Pig Ears for Dogs

Whole, halved or cut into strips, pig ears are a fatty dried chew that leaves a mark on carpet, so feed them on something you can wash. That one habit solves most of what people dislike about them.

The ear itself is simple: skin, cartilage and a thin layer of fat, dried until it is firm. The differences between one bag and the next come from how it was cut and how it was dried.

Whole, half and sliced pig ears

A whole pig ear is a broad, flat piece with a ruffled edge, several inches across, thicker toward the base and thin at the rim. It is a chew you hand over once and leave the dog to work on.

A half ear is the same piece cut across, which suits a medium dog or a first try. Sliced ears are strips, cut lengthwise, and they go further: one ear becomes many pieces, and each piece is a training treat or a short chew. Whole ears are also simply more ear for a dog that likes a project.

That is the trade off in a sentence: whole ears last, and strips go further. The whole range is on the pork dog treats page, with each product's own cut and size.

Smoked, baked and air dried

Three words on the bag describe how the ear was dried. Smoked ears have been exposed to smoke and smell and taste of it. Baked ears were dried with heat in an oven, and air dried ears were dried slowly with moving air. None of those words changes what the ear is, but each changes the smell and the color, with smoked ears darker and air dried ears paler.

Read the ingredient list for anything beyond pork ear. A smoked ear may carry a flavoring or a coating, and the label is where that is said. If a bag lists only the ear, that is a plain one.

Grease, smell and the carpet

The grease is real. USDA FoodData Central lists raw pork ears at about 15 grams of fat per 100 grams, far more than its entry for lean pork loin, and a dried ear holds on to a good deal of that fat. A dog working at an ear leaves a damp, shiny patch where it has been lying, and the oil comes off on paws and on the person who carries the ear around.

Feed it on a washable mat, a tile floor or a towel you do not mind. Put the ear down where the dog will lie, not where you walk. Wash the mat with the rest of the dog's things, and wash your hands after handling the ear, as the raw feeding notice describes for every product here.

The smell is the second thing. An ear smells meaty when it is dried well, and stronger when smoked. A bag opened in a small room will announce itself, so keep it sealed.

If a mark does land on carpet, blot it first and do not rub. Dish soap and warm water lift most of a fresh grease spot, and it is worth trying on an unseen corner before the visible patch, because carpets differ.

Which dogs suit a pig ear

A pig ear suits a dog that settles in to chew, and a mid size to large dog gets the most from a whole ear. A small dog does better with a half or with strips, and a dog that gulps should get a larger piece than seems necessary, so it cannot swallow it in one go.

Hold the ear beside your dog's muzzle before you hand it over. If the piece would fit in the mouth in one go, choose a bigger one. If your dog has had trouble with fatty foods, ask a licensed professional who cares for your dog before offering one.

Many dogs will chew an ear in several sessions rather than one. Put it away between turns in a closed bag, out of reach, and look at the size each time you bring it out; the ear gets smaller and the last piece is the one to watch.

When the ear is down to a stub that could be swallowed whole, take it away. A smaller, drier chew works as a swap; the rabbit ears are the lighter relative of the pig ear, and the dog chews collection has the rest.

Sniff and Shift does not make pig ears. Its air dried duck feet are a house chew with a different texture, air dried in small batches in Malvern.

Storing pig ears

Keep the bag closed and in a cool, dry place, and follow the storage line printed on it. An ear that has gone damp, or has picked up a sour smell, has outlived its bag.

Treat recalls come up around chews of all kinds. We do not summarize them here, and the lookup is better done at the source: our guide on how to check a pet treat recall shows how to use FDA's recall listings for any product on your shelf, ears included.

Common questions

Do pig ears leave a greasy mark?

Yes, they can. A dried ear holds fat, and the dog carries it onto the floor, so feed it on a washable mat or a towel.

What is the difference between smoked and air dried pig ears?

Smoked ears have been exposed to smoke, which shows in the smell and the darker color. Air dried ears were dried with moving air and are paler, with a milder smell.

Are sliced pig ears better than whole ears?

They do different jobs. Sliced strips go further and suit training, and whole ears are a longer chew for a dog that likes to settle in.

How should I store pig ears?

Keep the bag closed in a cool, dry place and follow the storage line on the label. If an ear has gone damp or smells sour, do not give it.