The French Bulldog makes a wonderful family pet. Friendly to families, tiny and affectionate, and requiring little care, they are a joy to own. A Frenchie is often pictured as a little, wrinkled dog.
The unique ears of a French Bulldog help set them apart. In most cases, they stand upright and have a pointed tip, like those of a bat.
There is a wealth of information on French Bulldog ears. This French bulldog ear positions chart will teach you all you need to know about the appearance of a Frenchie’s ears, including when and why they stand up, common ear problems, and the best methods for keeping your dog’s ears clean and healthy.
French Bulldog Ear Positions Chart
Attentive
Muscle tension in a dog’s face and body is a crucial factor in the appearance of perked ears. When a dog hears anything piquing his curiosity, he will perk up his ears.
Your dog could raise his ears to show that he is attentive and ready to act, whether in a busy dog park or just waiting for the treat command at home.
Canines naturally shift their ears into positions that improve their perceptions, even if they aren’t trying to convey anything to other dogs. So, your dog’s ears may be up because he wants to improve his hearing.
No matter what your furry friend’s motives are, if you see him with his ears pricked up, slanted forward, or lifted, you can be sure he is on the lookout for anything interesting.
Dogs’ perked ears aren’t always a cause for alarm, but their owners should take note of the behavior. A dog’s ears may go from being perked up to being flattened or pointed if they hear anything that makes them feel threatened.
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Cautious
French Bulldogs’ alert ears are pretty similar to the ears of a curious dog. They will immediately rise up and perk up when they hear a sound. On the other hand, attentive ears may swerve to find the source of an unfamiliar sound.
A French Bulldog with perked ears attempts to determine whether noise is hazardous or fun. The potential for danger is not lost on them. You should observe them and ensure they stay on track to follow whatever interests them.
Flat
A dog may shift its ears back and down when it feels timid or submissive. Typically, this habit manifests as a flattering and more close-fitting pair of ears on the dog in question.
You may be surprised to see a dog deliberately flatten his ears to reduce his hearing, given how much canines depend on their hearing for self-defense. The expression of fear or submission is a fundamental purpose of this conduct.
When a dog shuts down his acute hearing, he sends the message to a human or another dog that he is helpless and needs their protection. You can learn that in this French bulldog ear positions chart.
| Ear Position | Emotions behind this |
|---|---|
| Relaxed | Neutral, Calm |
| Flattened | Fearful, Anxious, Defensive |
| Perked (Tensed, Forward) | Curious, Attentive, Confused |
| Pointed (Tensed, Flattened) | Alert, Aggressive, Fearful, Defensive |
A flattening of the ears and other postures of submission or fear is a common feature of abused and frightened dogs, whether you’ve seen one on the street or at a rescue organization. Although flattened ears sometimes indicate a meek dog, this is not always the case.
Dogs aren’t the only humorous instances of a species with flattened ears. Only dogs that have developed a strong bond with their owners will exhibit this behavior.
Your dog may approach you with his ears back to show deference or friendliness since flat ears may mean either of these things.
If you want to know if your dog is showing submission because it feels threatened or secure, you should consider the context and other body language clues.
Also read: French Bulldog Color
Relaxed
Dogs may communicate with you even when they are not making evident body or ear movements. When calm, your dog may transmit his mood to other animals and humans by laying his ears back.
Your dog is happy and at peace when his ears flop back. Other facial muscles will typically be at rest, like the rest of the body. This bodes well. Your dog is telling you that he is at ease and trusts you implicitly.
The ears of dogs belonging to the Spitz family stand up straight by default. Several dog breeds, including Huskies, Corgis, Chihuahuas, and others, have erect ears. You’ll see that their ears are resting comfortably, at an angle, on top of their heads.
In contrast, the ears of the Beagle and the Dachshund both bend inward. The outer ear will hang loosely while the ear canal will rest.
When a dog’s ears are laid back, he may be dozing off or feeling at ease. If you see your dog letting his ears hang loose, you may rejoice that he is a content canine!
Ears Perked Up
When a French Bulldog is excited, its ears protrude slightly outward. As their ears spread, they may develop frown lines on their foreheads.
This is excellent news if your French Bulldog is enthusiastic. They might be giddy about playing with you, getting a reward, or making a new friend. Please take advantage of your French Bulldog’s cheerful disposition and maintain it.
Also read: English Bulldog Prices
Pointed
When a dog has his ears thrust forward, he may show alertness and readiness to defend himself against people or other dogs.
This position combines the perked and flattened dog ear positions meanings on the dog ear chart. When a dog is angry or anxious, it often shows in the form of pointed ears.
