Dog Whiskers The Purpose!

Dog Whiskers: The Purpose!

Many people do not realize the true importance of the whiskers on dogs.  In fact, some people believe that they serve no purpose at all!  Such people are wrong, and the surprising function of a dog’s whiskers is to help to make up for limitations in the dog’s visual system.  The placement of dog whiskers tends to vary from one individual to another in an irregular and unpredictable manner.  However, in all dogs some whiskers are strategically located above the eyes, some on both sides of the muzzle, while others are found above the upper lip (pointing down) and beneath the dog’s chin.

Here is where it gets interesting.  The follicles at the base of the whiskers contain nerve fibers that send sensory information to a dog’s brain.  These are the most sensitive touch receptors on a dog’s body, and can respond even to subtle changes in air currents as the dog moves through the environment. Whiskers also can move and often extend themselves in the direction of objects of interest.

The whiskers that are situated above the dog’s eye are the easiest for most people to associate with the visual system.  These whiskers are designed so that when the airflow or objects cause the whiskers to flex, it indicates that something is about to impact the eye.  This causes an immediate blink of protection.  On another hand, the whiskers on either side of the muzzle serve a very important function in that they compensate for the fact that dogs are naturally very farsighted.  This means that things in far distance can clearly be seen by a dog, but the closer items are blurred.

So, whiskers serve the eyes!  Despite the dog’s great sense of smell and hearing, canine vision is not so wonderful.  The whiskers are there to let them “see” things that lie under their noses or come close to touching their head.  Think of the whiskers as personal radar protectors for dogs.  You will never look at them the same way again!