Ears/scenting

[Househounds]

Good pic Joeyman,
I think the ears can help lift and direct scent to the dogs nose when searching like this.

[Dale Pea]

The bigger the ears the easier it is for your dogs to hear you when you call them in to head home.

[ronh]

When I wrote that a beagle, German Shepherd and a wolf are different animals, I realize they are the same genus..Canis..but a wolf is a different species and a shepherd is a different breed...all three with different purposes. And their individual traits..long ears on beagles..AID..not ALLOW..them to accomplish such tasks!
A long legged shepherd, a short legged, long eared beagle, and a wild wolf, in my opinion are different animals.