This is because, when confronted with an imminent threat, a dog’s natural reaction is to stiffen his ears and drop the tips as a show of defiance.
If you have seen a dog show this behavior, you likely realized quickly that they desired some distance from you. Though not all dogs with pointy ears are hostile, most of them usually do.
Since pointed ears may show a mix of alertness and anxiety, people must examine the scenario to discover why a dog feels threatened.
A dog may keep its ears back if it feels threatened, which may happen when it is confronted by another dog or person, when it is guarding a prized possession, or when it hears something that makes it suspect.
Since there are likely to be additional physical signs of an aggressive dog, you may evaluate the whole picture to determine what your dog needs.
He could be more inclined to approach you if he barks, lungs, or strains forward with his ears pricked up. When a dog tucks his tail and makes whimpering noises, it may be because he is more afraid than hostile.
Curious Ears
If the ears of a French Bulldog are perked up like that, the dog could be quite interested. Your dog is attentively listening or anticipating further information. Both of these ears will be floated far above the skull. To further demonstrate their interest, your Frenchie may tilt their head.
If your Frenchie has perky ears, use them to communicate with them and teach them tricks. Consider what they want to know and think about how you might explain it. There’s a chance they’re grasping at straws to make sense of your instructions; all you have to do is clarify them.
Anxious Ears
When a French Bulldog gets scared, its ears will retract. They may also show diminution in body size, such as reattached ears.
If your French Bulldog’s ears are perked up in fear, you should investigate the source of their anxiety. They could be startled by a sudden noise, feel threatened by taking a bath, or be disturbed by meeting a new person.
However, there are certain things that your French Bulldog must experience, such as loud noises, new people, and washing. However, if you are aware of the things that fear children, you will be better able to reassure them when they exhibit indications of anxiety.
Sonar Ears
The sonar ears of a French Bulldog have the appearance of ears that are fully extended and angled toward the direction of the sound. Some breeds of French Bulldogs can focus their hearing on a single sound by rotating their ears in the direction of that sound.
When a French Bulldog’s ears “puff out” like sonar, it signifies the dog is actively listening for and pinpointing a particular sound.
Just as you’d have to keep an eye on a dog with acute hearing to ensure it doesn’t dart off after a strange noise, you’ll need to keep an eye on your French Bulldog if he develops hyperaware ears. Keep your senses sharp in case their acute hearing picks up on impending danger.
Blade Ears
When a French Bulldog is in full sprint mode in pursuit of a toy or a rabbit, its ears fold back like a “blade” They’ll perk up, but with somewhat fanned-out ears. In most cases, they will also be in a hurry to pursue their target.
A French Bulldog’s blade ears won’t be a problem unless your dog actively follows something it shouldn’t. Just keep an eye on them and make sure your Frenchie doesn’t get into any mischief.
FAQS
What does it mean when French Bulldogs put their ears back?
You can tell how attentive a dog is simply looking at its ears. Dog ears laying flat against the head convey a scared or timid attitude, whereas perked ears looking forward show interest.
What do Frenchie ear positions mean?
When your dog is in a lively mood, you may notice that his or her ears are slightly back. When afraid, French Bulldogs’ ears may also be positioned back. You can tell whether your Frenchie is anxious by looking for any changes in the ear’s position behind the dog’s head.
Do all French bulldog ears stand up?
Between 5 and 15 weeks after birth, the ears of a French bulldog, in the majority of instances, will stand up, perk up, and remain up straight, albeit this may not happen in both cases. The puppy’s ears, which had been lowered throughout the teething process, should now be standing at a normal height.
At what age do French bulldog ears stand up?
The simple answer is between four weeks and four months. Smaller ears often stand on their own first (and vice versa). The fact that your puppy takes slower to stand does not indicate that there is something inherently wrong with him or her; there are a few outliers who take longer to stand up.
Do French Bulldogs ears ever not stand up?
Between 5 and 15 weeks after birth, the ears of a French bulldog, in the majority of instances, will stand up, perk up, and remain up straight, albeit this may not happen in both cases. The puppy’s ears, which had been lowered throughout the teething process, should now be standing at a normal height.
Do floppy ears hurt dogs?
Infected floppy-eared dogs may experience severe discomfort, and if the infection is not treated, it can spread throughout the body and create an aural hematoma. There are a number of natural treatments and preventative methods you can employ to make sure your dog’s floppy ears never give him any discomfort.
Final Thoughts
There are many emotions and signs that you can understand just by looking at your dog’s ear positions. I hope you find this french bulldog ear positions chart helpful. Let us know in the comment section below if we need to include any positions.