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Dogs have a set of stiff hairs protruding from the sides of their muzzles that are popularly called “whiskers.” These are not at all like the nonfunctional whiskers that men sometimes grow on their faces. Why do dogs have whiskers?
Technically, these special hairs are called vibrissae. But a better name for them is “feelers” because vibrissae really are sophisticated devices that help the dog feel its way through the world.
They are quite different from most other hairs on the dog’s body. To begin with, they are considerably more rigid and embedded more deeply into the skin. Much more important, however, is the fact that at the base of each vibrissa is a high concentration of touch-sensitive neurons so that the slightest pressure on that stiff hair will produce a neural response.
The vibrissae serve as an early warning device that something is near the face and thus helps the dog prevent colliding with walls or objects and alerts the dog that something is approaching which might damage his face or eyes. You can demonstrate this for yourself by tapping gently on the vibrissae of a dog. With each tap, the eye on the same side of the face will blink protectively, and the dog will tend to turn his head away from the side tapped.
Dogs whose vibrissae have been removed seem more uncertain in dim light. Under these conditions they actually move more slowly because they are not getting the information that they depend upon to tell them where things are that they might bump into.
With intact vibrissae, the dog actually does not have to make physical contact with a surface to know it is there. These special hairs are so sensitive that they also register slight changes in air currents. As a dog approaches an object like a wall, some of the air that he stirs up by moving bounces back from surfaces, bending the vibrissae slightly. The resulting neural response is enough to inform him that something is near well before he touches it.
So next time you’re at the groomer, let them know to leave those whiskers alone.
This article originally appeared in the award-winning AKC Family Dog magazine. Subscribe today!
Some think that dogs whiskers have no purpose and they have them snipped off at the groomers, but whiskers are actually essential in helping your dog navigate the world! Keep reading to find out more.
Many people don’t realise that the coarse, long whiskers on a dog’s face actually serve an important purpose. In fact, some dog owners try and snip off dog whiskers because they think they look untidy.
Also known as vibrissae, these dog whiskers have several uses and can help your dog navigate the world around them. They help your dog in many aspects of their life and even can guide them in the dark and help them figure out the size of different objects!
Keep reading to find out why dogs have whiskers and why you should never have them snipped off, no matter how untidy your pooch appears.
Whiskers or vibrissae are long, coarse hairs that usually occur around a dog’s muzzle, jaw and above their eyes. They’re deeply embedded into the skin, and the follicles at the base of these whiskers are packed full of nerves that send sensory messages to the dog’s brain.
Dog whiskers are not like other hairs in a dog’s fur – they are really delicate and it’s been said that they’re as sensitive to touch as human fingertips! Which is why if you’ve ever touched your dog’s whiskers they may blink or flinch in response.
Dogs have whiskers to help them explore the world by sending sensory information to the brain. Dogs don’t have the strongest eyesight so they rely on their whiskers, particularly when locating small objects or anything up close. Any touch or air movement near a dog’s whiskers stimulates the nerves at the base, sending vital signals to the brain.
Whiskers help your dog figure out what things are and determine the size, shape and speed of objects. They can even help them see in the dark and work out if they can fit through small spaces.
Dog whiskers around the eyes also offer protection because when their whiskers touch anything, it usually causes them to blink, which avoids harmful things like dirt getting in their eyes. Plus, whiskers can prevent your dog being poked in the eye by branches or twigs when out walking, as the little hairs can sense where things are.
A dog’s whiskers are some of the first hairs to develop and they help your dog safely find their way around extremely early on. All of this means that whiskers play an important part in your dog’s life – they assist with navigation and understanding the environment, support poor vision and help keep your dog safe.
Not only are whiskers essential tools for helping your dog find their way around, but they also help them to be successful hunters. Dogs’ whiskers help them pick up on moving objects because when the air moves it bounces back and is picked up by their whiskers. This signal helps dogs to tell the size and shape of the moving object or prey, as well as determine how quickly it is moving. This makes them especially useful for hunting as they can alert dogs to the location of prey. Their whiskers paired with their incredible sense of smell are the two main reasons why your dog is such a good hunter!
If your dog is used for hunting, it’s crucial that you don’t cut their whiskers as this will have a huge impact on your dog’s ability to hunt and find prey, and it can reduce their general confidence as by cutting them off from an important source of information. It would be like removing one of their largest senses.
Dog whiskers are important for body language
It may be surprising to learn that your dog’s whiskers can also demonstrate how they’re feeling.
When a dog feels threatened, they flare their whiskers and point them forwards, which alters their body language and helps them signal to other dogs that they’re unhappy. Because of this, whiskers may also form part of a dog’s defence strategy.
Why Do DOGS Have WHISKERS?
Have you ever taken your dog to the groomer and then noticed that his whiskers are gone? Your dog probably feels a bit disoriented afterward. They’re more important than the hair that humans grow on their faces. What do dog whiskers do, and why should you never remove them? Read on to learn what dog whiskers are for and what happens if they’re gone.
Yes, all dogs have whiskers. In fact, most mammals have whiskers except for humans. Well, humans do have whiskers, but they aren’t the same type that other mammals have. The technical term for whiskers is vibrissa1, and they are more important than the hair that humans grow on our faces.