Photo Demonstration Of Plucking Hair From The Ears Of An Old English Sheepdog
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The following demonstration is on a dog that is already used to having his ears plucked.

Below is the way that I tend to my own dogs' ears.  Dogs often need to be slowly desensitized to any new process.  This process can be more challenging to some owners because some dogs are more sensitive to having hair plucked from the ears.  You need to proceed slowly, respect the dog's limits, praise and reward lavishly so the dog will learn to tolerate it.  Only you know your dog and how he or she may respond.  Seek assistance from a professional if there is any chance your dog could display an aggressive behavior. 

Before Beginning... I inspect the ears to see if they are unusually dirty or for signs of infection like redness, yeast or drainage.   If the ears are dirty, I thoroughly clean them out and wait until the next day or two to pluck them.  If any infection or unusual odor is noted, I will not pluck the ears.  I address the problem with a visit to the vet and wait until the ears are again healthy.

If the ears look good, I gather up my supplies and kibble treats.  I have the dog get up on the grooming table but you can do this sitting on the floor, couch or bed as well.   I had the dog lie on his side and gave him one piece of kibble.  Then I got to work.  NOTE:  I give the kibble with the hand I'm not using to remove ear hair! 

Plucking is a quick, decisive act... not a slow, pulling motion...

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Disclaimer: The techniques shown on this page are NOT provided by a professional groomer nor veterinarian and are offered as-is without warranty or guarantee.  This is simply one way a pet owner has maintained her Old English Sheepdogs or OES-mix over the past 17 years.  The purpose of this page is to possibly help prevent other Old English Sheepdogs from ending up like some of these-  http://thesheepiestore.com/Assistance.htm