What is the use of a dog’s whiskers? Can it be cut?

Jul 04,2024
3Min

There are more or less a few beards on a dog's face. They are not neat and symmetrical like cats, but full of variety. Different dogs have very different beards. So what are the functions of these beards?

1. Help dogs understand the environment

A dog's whiskers are twice as thick as normal hair, and the roots of the whiskers are three times deeper than normal hair. They are covered with nerves and blood vessels. When the dog moves, these whiskers become sensors. A dog's whiskers are as sensitive as our fingers, helping the dog understand its environment and coordinating the dog's body.

2. Assisted vision

Dogs are color blind + myopic, and they are more sensitive to moving things. The dog's whiskers can sense the slight flow of air, as well as changes in wind direction and speed, making the dog aware of the existence of living creatures around it, discovering obstacles ahead, and helping the dog hunt better.

3. Act as a “detector”

Because dogs’ eyes cannot focus on close objects, they will look for these small objects through their whiskers. Such as dropped dog food and beloved toys. When drilling holes/circles, whiskers can also help the dog judge whether it can pass smoothly.

4. Protect the dog’s face

A dog’s whiskers can also protect its face. When a dog's whiskers come into contact with dirt, grass or other objects, the dog will blink to determine whether it is too close to the eye to avoid being poked.

Will the dog's beard fall off, will it affect its life? The dog's beard will fall off naturally and will grow back later. The owner does not need to worry too much if he picks up the lost beard.

The dog's beard is relatively sensitive. Pulling hard will make the dog feel uncomfortable. You can pinch the dog's face, but do not pull its beard. When grooming your dog, can you trim your beard? It’s best not to. Cutting off the dog's beard will make the dog feel uncomfortable, and may affect the dog's ability to perceive its surroundings, and its movement will become slower, affecting its life.

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