It's wet, brown and gummy in nearly all people of European and African origin; but more than 80 % of East Asians have a dry variety that lacks a waxy substance
called cerumen.
Ethnic / racial and genetic influences
on cerumen odorant profiles.
Cleaning it too frequently and you risk developing bacterial infections because of the removal of the
protective cerumen.
Other dogs are predisposed to develop otitis because they have allergies which make their ears itch and produce
more cerumen.
It may not be pretty, but
cerumen (commonly known as earwax) serves an important function by keeping the ear canal free of dirt and microbes.
Dogs that swim typically develop Pseudomonas, and dogs with increased
cerumen (earwax) typically have Malassezia.