All dogs have whiskers or vibrissae, some longer than others.Dogs are mammals and just like mammals, they have whiskers around their upper lip and muzzle and also other body parts. The whiskers on the face look like a mustache.Whiskers or vibrissae are tools that have many important functions for dogs that are known to have poor eyesight and vision. Whiskers grow out of sensitive hair follicles. When a dog’s body is close enough to an object that is harmful, its whiskers send signals to the brain and the dog can safely avoid obstacles. Whiskers also help in determining the shape, size, as well as the speed of objects. Dogs can determine through their whiskers if they are going to be able to fit into tight spaces. Dogs also have eyebrow whiskers, but these are different than human eyebrows. Eyebrow whiskers have a protective role, allowing the dog to avoid obstacles when running. You should not cut or trim the whiskers of a dog because they serve an important function.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about why do dogs like belly rubs or where do almonds come from here on Kidadl.Why do some dogs have whiskers and others don’t?All dog breeds tend to have whiskers, just like all mammals. The whiskers of dogs are important tools that serve them in exploring their surroundings by gathering sensory information and relaying it to the brain.Dogs aren’t blessed with strong eyesight so they’re more dependent on whiskers, particularly for things that are small or too close to their face. A slight touch or movement near the whiskers stimulates the packed base nerves of the dog. These signals and vibrations are sent to the dog’s brain. Whiskers help the dog to detect the shape, size, and speed of objects and what the object is itself. Whiskers or vibrissae also come in handy when dogs need to figure out if they can fit through tiny spaces. Whiskers also help dogs in essentially seeing in the dark and finding a proper direction point.Dogs also have whiskers around their eyes. These provide protection as after the whiskers touch something, the dogs blink and avoid harmful stuff like dirt that may get into their eyes. Eye whiskers also prevent dogs from hitting branches, objects, and twigs when walking outside.Whiskers or vibrissae are one of the first furs to develop in a dog. While some dogs develop long, coarse hairs and whiskers, some dogs may appear to have very few or none at all. Apart from hairless breeds of dogs, there are no breed-specific distinctions when it comes to whiskers, but some dogs are known for having long whiskers. Also, the whisker hair of your canine friend tends to reflexively flare under threat.Can I touch my dog’s whiskers?You can touch your dog’s whiskers, but very gently.Dog whiskers or vibrissae tend to be much more sensitive than regular hairs. This is since the follicles which the whiskers come from are all full of nerves and blood vessels. A dog’s whiskers are tools that are as sensitive as the fingertips of humans. Your canine friend is essentially touching the world with their face as we do with our fingers. Since whiskers are so important, pet owners should only touch them along the grain very gently. Never pull or pluck the whisker, since that can be painful to a dog. Also, when grooming, do not cut or trim the whiskers because this will directly affect the dog’s awareness and confuse it.Do whiskers grow back on dogs?Yes, dog whiskers can grow back. They go through a proper growth cycle much like other hairs. They usually fall out by themselves throughout the life of a dog and grow back periodically.Pulling and twisting the whisker hair can hurt the dogs because of the nerves in the follicles. Pulling may cause trauma and stress to the follicle and may result in the dog feeling significant discomfort and pain. Also, whisker hairs don’t themselves have any nerves or pain receptors. If they are cut by groomers or pet owners, there will be no pain, but it hinders the dog’s ability to perceive the world around it. Whiskers follow their own growth cycle and they shouldn’t be messed around with by the pet owner.Why do dogs have eyebrow whiskers?Yes, dogs most definitely have eyebrow whiskers. It is a common misconception to think that eyebrow whiskers in a dog are comparable to the eyebrows of humans.Some dogs also have pigmented spots that can accentuate the movement of their eyes. Whisker hairs on the face skin near the dog’s muzzle, jaw, nose, and upper lip are ‘mystacial’ whiskers since they look like a mustache. Specialized whiskers above the eyes are ‘supraorbital’ or eyebrow whiskers.Eyebrow whiskers play a protective role for dogs. These hairs prevent the eyes and head from injury by sensing things that are close especially when a pet dog runs through the woods or is near thorns, branches, or sticks. Things like corneal abrasions, cuts, and scratches to the eyes are prevented and a dog can close its eyes or avoid obstacles altogether through the sensory receptors of eyebrow whiskers. These whiskers on a dog’s eyebrows also help in determining the direction of the wind, allowing them to follow the faintest sign of smell of their prey.Also, for some pet dogs, whiskers tend to be longer than usual. Related dog breeds that seem to have long whiskers include the Irish Wolfhound, Portuguese Water Dog, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Affenpinscher dog or monkey terrier, Border Collie, Pomsky dog, Bolognese dog, Havanese dog, Brussels Griffon, West Highland White Terrier, Schnauzer, Catalan Sheepdog, Cairn Terrier, Russian Black Terrier, Long-haired Collie, Pyrenean Shepherd, Russian Black Terrier, Airedale Terrier, Pekingese, Norfolk Terrier, Bichon Maltese, Bearded Collie, Bergamasco Shepherd, Yorkshire Terrier, Skye Terrier, Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, Maremma Sheepdog, Little Lion Dog, Australian Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Shih Tzu, Coton de Tuléar, Fox Terrier, Lhasa Apso, and Old English Sheepdog.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do dogs have whiskers? fun facts to know about your dog’s face then why not take a look at when do potatoes go bad? all cool vegetable facts about potatoes or Spanish Water Dog facts.
All dogs have whiskers or vibrissae, some longer than others.
