What is the right way to hold my dog's ear while cleaning?

Lift the ear flap gently upward and slightly outward, just enough to see and access the canal opening clearly, rather than pulling it taut or stretching it away from the head. A light, steady hold, similar to how you might hold a piece of paper still, is all that is needed.

With the ear held steady in one hand, use the other to apply cleaner and later to wipe with cotton, switching which hand holds the ear depending on which side you are working on so you are not reaching across your dog's face awkwardly.

If your dog tends to pull its head away during cleaning, having a second person gently support the body and offer treats frees you up to focus purely on holding the ear and applying the cleaner without also trying to keep your dog still on your own.

A large, heavy floppy ear needs a slightly firmer, more supportive hold than a small upright ear, simply because of its weight, while a small or upright ear needs only the lightest guidance to stay accessible, so adjusting your grip to your dog's specific ear type, rather than using the same hold for every dog, keeps the experience comfortable.

If your dog tends to twist its head away mid cleaning, kneeling or sitting at your dog's level rather than reaching down from standing height often gives you better control and a more stable base for both hands, reducing the awkward reaching that can make a dog more likely to pull free.