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Lou the coonhound breaks record for longest ears on a dog

By Kristen Stephenson
Published

Three-year-old Lou is a black and tan coonhound. She's a sweet, sassy, smart and now record-breaking pup. 

It was love at first sight for her owner Paige Olsen (USA). She simply could not say no to adopting her!

Paige has always joked that Lou’s ears are "extravagantly long".

However, it wasn’t until sheltering in place during the pandemic that she decided to measure them.

As it turns out, Lou did indeed break the record for the longest ears on a dog (living) with each ear measuring 34 cm (13.38 in). 

Her achievement has even earned her a spot in the new Guinness World Records 2022 book. 

"Lou is a black and tan coonhound, and all of them should have ears that extend at least to the tip of their nose." Paige explains.  

"All black and tan coonhounds have beautiful long ears, some are just longer than others." 

"Their long ears drag on the ground and stir up scents when they are tracking out in the field. It makes them great at following long, very old or 'cold' tracks that other breeds of dog may not pick up on."

According to Paige, who is a veterinary technician, Lou’s ears surprisingly do not require any special maintenance due to their length. 

She checks them once a month for cleanliness and, in the winter, uses a snood (an ear warmer for dog) to keep Lou’s ears from dragging in the snow. 

She mentions the snood is "more to make me feel better than it is actually necessary!"

Paige shares that Lou has fans everywhere she goes. After seeing people’s reactions, it’s evident that Lou’s ears are very easy to admire! 

"People always have questions about the breed. Coonhounds are not very common in this region so I get the opportunity to educate a lot of people on the breed."

"Of course everyone wants to touch the ears, they’re very easy to fall in love with with just one sighting."

"Embrace [your pet’s] uniqueness and love them always." - Paige Olsen

When she’s not winning the world over with her fantastic ears, Lou is a competitor and has received titles from the American Kennel Club and Rally Obedience.  

In her free time, Lou loves to tag along on a range of adventures with her mom. 

Paige says she is even a "wonderful wine tasting companion" when she goes to vineyards with her friends.

All of Lou’s close friends and family are thrilled about Lou’s title and her spot in the new book. 

Paige shares that they "cannot wait to get her paw-digraph!" and adds that she is "proud of the furry little (80 lb.) munchkin for being so special!"

Find the adorable Lou on the pages of Guinness World Records 2022, available now!