Random Ears

They say greyhounds are sight hounds and that they can see for half a mile. Lottie certainly knows how to spot a cat several blocks away, so I guess it must be true. What I wasn't aware of, however, was just how amazing a greyhound's ears are.

You see, watching a greyhound's ears while out walking them is like having your very own Punch and Judy show unfold before your eyes.

The normal position for a greyhound's ears tends to be down and tucked against their head for maximum aerodynamic efficiency for a moving greyhound. But in a noisy environment like a city street, Lottie's ears seem to take on a life of their own. One ear can spring into life, swiveling like a radio telescope to zero in on any sound, as it may be food, another dog or best of all - a cat.

Having confirmed a potential sighting of food/a dog/a cat, the other ear will usually spring to life so as not to miss out on any of the action. Both ears standing to full alert can look quite comical, almost lending our dog a cartoonish look.

Lottie's ears are also a good barometer of what she's got on her mind. If she's on the mooch for food or cuddles she'll fly both ears half flopped, lending her a beseeching puppy-like look that's all but guaranteed to defrost any heart of ice.

Thinking of what her ears remind me of took me back to my childhood when Morris Minors were a common car on New Zealand streets. For some bizarre reason their turn indicator was built into the side of the door pillar and would pop horizontally out as you indicated to turn.

Lottie hasn't quite got the hang of using her ears to indicate a preference in turning directions but her ears seem to be learning fast.

Last but by no means least, the other amazing thing about a greyhound's ears is just how soft they are. Coated in a silky fine fur, it is easy to sit for ages and stroking her ears. Lottie will of course usually sit for hours on end happily soaking up the attention.