How to layer and trim your dog’s ears short at home
Archie’s layered, short ears
If your dog has short, fluffy ears, learning how to trim them at home can make a huge difference to their overall appearance. Layering the fur and trimming around the ear leather creates a neat, rounded triangle shape while removing excess bulk, helping the ears look tidy and sit more naturally against your dog's head.
This grooming technique is perfect for breeds like Cavoodles, Spoodles, Groodles and other Oodles, especially if you prefer a shorter, low-maintenance haircut.
In this tutorial, I'll show you how I groom one of my regular clients, Archie, a straight-haired Cavoodle, whose owner prefers his ears to be kept short and thinned out.
Why keep your dog's ears short?
There are plenty of reasons why owners choose to keep their dog's ears short, and it's not just for looks.
Long ears can easily dip into food and water bowls, leaving them wet, dirty and smelly after every meal. Thick, fluffy ears are also prone to developing knots and mats, especially behind the ears where the fur rubs together as your dog walks, scratches or plays.
If you have more than one dog, you may also find they chew on each other's ears during play, which can quickly lead to tangled, matted fur.
Keeping the ears shorter can also improve airflow around the ears. While trimming the outside of the ears won't prevent every ear infection, reducing excess hair around the ear flap can help the area stay cleaner and drier, particularly in dogs with long, heavy ears.
Best of all, shorter ears are much easier to maintain between grooms. They need less brushing, are less likely to collect burrs and grass seeds, and stay looking neat for longer.
What you'll need
Before you begin, you'll need:
A pair of dog grooming clippers, I use Heinigar cordless clippers
Wahl attachment combs (I'll be using a #4 attachment comb to match the length of Archie's body.)
Curved dog grooming scissors (optional)
De-matting comb to get rid of any mats (optional)
How to layer and trim short dog ears
Start by brushing your dog's ears to remove any knots and tangles. If you come across a mat you can’t brush out, uses a de-matting comb. A clean, knot-free coat allows the attachment comb to glide smoothly through the fur and produce an even finish.
If you're matching the ears to the rest of your dog's haircut, attach the same comb you used on the body to your clippers. In my video, I use a #4 attachment comb to create a fluffy but manageable finish. Not sure which comb length to use? Check out my article, Snap-on attachment comb lengths explained, where I compare all the different comb sizes and show you the length each one leaves on your dog's coat.
To safely clip the ears, gently rest the ear leather on the palm of your hand while clipping the fur in the direction of hair growth. This supports the ear leather and makes it much easier to groom evenly. I also clip the fur on the inside of the ear flap and just below the ear to blend everything together.
Once you've layered the ear, use either straight or curved dog grooming scissors to trim around the edge of the ear leather. Always hold the tip of the ear leather between your fingers while trimming so you know exactly where it is and don't accidentally nick it.
Finish by giving the ears one final brush before running the clippers over them again to remove any hairs that have lifted. This simple step helps create a smoother, more even finish.
Grooming tips
Brush the ears before clipping to remove knots and tangles.
Use the same attachment comb as the body if you want the ears to blend into the haircut.
Support the ear on your hand while clipping for better control.
Always hold the ear leather with your fingers when trimming around the edges.
Give the ears a final brush before your last pass with the clippers for a smoother finish.
Watch my step-by-step video
Want to see exactly how I layer and trim short dog ears?
In the video below, I'll show you how I clip and thin thick ears, safely trim around the ear leather, and shape the ears into a neat triangle that complements Archie’s haircut.
Watch the full step-by-step tutorial and groom along with me >
I’m a qualified dog groomer and fur-mum to two cavoodles; Soda and Poppy. I’m passionate about the health and wellbeing of dogs, as well as helping dog parents groom their dogs at home. I’ll teach you the basics, however if you don’t feel comfortable or confident at any time that’s completely fine, book your dog in for a regular groom and pamper session at the salon. Please never leave your dog unattended on a grooming table.
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