Ear Care
Grooming & Handling · 19 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to enjoy having their ears handled and cleaned, and to accept ear drops calmly.
Ear cleaning and vet-prescribed ear drops are the same motion: a little liquid squeezed into the ear, a massage at the base, and a wipe with cotton. This plan teaches all of it in one place, starting by building a happy association with the bottle, then the ear handling itself, then putting the two together.
**Pointy vs floppy ears:** The only real difference is the lift. For upright ears the canal is easy to see, so 'lifting to look inside' is a gentle fold of the ear leather. For floppy ears, lift the flap up and back to expose the opening, and expect to spend an extra session there since the flap moving is a new sensation.
**Hands-free with a chin rest:** Ear cleaning takes both of your hands, so it helps to teach Your Dog to rest their chin on a surface, such as a stool or chair, to hold steady while you work. See the Chin Rest plan.
**High-value treats:** Have something Your Dog really loves on hand, delivered from your other hand right after each bit of handling.
**Puppies:** Getting your puppy happy about having their ears handled and cleaned is wonderful socialization during the puppy window (around 4 to 16 weeks), when puppies learn what is safe and normal in their world. Because a young puppy usually has no fear to undo and soaks up new experiences fast, you can often run this plan in **proof mode** (proof levels 1 and 2, the harder review steps) so your puppy breezes through it faster than an adult dog might need. Keep every rep positive and let your puppy set the pace.
**Split:** If Your Dog reacts to the cotton when it first appears near the wipe steps, drop back into the cotton splits to build a happy association with the sight of it before it touches the ear.
Training steps
Pair the sight of the bottle with treats at a distance
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the ear cleaner bottle from a distance, then toss a generous handful of tasty treats so they can eat without coming closer to it.
Success: Your Dog eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pair the sight of the bottle with treats
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the bottle, then surprise them with a generous handful of treats. Stay where you are and let Your Dog choose to come get the treats, so they approach the bottle on their own. Between reps, sit together without feeding and keep the bottle out of sight. That contrast builds anticipation, so Your Dog starts thinking, 'Where is that bottle? I want it back because it means great things happen!'
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put the bottle on the floor and sprinkle treats around it
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, set the bottle on the floor, sprinkle a generous handful of treats around it, and step back so Your Dog can approach and find the treats with no social pressure.
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch the base of the ear for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Gently touch the base of Your Dog's ear for one second, then quickly feed a treat from your other hand.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Stroke the base of the ear for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Gently stroke the base of the ear for three seconds, feeding treats from your other hand while you do.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Cup and hold the ear for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Softly cup Your Dog's ear in your hand for one second, then feed a treat.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Cup and hold the ear for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Cup and hold the ear for three seconds, feeding treats while you hold.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lift the ear to look inside for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
For upright ears, gently fold the ear leather to expose the opening. For floppy ears, lift the flap up and back. Hold for one second so you can see into the canal, then feed a treat. Expect floppy ears to need extra time here.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold the ear lifted and look into the canal for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Hold the ear lifted for three seconds and take a calm look into the canal, feeding treats throughout.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Bring the bottle near the ear for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
With the ear held, bring the bottle within a few inches of the ear, no contact, for one second, then feed a treat from your other hand.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch the bottle to the outer ear for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Rest the bottle gently against the outer ear for one second, then feed a treat.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Rest the bottle tip at the canal opening for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Hold the ear lifted and rest the bottle tip lightly at the opening of the canal for three seconds, as if you were about to instill liquid, then feed a treat.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Squeeze a small amount of liquid into the ear
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Hold the ear lifted and squeeze a small amount of cleaning solution into the canal, then immediately feed a few tasty treats. Let Your Dog shake their head afterward if they want to. That is normal.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during cleaning.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Massage the base of the ear for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
After the liquid is in, gently massage the base of the ear for three seconds to work the solution in. Most dogs enjoy this. Feed treats as you go.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during cleaning.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pair the sight of the cotton with treats at a distance
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Show Your Dog the cotton from a distance, then toss a generous handful of treats so they can eat without coming closer. This builds a happy association with the sight of the cotton before it ever touches the ear.
Success: Your Dog eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put the cotton on the floor and sprinkle treats around it
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Set the cotton balls or wipe on the floor, sprinkle a handful of treats around them, and step back so Your Dog can approach and eat with no pressure.
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch a cotton ball to the outer ear for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Touch a cotton ball or soft cloth to the outer ear for one second, then feed a treat.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Wipe the visible ear with cotton
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Hold the ear lifted and gently wipe the visible part of the ear with cotton, then feed a treat. Never push cotton down into the canal.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during cleaning.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
The full ear cleaning, start to finish
Setup: Your Dog is in any comfortable position.
Put it all together: lift the ear, squeeze in the solution, massage the base, and wipe the visible ear with cotton. Finish with a jackpot of treats and praise. These same steps cover vet-prescribed ear drops.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm throughout.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Congratulations! You now have a dog who is happy to have their ears cared for.
Keep the association strong by giving Your Dog a high-value treat every time you clean their ears or give drops.
If Your Dog starts avoiding ear care, that is completely okay. Simply Drop back to a step they are comfortable with and work through the plan again. Go at Your Dog's pace.
One caution: if you ever notice redness, a bad smell, dark discharge, or Your Dog flinching in pain when you touch the ear, pause the training and check in with your vet first. A sore ear needs care before conditioning.