Dogs with big ears can be cute, right? Well, these dogs with big ears are even cuter. Many of the smallest dog breeds have big ears too! It seems like there is some kind of factor that allows small dogs to have larger than average ears. For some unknown reason, all of the smallest dog breeds just seem to be able to pull off biggest-eared status.
Which Are the Tiny Dog Breeds With Big Ears?
The Phalene Dog Breed
One of the smallest breeds in existence, the Phalene is also known as a French Toy Spaniel. They were originally bred and developed to be companion dogs at only 8 pounds and 12 inches tall, but they are now very popular as show dogs too. These dogs have hanging floppy ears that are extremely large, but they also have very short fur so you can see their big ears poking through.
If you want to own one of these dogs though, be prepared to spend at least $1,000 for a pure breed Phalene puppy. They are among the most expensive toy breeds on the market today, but they are worth every penny because of their intelligence and their cute floppy ears.
These dogs love to learn new tricks and they are always up for doing whatever you want them to do, but sometimes they can be reserved around people that they don’t know. They like their family and friends, but some of these dogs might not be very well socialized so they could be timid around strangers.
The Miniature Pinscher.
These dogs are also known as Min Pins for short. They look like very small Dobermans, except that their ears hang low even when they are up and alert. This dog breed is one of the best at guarding your home because of its intelligence, but they still might not be able to handle the stresses of city life, so it’s best to keep them in the country where they will be around animals and people that they know and can trust.
However, some Min Pins might not be very good with kids or other smaller pets like cats because of their dominant behavior. They have a high prey drive so if something moves faster than them, they are going to chase it down and try to get it. You might want to keep one of these dogs if you have other larger pets that they can play with, but don’t let them mix with other small animals like guinea pigs or hamsters.
Do Miniature Pinscher Ears Stand Up?
No, they don’t stand up like regular German Shepherds or Dobermans. Their ears will drop when the dog is relaxed and when it’s happy, but when it feels threatened or is about to attack something, its ears will go back and become pointy and alert-looking. These dogs give you a strong presence with their hunched backs and pointy ears.
However, their ears will also droop down when they get older just like any other dog breed. Unfortunately, these dogs don’t live very long because of their size and their genetics that make them succumb to diseases early on in life. You can usually expect one of these dogs to only live up to about 12 years.
See also: Small Dogs That Don’t Shed
And: Spotlight on Small Short-Haired Dogs
The Papillon.
You might have heard of the word “Papillon” before, but you don’t know why it’s so familiar. A Papillon is a small dog breed that looks just like a butterfly with its long pointy ears that stand up when they are alert. They are also one of the oldest toy breeds around because people have had this dog breed for over 3,000 years.
However, their head and body are pretty big when you compare them to their legs and tail. They look like small dogs but they can weigh up to about 20 pounds if they are well-fed and cared for. Their ears add to that impression because when they wake up or get scared or excited, they will stand right up and become twice their normal size!
However, when a Papillon is being relaxed or when they are tired their ears will hang down in a relaxed position. It’s very easy to read the emotions of these dogs because of that. You can also identify them from far away because of their butterfly-like ears.
Do Papillons have butterfly or floppy ears?
You might think that they have floppy ears because of their appearance, but you are wrong. They have erect ears, but they can sometimes look like they are hanging down when the Papillon is relaxed or tired. These dogs are very sociable and friendly too. They love to be around people and other pets, but their lifespan can be very short because of their small size.
The Brussels Griffon.
Even though the Brussels Griffon doesn’t look like any other toy dog breed, people decided to put it on this list because of its big ears that stand up like an alert German Shepherd. They have soulful eyes and folded ears, and they also have a curled tail with a little bit of hair on top.
These dogs are very small and affectionate towards their owners, but they might not be good around kids or other pets because of their dominant behavior. Their intelligence makes them great at learning tricks, but their small size also means that they might not be able to handle rough play with bigger dogs.
However, these dogs are very happy and affectionate towards the people that are closest to them. They are good companion dogs because they can walk all day long if you want them to or they can stay in the bedroom all day and cuddle with you. When trained, they are one of the best dogs to keep around children because they are small, patient, and friendly.
Conclusion:
No matter if you want a dog that’s big and aggressive or small and affectionate, there is always a dog for you out there. All you have to do is find one based on what you like the most in a breed. Keep in mind that some of these dogs cannot live very long because of their genetics and size, so be aware of that when you’re choosing a dog from this list.
Featured image: The Phalene Dog Breed
