plucking Bingleys ears at around that age. Just a little - whilst he had a chew or treats. Use a bit of powder in each each (like Thornit) which helps you to pluck. Just take a few strands in your finger/thumb and pull swiftly - then give a treat. Only do this very little to start with. Bingley now sleeps whilst I do the plucking once a month.

You only have to do this if your dood has lots of hair inside their ears. If you take your dood to the groomer regularly they will do this for you and you won't need to bother.

 

Excessively hairy ears create a hot, humid environment and ear infections may result.

 

[Daelene & Molly]

Thanks for the info.  Do you pluck from just the ear canal or from the whole underside of the flap?

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

 

Just from the main ear hole area - not from the ear flap. Any hair inside the 'crater' part - but only a little at a time - don't try to strip it all out in one go =)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My Breeder actually showed me how to pluck the little hairs from their ears, and said to do it weekly.  I sometimes do it with Guinness, but Murphy doesn't seem to get them.  It really doesn't seem to hurt Guinness.

[Daelene & Molly]

Thanks I appreciate the info.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The Grooming Group has lots of information on ear cleaning , plucking hair from ears etc. The search function should help you find this. I clean my dogs ears regularly but I do not pluck the hair.

[Jennifer Tramell]

My vet told me that poodles are the only breed that grow hair inside their ears.  Charlotte was 6 months old when the vet showed me how to do it & it did bother Charlotte but she had a bunch.  I've been checking Charlotte's ears when I brush her and I pull out a few here and there which doesn't seem to bother her at all.  Since doodles are a mix, each doodle picks up various traits from the parent breeds & I think ear hair is one of those traits.  Charlotte definitely has ear hair while Webster does not.  Since Molly has ear hair, I would go ahead and pluck a few hairs here and there when she is getting her ears rubbed - no reason to make it a big deal or anything traumatic :-)

My vet told me to put a little powder (official doggy ear powder or just baby powder) inside the ear and just pull out the hair.  When I just do a few hairs, I just massage her ear, reach in and pull, and then massage some more - I don't worry about powder.  I think what needs to be plucked is the hair inside the ear/ear canal which will promote ear infections.  I think of it as my eyebrow plucking - if I do it a little at a time it is less painful then a big "pluck".

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mi3Aouu3e4

[Daelene & Molly]

Thanks for sending me this link, I think I am ready to try this now ☺

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Here is another video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPzD9QTpYJc