Why do hunting dogs tend to have floppy ears?

Hunting dogs often need to charge through thick brush. Ears which stick up could get caught on thorns and other stuff. Ears which lean downwards are more streamlined and protected. read more

Humans might not have intentionally bred dogs to have droopy ears, but the trait is undeniably cute, even if floppy ears are technically a deformity. We wouldn't want our floppy-eared dogs any other way. read more

Among a number of topics related to domestication and heredity, the book asked why tamed animals tend to have floppier ears, shorter snouts and lighter, blotchier skin than their wild counterparts – a set of traits he referred to as ‘domestication syndrome’. read more