It is always black and always in line with the upper lips when viewed in profile. The ears are carried high. They may be cropped or left natural. Between two dogs of equal quality, preference is to be given to the dog with cropped ears. Cropped ears are erect, never converging nor diverging, and point slightly forward.
Uncropped ears are flat and rather short.
They are not set close to the head. The length of the uncropped ear must be equal to half the length of the head. Soft, lacking fiber. Cropped ears with poor set. The muscular neck blends smoothly with the withers.