Smelly ears are not normal! I agree - find another vet!
1) If your dog is a drop eared dog, you'll need to make extra sure you keep them clean and dry. Drop eared dogs have a tendency to collect more moisture in their ears and are more prone to bacterial overgrowth than a prick eared dog.
2) Consider what you are feeding the dog. Many commercial dog foods contain an abundance of grains and some dogs do not tolerate them. Excessive grains can cause an overgrowth of yeast in the ears. Grains=carbohydrates=sugar. Too much sugar can cause yeast infections. Read the label of your current food to see what's in it.
Consider a diet change. Go with a home made diet or if that's not something you are comfortable doing, find a grain free food. It won't be one of the big name brands but it's worth the extra money. In the meantime, add some plain yogurt to the diet (with the active cultures - not the stuff with yummy sweet additives in it) to add good bacteria back into the system.
If an infection is present, you'll need to treat with an anti-biotic and the yogurt will be especially important during treatment to balance out the bacteria. There is a product called R7 Ear Powder (U.S.) but it sounds like what Shaneystar2 recommended will do the same thing.
I have found that proper nutrition cures some of these simple but persistent problems.
Good luck!