Whiskers in dogs: why vibrissae are more than decoration

The long hairs on the muzzle, chin and above the eyes are highly specialised sensory hairs. They help your dog perceive touch and air movements near the face. That's why vibrissae should be left untouched during grooming.

They are located on the side of the snout, under the chin and partly above the eyes: vibrissae, also known colloquially as tactile hairs or whiskers. Some grooming styles involve trimming this hair for a sleek contour. However, they are not a superfluous decoration for the dog.

Vibrissae are thicker and stiffer than normal fur. Their roots lie deep in specialised follicles that are richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels. It is not the hair itself that feels, but rather the movement of the hair is translated into a nerve signal at the root.

The tactile hairs react to direct touch and to small movements of air near the face. In this way they complement sight, smell and hearing. They provide additional information about the immediate surroundings, especially in low light or very close objects.

Vibrissae can help:

The extent to which a dog is affected in everyday life by shortened vibrissae is individually and scientifically not clearly quantified for every situation. However, their anatomical function as sensory hairs is clear. There is therefore no sensible reason to remove them for purely cosmetic reasons.

Simply cutting the hair shaft is comparable to cutting other hair and does not cause any cutting pain to the hair itself. Pulling out a vibrissa hair, on the other hand, is painful because the follicle is deep and rich in nerves.

Although cutting does not hurt like a skin injury, the mechanical information is missing until the hair has grown back. Functionality may be limited during this time. The loss of additional orientation can be particularly disadvantageous for insecure, visually impaired or older dogs.

According to widespread official veterinary legal opinion, the cosmetic shortening of vibrissae falls under the prohibition of Section 6 of the Animal Welfare Act to completely or partially amputate or destroy body parts or organs of a vertebrate without a medical reason. In addition, according to the Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance that has been in force since 2022, dogs with body parts that have been modified in a way that is contrary to animal welfare may not be taken to certain exhibitions or competitions.

Since the specific assessment in individual cases is the responsibility of the responsible authorities, this article does not replace legal advice. The recommendation for everyday life is clear: do not shorten vibrissae for cosmetic reasons.

Before you begin, expressly inform the dog groomer that the whiskers should be retained. In long-haired breeds, vibrissae can be difficult to see in the fur. A careful groomer will feel and closely examine the area before clipping.

The following applies to care at home:

Stay calm. Vibrissae that are cut off usually grow back. However, this takes weeks and can vary from hair to hair. Observe your dog and temporarily make his surroundings particularly clear. Avoid unnecessary changes and provide additional support for dogs with visual impairments or very insecure dogs.

If a whisker has been torn out, the skin is injured or your dog is showing pain, swelling or inflammation, have the area checked by a vet.

Vibrissae are highly specialised sensory hairs. They support perception and protective reflexes in the immediate facial area. Cosmetic trimming provides no benefit to the dog and may temporarily reduce his sensory support. The best care decision is therefore: leave the whiskers untouched.