Whiskers on your dog aren’t like normal hairs. They are actually sensory organs called vibrissae and they help your dog orient himself in space. They function like radar and your pooch uses them for estimating short distances and orientation in low light. If you let your dog groomer cut them, your dog’s behavior might change.
How do they work?
The root of vibrissae goes much deeper than normal hairs and when they vibrate they send a message to your dog’s brain about the relative location of the object in question.
In a way, they function like a bug’s antennae. They respond to direct touch or even a breeze and if you want to play a little game and test their behavior, try gently tapping them, your pup is likely to blink.
Should I trim them and what happens if I do?
If you cut or trim your dog’s whiskers, it will disorient him. With this reduced sensory input of information your dog may become shy, meek, timid, or unsure of his surroundings and might move in a strange way. He may even become scared, which can cause aggression in his behavior or a short temper.
So, to answer the question – No, don’t cut your dog’s whiskers. That’s the easiest way to avoid these repercussions. Don’t make your dog’s life uncomfortable simply because of one small cosmetic grooming method. And when you come to think of it, whiskers are pretty cute and are there for a reason.
I’m a groomer. So here’s my problem with these articles on whiskers. None so far have mentioned dog breeds besides “breed standards, when having to shave whiskers. Now I can see leaving the whiskers on a hunting breed, or a terrier, but you can’t honestly say the same for a bichon shih tzu, a morkie, some doodles ? Maybe if we didn’t breed dogs to require grooming, whiskers would never be an issue. I think on some dogs I’ve groomed, and with their overgrown (sometimes severely matted or infected) faces, and it would be ridiculous to expect any groomer to… Read more »