What Are the Slits on Dog Ears?

Dogs' ear shape and size vary among breeds, which influences the prominence and shape of ear slits. But all dog ear slits open on the lateral edge of the ear on the pinnae. The pinna is the external ear flap that collects sound and directs it into the ear canal, which runs from the outside of the head to the eardrum.

While the structure of dog ears helps them hear sounds over greater distances than humans, the slits have no significant effect on hearing. Some dog breeds, like the Doberman pinscher, have had their ears cropped to remove part of the pinnae, but this solely serves aesthetic purposes.