7 Big Dog Breeds That Have Pointy Ears

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Dogs with pointy ears are adorable, aren’t they? The way their ears stand up makes them look so cute. 

But you might wonder, what dogs have pointy ears? Sometimes it’s easy to forget how big of a difference your dog’s ears make in his appearance. 

If you love big dogs with pointy ears, you will want to know about the following dog breeds. Here is a detailed list of big dogs that Have Pointy Ears.

Akita

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The Akita is a large breed of dog from the mountainous northern regions of Japan.

The Akita is a descendant of the subspecies of large dogs that were used for bear and wild boar hunting by samurais in Japan. 

They are excellent guard dogs with an intimidating and courageous nature.

The male Akita stands between 26 and 28 inches tall, weighs about 110 pounds (50 kilograms), and measures 24 to 26 inches from nose to tail. 

The female is smaller at around 80 pounds (36 kilograms) but only slightly shorter than the male: measuring 20–24 inches long from head to tail.

Akitas have a double coat that can be Red, Sesame, Black, Brindle, and White, all with or without a mask.

The white hair may be partially masked or fully masked. They have pointed ears, which are usually erect. 

Their coat needs to be brushed regularly and trimmed yearly to prevent matting and tangles.

They shed heavily twice a year, so vacuuming up after them is recommended during this period.

There are several celebrities who have been seen with the Akita dog, like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Henry Cavill, Drake, and Eric Christian Olsen, among others.

The Alaskan Malamute

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This large breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) was initially bred for its strength and endurance to pull heavy freight and later as a sled dog. 

The average height of this breed is 23 to 25 inches, and the average weight is 75 to 85 pounds.

They are similar in appearance to a smaller Eskimo dogs. The American Kennel Club describes the Alaskan Malamute as well-balanced, strong, athletic, and capable of great endurance. 

This dog breed has a variety of colors from Gray, brown, or black with white patches on the chest and feet; some also have a mask of darker fur on the face and nose.

The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, friendly, intelligent, good-natured, and outgoing breed. They have an instinctive desire to protect their home and family, making them excellent watchdogs. 

However, they are not guarding dogs. They are very social with people and other dogs. This breed does very well in performance events such as obedience trials or agility competitions. 

There is some controversy over whether the breed should be allowed in conformation shows due to concerns about temperament.

This breed has been a sled dog, carting goods over long distances in harsh conditions. The Alaskan Malamute is also employed for search and rescue operations and therapy work.

German Shepherd

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The German Shepherd is a large dog with an athletic build and a wedge-shaped head. This breed is known for its intelligence, independence, and strength.

A full-grown German shepherd will stand between 23-26 inches high and weigh between 75-90 pounds for males; females are slightly smaller at 22-24 inches and 65-75 pounds, respectively. 

The ears are long and pointed, with the front pair slightly more erect than the rear pair. The eyes are almond-shaped with dark rims, and the nose is black or brown, depending on the coat color. 

This breed comes in three different coat types: long-haired (which can be either wavy or curly), short-haired, or wire-haired (the most common). The coat colors range from solid black through all shades of gray to blue merle with various combinations of white markings on their body and faces.

The German Shepherd was originally bred in 1899 by Captain Max von Stephanitz, the German police chief, to assist him in his work. Since then, this breed has become a popular family pet and guard dog. 

The German Shepherd has been used in military, police, and rescue work as well as search and rescue.

Some of the celebrities seen strolling with the German Shepherd are Milley Cyrus, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, and Justin Hemmes, among others.

Samoyed

A typical adult male Samoyed stands between 24 inches (61 cm) tall at the shoulder and weighs between 50–65 pounds (23–29 kg), with an average weight of 55 pounds (25 kg). 

Females are a bit smaller, with an average height of 23 inches (58 cm) at the shoulder and an average weight of 45 pounds (20 kg). 

The coat comes in white only, although it can darken to cream or yellowish brown on the ears, face, feet, and tail tip with maturity; some dogs have piebald spotting on their bodies instead of solid white.

The Samoyed is a large Spitz-type dog breed that is popular as a pet and competitive show dog. They derive their name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. The exact origin of this breed is unknown. 

Still, it is generally accepted that they are descended from the Nenets herding dog, migrating with their people from Siberia to northern Russia and Scandinavia. 

