hello all
just 2 question's please
do poodles ears have a certain smell to them not unpleasant but not pleasant either
&
why the need to pluck

just a quick explanation
i have a standard poodle of whom is a year old and he has alway's had a strange smell to his ear and before people scream no he has no infection it's not that a unpleasant smell so just was wondering on that one
but i have read in numerous book's that you are meant to pluck the ear hair out from the root im sorry but call me a big softy if you like but i cant do it to him i cut it as close as i possably can as it does grom fast and thick and if i didnt cut it he would be deaf im sure  if you could help me out with some guidence that will be wonderfull
happy new year
louise x

yes you do have to pluck the ears, if you remove the fur only in the ear itself it should cause no pain and should help the smell. My maltese have their ears plucked regularly and soon get used to it. It is best to use your  thumb and forefinger, not prod about with forceps etc until you are confident. Incidently if your dog goes to a groomer regularly, they should do this for you.
Good luck

Also if you just pluck a few hairs at a time they come out very easily. I use Thonit and use it to help grip the hair too so it comes out quickly and easily. Keeping the ears free from hair (a result of breeding for the long cooat gene) will also prevent ear infections. Personally I always find clean ears a nice smell!

Jesse

goodness didnt expect a quick responce .
thankyou very much
my boy is quite sensative when it comes to his ears meaning maybe im to gentle and tickle him but he shakes his head away when i clean his ears just a thought but by plucking the hairs in his ears wouldnt that be opening him up for ear infection's as no hair there to protect the inner ear plus hair's being ripped out what happen's to the pore's there open and ready to suck in any passing dirt
do you pluck the ear for vanity or for a health purpose i do find myself sometimes confused as to what to do for a poodle for vanity or health obviously health comes first with me then the quality of life for him then the fancy haircut's
thankyou again
louise x

Ears are plucked for health reasons. Lots of hair in the ear creates a damp atmosphere causing fungus and such like to develop. As long as you only pull a few hairs at a time they really do come out very easily.

Jesse

hello all
well you have convinced me i shall give it a go this evening when he's all tierd out
and thankyou both very much for your guidence
louise x

Bichons are the same as poodles as in their ears need plucking.  Our poor little Bichon always used to end up at the vets because we were wimps and never plucked his ears properly :(

My first Beardie was a Rescue dog, they too need their ears plucked.
Suzi was 23 months when I got her, and she came with chronic ear problems. Only 6 weeks after getting her, she had to have an operation "Aural resection", which basically removed the lower part of her right ear. Her previous owners had not plucked her ears at all, which in turn, did not allow the air in, infection set in, and she had severe inflamation in both ears. The poor things was in agony, actually banging her haid against walls, and constantly shaking her haid. She had not been treated for it until the day we got her, straight off to the vets, same day. Her left ear was not too good either, but did not need the operation.

Needless to say, she did not like anyone "touching" the inside of her ears. due to the previous trauma she'd suffered. But we had to persevere, which we did, and plucked them monthly after that. She had no further problems. We did use to use "Gold Dust" (very like thornit, ) when plucking them, which helped your fingers to get a grip, and also treated her ears, just in case.

So please, please, please do pluck the ears, if not, get someone who can help, try calms, or something that may settle the dog before trying to pluck them, and do a little at a time, every day at first.

Kay

My Bedlington has to have his ears plucked too.  I've done it since he was a young puppy and he often falls asleep as I'm plucking :).  As a puppy he tried to make a fuss at first but tiny treats as I worked soon convinced him it was a good idea, now he gets a treat when I'm finished with each ear ;).  I also do this monthly as its much easier on the dog if its done regularly.  I have seen an unplucked Bedlington's ears and the smell was awful as was the amount of wax in the ear - and this was a 5 month old pup!!
Please don't be a wimp about this as in the long run your dog will definately suffer.

Regards
Dill