My 6 month old boy hates his ears being plucked.  He fights, struggles and finally bites.  I've tried gentle patience, doing them bit by bit whilst grooming but he gets into such a state when I turn over his ears that he becomes hyper. I've tried bio groom ear powder sprinkled in then gently pulling out with my fingers, I've also tried ear foceps.

Recently I tried some thornit, leaving it in for a few hours before starting as someone told me this way, it breaks down the hair first.  Well it didn't work.  I really think he'll need sedation in order for me to do it in future.  I've plucked since he was about 12 weeks old and each time it's got more difficult.

Can anyone give me any advice/help?

Thanks

So don't do it.  Seriously though, it sounds to me as if you are making too much of a fuss and its this fuss that gets him wound up.
My Bichon also needs his ears plucking, when he's asleep in my lap (after a bit of ear massaging) I just *gently* lift up the flap grab some strands of hair with my fingers & thumb, and hey presto, they're out!  Sometimes he's so relaxed he doesn't murmer.  Other times he does wake up and look at me in disgust!  lol

Relaxation is the key, be guided by your dog!
hth
love
welshdoglover x

excuse my ignorance but why do you need to pluck their ears ? Is it for showing or health and is it particular breeds ?

ouch! Why is needed to be done? I have never plucked my dogs ears, just wondered why? It must be quite painful.

Some dogs are naturally hairy, bichons & poodles spring to mind.

This excess hair leads to *I think* a build up of heat, grease, wax, bacteria, which is hence a breeding ground for ear infections.  Hence, the plucking is needed to keep the air circulating around the ear canal.

I'm convinced my doggie, actually likes it!  He feels so much better once he's been plucked. 

love
welshdoglover x

> Is it for showing or health and is it particular breeds ? <IMG class=qButton title="Quote selected text" alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif">

It's for health, and yes, it's for particular breeds.  If you choose to have a dog that doesn't moult, then you need to rid the inner ear of hairs.  I start my Yorkie pups at 4 weeks, and remove about 2 hairs a day!!!!  Then reward them for letting me!

People who don't do this, and send the dog off for the groomer to do it every few months, are not really being fair to the dog, as the groomer has to do the lot in one go.  (Poor dogs.)  :-(

People that don't use a groomer, and don't pluck themselves, could be accused of neglect.  JMHO

Poodles need this, Bichons, Bedlingtons etc

In reply to Gemini05, my dog doesn't find it at all painful.  He would soon let me know if he was suffering, believe me I'd stop.

My vet taught me how to pluck ears, he said it was beneficial (to some breeds) and necessary.

The hair is sort of like fine baby hair, I'm convinced my dog feels more of the tugging sensation rather than an *ouch* iuswim

love
welshdoglover x

> It must be quite painful.

Much more painful to get an ear infection.

My dog had an ear infection, believe me, he was howling & scratching his lughole until the blood appeared.

I made damn sure it was only the once he suffered too!

love
welshdoglover x

> I made damn sure it was only the once he suffered too!
>

:-)  :-)

Your previous post sums up the ideal breeding ground too.

:) thank you for explaining it to me, i hope i did not offend anyone that needs to pluck their dogs ears, but now i know why, and the importance of doing it, i understand :) x

> i hope i did not offend anyone

Nope, we've got thick skins on here!!!  :-)  :-)

No reason for you to know if you have a breed that doesn't need it!    :-)

I think it's a case of live and learn with dogs.
I mean, not everyone takes a dog on board and is an expert on dog handling/rearing etc.
I certainly wasn't, far from it. but thanks to the internet, buying books from Amazon, etc. I'm getting better! lol
love
welshdoglover x

>Poodles need this, Bichons, Bedlingtons etc

As do Mini Scnauzers, Cockers and Westies etc.  some of the hairiest ears I've ever seen have been these dogs and they are extremely popular!   Can't help wondering how many owners are actually plucking their dog's ears ?

I do mine regularly, started the pups off as soon as their ears opened, just a few hairs a day and tiny tasty treats as a reward.

