dog whiskers

[johnny37]

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?

[pastafreak]

Don't cut them!
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

[Ratty2E]

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.

[Ratty2E]

That should have said they get trimmed once every six weeks not months.

[flump1]

Cor blimey, I feel kind of guilty now, when I gave my girlie her spring trim, I took her whiskers off by mistake . Oppppps : (

[Tilly2]

You can trim the eyebrows but not the whiskers! You will hurt her.

[lankeela]

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.

[pastafreak]

I'd think that Nature put those whiskers there for a reason...and it's not for us humans to decide they are not aesthetically pleasing.
I wonder if johnny has clipped those 'offending' whiskers.....

[johnny37]

I have not done it this time but have in the past. My wife wont let me. She says it helps Molly when she is diving through the undergrowth. I dont agree with the above reasons. If humans did not shave we would all have beards down to our waists.

[pastafreak]

You "don't agree with the above reasons".....so the expertise and knowledge of the Kennel Club...and scientists who've studied the physiology of animals...means nothing to you?

Geeezzz.....

[ladybirder]

Humans don't use their beards to help them negotiate their way around. At least I don't:-)

[johnny37]

Sorry Pastafreak. Did not intend to be offensive. There appears to be a difference between 'whiskers' and 'whiskery bits'. Is it OK to trim the 'bits' including the long eyebrow bits that stick out?

[pastafreak]

I don't think so johnny...they are there for a reason.....I think your wife is right. You don't want Molly crashing into a tree because you may have removed the hairs that are useful for navigation.