One of my dogs suffers from repeated ear infections, smelly black wax. I use ear cleaner called oticyl from vets, if he hates the bottle put plenty of it on a swab of cotton wool first and then get some canural drops when the ears are clean, two or three drops in each ear, again I usually put some on my finger tips and poke it gently in that way as my gsd x runs a mile when he sees me even get the bottles out of the cupboard!!