To the OP.   Try to do this at a time when you and your dog are relaxed.  Have a little bowl of really high value tiny treats to hand (pinky fingernail sized) and give lots of very calm quiet praise and a little treat.  Pluck only a couple of hairs at first and build up from there.  Little and often is best, then they won't get sore ears ;) 

I too think it's really cruel and unfair to send the dog to the groomer for this every few months - this means that the groomer becomes the torturer and ruins the rapport which is necessary for a groomer to be able to groom effectively and in a way that your dog can enjoy his visit ;)

My college never mentioned cockers / Westies / Schnauzers needing doing, just the non-shedding breeds like poodles and bichons. I generally check all ears and trim anything that looks like it needs doing. But my bichon clients are the ones who seem to get the hair right down inside the ear canal. If your dog bites when you try, you could muzzle him, then do like Dill says and just do a few hairs and then treat him. Check with your vet first that he hasn't already got an ear infection, that could be why he's particularly bad about having it done. Some of my clients do squeak when I do the ears, but none of them hold a grudge, we have a cuddle afterwards and they forgive me. :-)

> My college never mentioned cockers / Westies / Schnauzers needing doing, just the non-shedding breeds like poodles and bichons.

schnauzers are a non-shedding breed ;-)

Sounds like you may be trying to do too much at once; try just a few (literally) every day and treat him

Westies and Schnauzer should be done.   Schnauzer often have quite a narrow ear canal so it is important to get it cleaned out.  

I think it is really really important that those plucking the ears also know how to do it properly. If done carefully and properly the dog will get used to it by the second time.

I think it is really really important that those plucking the ears also know how to do it properly. If done carefully and properly the dog will get used to it by the second time.
I agree.  I've never had a problem with any dog plucking ears in the parlour.  A couple of hairs at a time ...... quickly.

Me to thanks for explanation i was not judging anyone just wondered the reason why The breeds I have dont have this problem, at least I hope there isn't something i've missed 

I was told recently that a little baby oil should be put in the ear a few hours before and then pluck   can't see that working - oil would make the hairs slip - ouch! :(    Told then they must be mistaken and the person who told them probably meant baby POWDER - but chalk would be better ;)

Hairiest dog I ever had, never had any hair in his ears to pluck  - lucky little crossbreed :-D

I regularly do mine - and use ear powder (it makes excess hair dry to get hold of) and take a few out at a time - using my fingers in a plucking motion - the dogs get used to it, and dont seem to feel it if done carefully, and its more cuddle time.

I use Thornit, put it in the ear - leave for 24 hours and the next day the hairs can be pulled out without the dog feeling any discomfort at all.

One of my boys allows me to hand strip his head but objects to me handling his inner ears. I have to get inside his crate and lock us both in, then use the thinning scissors. It's a squeeze but it's worked quite well till last week when a non-dog owning neighbour dropped in unexpectedly and the look on her face just said it all. :-)

Sorry, plead temporary madness for forgetting schnauzers are non-shedding - I never get any around here, it's all shih tzus, lhasas and Yorkies in my area! *blushes with shame*

>Westies and Schnauzer should be done.   Schnauzer often have quite a narrow ear canal so it is important to get it cleaned out.

pmsl @ JAY15.

When I got my first dog crate, my kids and my nephew absolutely adored climbing in and making it their den. They had hours of fun.  My poor dog just sat outside looking a bit bemused by them!

> I have to get inside his crate and lock us both in

Oh it was you we read about in the sunday papers!!!!   :-)  :-)  :-)

then use the thinning scissors.
The hair needs to be removed not cut off.  It's the hair deep in the ear canal that causes the problem.

>I was told recently that a little baby oil should be put in the ear a few hours before and then pluck    can't see that working - oil would make the hairs slip - ouch!     Told then they must be mistaken and the person who told them probably meant baby POWDER - but chalk would be better<

We use olive oil ear drops and they honestly work a treat, after a couple of drops have been left in for about 10-15 mins the hair just comes away easily.  We've used thornit as well but for some reason our dog hates it, he's ok with olive oil though, LOL
One of ours gets really hot ears so we have to keep the hair from them, mind you he's got fur like a hedge, the other two of the same breed have no trouble at all and hardly have any ear hair.

ah, I just do the inside of the ear flap--not digging away with scissors inside his head!