One of the dog's cutest features by far are their ears. Floppy or pointy, big or small, dog ears are amazing in all of their varieties. But besides being aesthetically pleasing, they serve some amazing purposes. Here are five amazing dog ear facts we bet you didn't know:
1. Puppies are born deaf.
That's right, when dogs are first born, their ear canals are tightly shut. They begin to open up when pups are around one week old.
2. A dog's ear position can indicate his mood and attention level.
Erect ears facing forward indicate that a dog is engaged and interested. Slightly pulled-back ears show a friendly, relaxed mood. Ears laid back flat and tight against the head suggest fear and submission.
3. Dogs may not hear better than humans, just differently.
The human hearing range is approximately between 20 hertz and 20 kilohertz, which includes much lower frequencies than what dogs can hear. The canine hearing range on the other hand, ranges from about 64 hertz to 44 kilohertz, meaning dogs hear more high-frequency sounds than us - including the body vibrations of termites in walls and the pulse of a crystal resonator in digital alarm clocks!
4. Dog ear types have special names.
That's right, different shaped dog ears have different names. Some of the names are the drop ear, rose ear, cocked ear and button ear, just to name a few.
5. Tigger the Bloodhound holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for "longest ears on a dog - ever."
Tigger's right and left ears measured 13.75 and 13.5 inches respectively. Tigger passed away in 2009, but so far, no dog has beaten his record. Side fact: Bloodhounds' characteristically long ears help direct scent to their sensitive nose.
