ChatterBank13 mins ago
dog whiskers
13 Answers
My adorable 19 month old springer bitch has developed some long whiskers and eyebrows which I do not think are very pretty. Not many and yes I know it should not matter to me! Do these whiskery and eyebrow bits have any purpose and would it matter if I cut them off?
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Whiskers are a sensory tool for dogs...and cats. They help them understand their surroundings, and give them signals about space and distance....
http://www.petplace.c...rs-in-dogs/page1.aspx
Whiskers are a sensory tool for dogs...and cats. They help them understand their surroundings, and give them signals about space and distance....
http://www.petplace.c...rs-in-dogs/page1.aspx
Well both my dogs get their whiskers/eyebrows cut to about an inch at least once every six months when they get clipped. I'm not sure I'd go cutting them off just because they were long though if the rest of their hair wasn't being trimmed. As Pasta says they are useful to them if allowed to grow naturally and it might be why my two are among the dimmest dogs I've ever come across.
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Announcement from the Kennel Club:
Issue Statement - Removal of dogs' whiskers (Vibrissae)
The Kennel Club is aware that the removal of dogs‘ whiskers (vibrissae) is carried out by owners of some specific breeds of dog. Whilst there appears to be no clear scientific evidence that this causes harm or discomfort to the dog in the same way that it has been shown to affect some rodents, there are those who believe that it may be detrimental to dogs.
The practice of removing coat – and thereby whiskers – from the muzzles of Poodles and some other breeds has long been carried out in the interests of hygiene and is now commonly performed by groomers of such breeds as Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise and Lhasa Apso for the same reason.
The Kennel Club is concerned however that the practice seems to be becoming more common in ‘clean faced’ breeds. The Kennel Club does not believe that any breed should have its whiskers shaved for purely cosmetic reasons and urges owners not to carry out this practice on dogs for any purpose other than cleanliness.
Issue Statement - Removal of dogs' whiskers (Vibrissae)
The Kennel Club is aware that the removal of dogs‘ whiskers (vibrissae) is carried out by owners of some specific breeds of dog. Whilst there appears to be no clear scientific evidence that this causes harm or discomfort to the dog in the same way that it has been shown to affect some rodents, there are those who believe that it may be detrimental to dogs.
The practice of removing coat – and thereby whiskers – from the muzzles of Poodles and some other breeds has long been carried out in the interests of hygiene and is now commonly performed by groomers of such breeds as Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise and Lhasa Apso for the same reason.
The Kennel Club is concerned however that the practice seems to be becoming more common in ‘clean faced’ breeds. The Kennel Club does not believe that any breed should have its whiskers shaved for purely cosmetic reasons and urges owners not to carry out this practice on dogs for any purpose other than cleanliness.