Let’s start with the science of whiskers. Whiskers work in a very similar way to a human’s fingers: they relay information about an animal’s environment back to the animal’s brain. All mammals (except for humans) have whiskers on some area of the body. Whiskers are highly sensitive and can pick up small changes in air currents, allowing the animal to tell the size, shape, and speed of nearby objects.
One direct benefit of whiskers is that they help dogs see objects more clearly even in the dark. Just like our fingers can tell us information about our surroundings, specifically a surface’s temperature, texture, and movement, the sensory nerves located in the whisker’s follicles allow dogs to feel minuscule vibrations in the air.
Although still theoretical, the benefits of dogs’ whiskers are thought to be evolutionary in nature. When dogs feel threatened, they tend to flair their whiskers, and this action may have roots in dogs’ combat defense strategies. Similarly, the sensory nature of dogs’ whiskers may have been purposed for searching for food pre-domestication.
For show purposes, many dogs have their whiskers cut when groomed which, although aesthetically more attractive depending on the judge, might temper with your dog’s sense of special awareness. Imagine if you wore gloves for an extended period of time – you may look more attractive, but you lose certain sensitivities that your hands and fingers would normally benefit you.
Special thanks to:
Seattle Humane: Saving Lives, Completing Families
Seattle Humane promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need, regardless of age, ability, circumstance, or geography. Seattle Humane is Puget Sound’s leader in animal adoption, education, and welfare. Their top priority is to connect animals in need of rescue with the people who will love them. Through their outreach, advocacy, and services we strive to ensure that animal companionship is accessible to all.
