European Shepherds with large, open ears? Questions

Why do the European Shepherds (German, Belgian, Dutch, etc.) have such large, open ears?

as apposed to what shepherds??? :? :? :?

Well, the Kelpie, Canaan Dog, and the Basque Shepherd to name a few.

All the better to hear you with?
The theory I`ve heard advanced (can`t vouch for it ) is that dogs began with pricked ears, plus a few that flopped naturally, and those with flop ears were bred as `types` as they looked puppyish and therefore appealing.
Good a theory as any, I suppose.

Thanks! I never thought of that.

Natures prototype developed over hundreds of thousands of years for optimum efficiency :

We like ears!!!!