What is the significance of holding a dog by the ears?
Bereishis Rabah 75:3: Hashem rebuked Yakov - Esav was going on his way 1 , and you send to him "Ko Amar Avdecha Yakov"?!
Rashi: He causes it to bite him for no reason.
Malbim: He was passing by; it did not bark at him. Since he held it by the ears, it barked at him and bit him. So one who enters a quarrel not pertaining to him - the quarrel was like a dog not barking at him. Since he grabbed it by its ears, now it barks at him, will revile and disgrace him, and also bite him.
Yakov's messengers told him "v'Gam Holech Likrasecha v'Arba Me'os Ish Imo" (Bereishis 32:7)! Perhaps after Yakov told him of his wealth, Esav put to his heart that it was due to the Brachos, and decided to confront him. (PF) Is Yakov criticized for not knowing what is in Esav's heart? R' C. T. Fogel - Yakov did not merit to take the Brachos without paining Esav, therefore he needed to appease him - "Achaperah Fanav" (ibid. 21).
