Bath time is a good chance to check your boxer's ears for mites and black waxy residue that might suggest an allergy or some kind of illness. Dogs' ears tend to be an early warning system on health. If they are clean and fresh, your dog's health is probably fine. If you notice that waxy stuff tends to build up in the ears, you want your vet to take a closer look. If your boxer has been shaking his head or scratching at his ears recently, he has a problem. If the discharge in his ears has an unusual odor, it usually a sign of mites or an infection. Go see your vet right away.

The ears should be kept clean and free of hair. It makes it easier to keep the ears clean if they are shaved. After you have washed the overall ear inside and out with a cloth during your boxer's bath, you can take a cotton ball and a special ear cleaner and wipe down farther into the ear canal.