Note: Always handle your dog's ears gently; they're sensitive! And never, ever stick anything (a cotton swab, your finger, etc.) into your dog's ear further than about a half an inch. Doing so can injure the eardrum and lead to permanent damage.
Besides the fact that they're getting our undivided attention, there are certain nerve endings in your dog's ears that are quite sensitive. Whenever these nerves are stimulated by touch, they send a signal through their body. This releases endorphins that are the “feel good” hormones.
Using a gauze or cotton ball around your finger put your finger inside and wipe out the wax and debris. Do this until the gauze comes out clean. It is extremely important not to push your finger too far into the ear. Only put your finger in as far as you can easily see.
When you rub your dog's ears, she's essentially getting high on her own hormones, says Dr. Allen Schoen, director of the Center for the Advancement of Veterinary Alternative Therapies. In addition, Schoen says massaging a dog's ears meets a basic need for affection and communication from pet owners.
Never putting anything in the ear canal (cotton swabs, paper clips, liquids or sprays, or even your finger). This can damage or irritate the skin. If your ears itch a lot, see your doctor. Leaving ear wax in the canal.
The Earlobe
"The sexiest part of the ear is the lobe,” says McCombs. "That gesture where you're tucking the hair behind the ear feels quite intimate." To make the most of the ears' erotic potential, McCombs suggests sensually tickling the edge of your partner's ear with your finger.
And here's why not: cotton swabs, hair pins, house keys, toothpicks, and even fingernails (all the smaller-than-our-elbow-objects people love to put in their ears) can cause cuts in our ear canals, perforate our eardrums, and/or dislocate the tiny bones in the middle ear space that are crucial for normal hearing.
Dogs are good at reading us, and they usually know when we are being affectionate, such as when we kiss them. Because they love affection from us, most dogs do like being kissed. However, they don't like the act of being kissed but rather that we give them attention and show affection.
Yet most humans think that dogs like being patted on the head. The reality is that while many dogs will put up with this if it's being done by someone they know and trust, most dogs don't enjoy it. You may notice that even the loving family dog might lean away slightly when you reach for her face to pet her.
Ear infections are painful. Many dogs will shake their head and scratch their ears to relieve the discomfort. The ears often become red and inflamed and develop an offensive odor.
Cleaning your dog's ears does not require any special equipment. A good quality ear cleaning solution, some cotton balls or gauze, and some treats to reward your dog are all that is needed. Do not use cotton tip applicators (Q-tips®), due to the risk of perforating the ear drum or causing trauma to the ear canal.
Dark brown or black—This type of earwax is commonly associated with yeast and/or bacterial ear infections. It's a good idea to consult with a veterinarian if earwax is this color. Brown—Light brown earwax is normal and expected. If the wax is accompanied by odor or inflammation, it can be a sign of infection.
Most professional grooming services will include an inspection and cleaning of the ears.
Experts in dog behavior believe that, in general, dogs do not like being embraced. However, every dog has a unique personality. Some may dislike hugs more strongly than others, and some may actually adore them. The closest thing our furry family members do to a hug is something referred to as 'standing over'.
Wondering how often your dog's ears need to be cleaned? In general, once per month is a good rule of thumb. Breeds with long, floppy ears or dogs who swim frequently may need to have their ears cleaned every other week, or even weekly. After bathing or swimming, be sure to properly dry your pup's ears.
If left unattended ear infections become extremely painful, smelly, and irritating for your dog. It can cause them to become withdrawn from the family, cry or bite when you touch their painful ear, and can cause them to become snappy towards other pets in the home.
Areas to Avoid
The genitals and anus are obvious areas to stay away from; dogs are protective of these areas just like humans. In general, other areas to avoid petting include the face, tail, feet, and legs.
They want to hug them and smooch them as they do with their toys. According to Animal Behaviorists, 'dogs don't understand human kisses the same way that humans do. ' When kissing a young puppy, you may not notice any signs of recognition at all because they have yet to associate kisses with affection.
For example, most dogs prefer being touched with long gentle strokes along the chest, shoulder and base of the tail. While some dogs have other places they enjoy a gentle fuss, such as along their ears. And, there are areas which are more sensitive to touch and therefore, less welcome!
Once you bring a dog into your home, you become part of their pack. They enjoy sleeping with you because it makes them feel safe and comfortable. Sleeping together gives dogs an emotional connection to their owners. Dogs feel love and gratitude towards you, just like you feel towards them.
Many dogs don't enjoy being held, some love it, many simply tolerate it. It is important to listen to what your dog likes and doesn't like. By forcing pets to tolerate or endure being picked up when they don't like it, we are essentially teaching them to not trust us – and the problem will get worse.
We continue to twist Q-tips in our ears thanks to a simple truth: It feels great. Our ears are filled with sensitive nerve endings, which send signals to various other parts of our bodies. Tickling their insides triggers all sorts of visceral pleasure.
Yes, over-ear headphones tend to be safer than in-ear earphones. Over-ear headphones with effective passive noise isolation or active noise cancelling are better at blocking out external noise, meaning you can enjoy your audio at lower volumes.
They are easy to use and convenient; but the truth is, they can actually cause more harm than good. Q-tips can push wax further into the ear canal, which can cause impaction, discomfort, or a rupture in the ear drum. If the wax gets pushed too far into the ear canal, it could require surgical intervention.