They were initially used for pulling sleds during hunting trips and as companions to the nomadic tribesmen. They are still used as sled dogs but compete in other activities such as obedience trials, agility trials, field trials, and weight-pulling contests.

Kelly Clarkson, Chris Ebbott, Yvonne Jegede, and Shaun White are some celebrities who have been spotted with thew the Samoyed dog.

Beauceron

The Beauceron is a large dog breed that originated in France.

A typical height for this breed is 22 inches (56 cm) for males and 20 inches (51 cm) for females; their weight varies between 55 pounds (25 kg) and 65 pounds (30 kg).

It’s also known as the Berger de Beauce. The American Kennel Club recognizes the Beauceron as a member of its Working Group.

Beaucerons have pointy ears that stand erect when alert but fold forward when relaxed. Their muzzle is short with an upturned nose and black lips. 

They have dark brown eyes that are medium-sized and almond-shaped with black eye rims. Their tails are long, reaching almost to the ground when relaxed, but they do not curl over their backs like some other breeds.

The Beauceron is a dog with a muscular body and strong legs. It has a double coat with a thick undercoat that protects against weather extremes. 

The outer coat is long, straight, and coarse in texture but may be straight or slightly wavy. The coat comes in shades of gray or fawn with black tips on the hairs on the back and legs.

Doberman Pinscher

Dobermans are large dogs with a height of 24-27 inches and a weight of 75-85 pounds. The ears are pointy and V-shaped, which helps to enhance their look. 

Their coat is short, glossy, and smooth in texture. The color may be fawn, red, or black with tan or gray undertones.

The genes determine a Doberman’s coat color they inherit from their parents. If both parents carry blue eyes, the puppies will also have blue eyes. 

However, if one parent has brown eyes while the other has blue eyes, then all puppies will have brown eyes since blue is recessive to brown. The name “Dobermann” comes from the German town of Doberlug-Kirchhain, where the breed was first used. 

Local tax collectors initially used them as guard dogs to protect their collections from thieves and remain popular worldwide as guard dogs to this day. 

Their protective instincts are strong and known for their intelligence and alertness, making them suitable for police work.

Celebrities like Kevin Hart, Henrik Lundqvist, Mariah Carey, Steve Harvey, Sylvester Stallone, and Kendall Jenner have been spotted either having a walk with their Doberman dogs or on their social media platforms.

Giant Schnauzer

Giant Schnauzers are large dogs with pointy ears that can measure around 58 cm (23 inches) at the shoulder for males, while females should be about 53 cm (21 inches). 

They weigh between 25-30 kg (55-66 lbs). Their ears are erect and triangular, giving them a unique look compared to other breeds. 

Their coat color can vary from black, brown, or gray, with a white patch on their chest. The breed has a double coat, with the outer layer straight and harsh while the inner layer is soft and furry.

The Giant Schnauzer originated in Germany in the early 19th century as a working dog for herding cattle and guarding farms. 

They were bred by crossing several breeds, including the Great Dane, Standard Poodle, and German Pinscher. This combination gave them a strong build but also made them prone to several health problems, such as hip dysplasia, cataracts, and epilepsy.

The coat should be harsh to the touch but not woolly. The outer coat is straight or wavy but not curly; it stands off from the body like a brush or ruff around the neck, shoulders, and chest. 

There is a short undercoat that is soft against the skin but does not show through the outer coat. The coat should be free from any sign of grayish-white hairs on either side of the muzzle or the top of the head.

Conclusion

Generally, the shape and size of a dog’s ears are most often determined by where their breed originated. 

However, several other factors can also affect the shape of their pointy ears. These factors include environment and climate, heredity, and health issues.

In addition, not all big dogs have pointy ears. Other small dog breeds also have pointed ears. Likewise, there are big dog breeds that do not have pointy ears.

Photo credits

¹ Photo by Pati Regina

² Photo by Julia Ballarin

³ Photo by Anna Dudkova on Unsplash

⁴ Photo by Cezar

⁵ Photo by Llima Orosa

James Grayston

My name is James and I love dogs. have owned four Golden Retrievers in the past 15 years. Currently I own two "Goldies"- a five year old and a seven month old. The photo shows me with our youngest when she was about 7 weeks old!