The Ear Plucking Debate: Where Groomers Stand Today

Few topics divide a grooming room quite like ear plucking. Ask ten groomers whether they routinely pluck the hair from a dog's ear canal and you will get a genuine spread of answers, from those who have always done it as standard to those who now leave ears well alone unless there is a clear reason. I want to lay out both sides honestly, because this is one of those areas where the thinking has genuinely shifted, and a professional groomer should understand the debate rather than simply doing what they were first taught.

This is deliberately not a blunt how-to. Whether to pluck a particular dog's ears is a judgement call, and increasingly a conversation to have with the owner and, where relevant, their vet.

What ear plucking actually is

Some breeds, plenty of the poodle crosses, spaniels, some terriers and others, grow hair inside the ear canal itself. Ear plucking is the removal of that hair, traditionally by hand or with forceps, and it was for a long time treated as a routine part of the groom. The reasoning was simple. Hair in the canal traps moisture, wax and debris, and in a warm, poorly ventilated ear that can set up the conditions for infection.

The traditional case for plucking

The argument in favour goes like this. A canal packed with hair holds moisture and muck, air cannot circulate, and a warm damp ear is exactly where yeast and bacteria thrive. Clearing that hair, the thinking goes, opens the canal up, lets it breathe and dry, and makes it easier to keep clean. For a dog that genuinely suffers with recurrent ear trouble linked to a hairy, boggy canal, there is a real welfare case for keeping that canal clear, and some vets will still advise it for specific dogs.

The modern leave-unless-needed view

Here is where thinking has moved on. A growing body of professional and veterinary opinion now questions routine, blanket plucking of every hairy ear. The concerns are worth taking seriously.

• Plucking can cause micro-trauma. Pulling hair from the canal irritates the delicate lining, and that inflammation can itself trigger the very infections we are trying to prevent.
• A sore ear is a sensitised ear. An uncomfortable pluck teaches a dog that ear handling hurts, which makes every future examination harder.
• A healthy, comfortable ear may simply not need it. If a dog has never had ear problems, some argue, why disturb a canal that is coping perfectly well.

The modern position, broadly, is not never pluck but pluck only where there is a reason to, rather than automatically on every dog. Many groomers now assess each ear, remove hair only when it is clearly contributing to a problem, and otherwise leave the canal alone and focus on gentle cleaning and drying.

Welfare note: If a dog shows any sign of an ear problem, head shaking, scratching, redness, discharge, a bad smell or obvious pain, that dog needs a vet, not a groomer working blind in the canal. Plucking an already inflamed or infected ear can make things considerably worse.

So where should a groomer land?

My honest, salon-floor position is that this is a judgement call made per dog, not a blanket policy.

• Look and assess first. Is the canal healthy, or hairy, waxy and prone to trouble? Is there any history of infection?
• Talk to the owner. Ask what their vet has advised, especially for a dog with recurring ear issues. If a vet has recommended keeping a particular dog's canal clear, that carries real weight.
• Be gentle and minimal. Where removal is genuinely warranted, take only what is needed, work gently, and stop if the ear is sore or the dog is distressed.
• Never work in a problem ear. Any sign of infection or pain, and it is a vet referral, full stop.

UK veterinary guidance is a sensible anchor here. The PDSA's advice on ear infections in dogs is a useful reference for spotting when an ear needs professional treatment, and general dog grooming and welfare guidance from the RSPCA reinforces that our job is to keep dogs comfortable, not to follow ritual for its own sake.

Keeping ears healthy without over-handling

Whatever your stance on plucking, most ear care is really about the basics done well.

• Keep the ear opening tidy so air can circulate, trimming excess hair on the ear flap and around the entrance rather than digging deep into the canal.
• Dry ears carefully after bathing, because trapped water is a genuine problem.
• Keep long ear feathering brushed out and mat-free so the ear is ventilated.
• Flag anything that looks or smells wrong to the owner and steer them to their vet.

Frequently asked questions

Should groomers routinely pluck every hairy ear? The modern view leans away from blanket routine plucking towards assessing each dog and removing hair only where it is clearly contributing to a problem. Some dogs with a history of hairy, infection-prone ears genuinely benefit, so it is a per-dog judgement, ideally guided by the owner's vet.

Can ear plucking cause infections rather than prevent them? It can. Pulling hair irritates the canal lining, and that inflammation can trigger infection, which is a large part of why routine plucking is now questioned. Gentle, need-led removal reduces that risk.

What should I do if a dog's ear looks infected? Do not pluck or work in the canal. Refer the owner to their vet. Signs like redness, discharge, a bad smell, head shaking or pain all mean the ear needs veterinary attention, not grooming.

How do I keep ears healthy without plucking deep in the canal? Focus on ventilation and dryness, tidy excess hair around the ear entrance and flap, dry ears well after a bath, keep feathering brushed out, and pass any concerns to the owner's vet.

Written from the salon floor by Lucy, City & Guilds Level 2 & 3 qualified groomer and owner of Fluffs, a one-to-one dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York. For more professional grooming guides, explore the Fluffs grooming blog.