Under normal circumstances a dog's ears will not become a problem as long as they are kept clean.  To ensure the cleanliness of your dog's ears, it is easiest to establish a routine that whenever you groom your dog (at least once a week), you check your dog's ears for waxy buildup, excessive matting of hair in the external ear, redness or inflammation around the ear, retention of dirt,  foreign material, or objects, in the ear canal.  Even a little burr can cause a great deal of discomfort to your dog.  Also, it is a good idea to actually smell your dog's ears.  The presence of a sour, cheesy odor is usually indicative of a problem.  Check for a dark, waxy secretion as well.  Mites, fleas and ticks like the dark, somewhat moist and inaccessible area of the ear.  If you think that a problem may be present or developing, consultation with a veterinarian is imperative as soon as possible.  A severe infection, or deafness, can result by neglecting a problem, thinking it will go away eventually.

    Should only a gentle cleaning be needed there are some things that you should never do.  For the health of your dog, DO NOT
use soap and water.  DO NOT poke or probe the internal ear canal, or the delicate tissues of the ear.  DO  NOT use Q-tips, or any other cotton tipped swab.  These could push dirt, or foreign objects, deeper into the ear canal, causing a more serious problem.

    For a gentle cleaning of your dog's ears, you can use mineral oil applied to a cotton square and gently wipe the surface of the external ear.  Some breeds of dogs have specific problems with their ears that can be avoided through knowledge and preventative maintenance.  Those dogs with floppy, pendulent ears (spaniels and bloodhounds), are very prone to ear infections, due to there being very little air circulation around the ear.  Terriers and Poodles tend to retain dirt and wax inside their ears due to a great deal of hair inside the ear canal.  For breed specific problems, it is best to talk to your veterinarian on a routine visit.  Have him/her show you what to look for, what to use, how to massage your dog's ear and symptoms to watch for.  This article is for general information only.

Some indications of a problem
 

• Your dog is shaking his head more often than usual.
• The dog is constantly pawing and scratching his ear.  Sometimes even yipping while scratching.
• The dog keeps holding his head at an unusual angle.  [The side that is tilted down is the painful side.]
• A strong, sour, cheesy odor from the ear.
• There is a heavy, waxy material inside the ear.
• Matted hair inside the ear canal.
• Fleas or ticks can be seen  in the ear area.
• Red, or inflamed, skin.
• Inside of the ear is constantly moist.