Big, loving Labs love to explore and "retrieve" treasures with their keen hearing. They can detect soft underbrush rustling, a flock of birds taking flight, and whitetail deer on the trail.
The Shepherd's erect, pointed ears and intelligence when a sound catches his attention make him a hearing master. German Shepherds protect their packs and guard the home and yard.
Poodles—standard, miniature, or toy—are among the smartest dogs, able to weigh what they hear and ignore what's unimportant. Poodles can be trained to respond to human voices and whistles.
Cocker Spaniels were once hunting dogs, but their large eyes and long ears make them great companions. Their ears found small prey like squirrels and helped their humans see and hear them.
Tibet's bleating sheep and distant warning sounds of avalanches, earthquakes, and mudslides bred the confident, sometimes comical Llasa Apso.
Bostonians are good at detecting, especially sound. Blaring sirens get them excited, the clank of forks on dinner plates makes them drool, and a quiet intruder makes them sniff and bark.
Chihuahuas, another small dog with big ears, are noisy! These dogs don't miss much while sleeping. They react to mom or dad waking up or the scary vacuum cleaner in another room!
French Bulldogs' ears stand up like radar dishes on either side of their foreheads, always alert! Frenchies are excellent watchdogs because they can hear the faintest sounds.