why do dogs have whiskers?

Question

why

Answer 1

Whiskers are an important hunting and orientation tool for dogs as well as many other mammals. A seal's whiskers, for example, pick up vibrations in the water, allowing it to detect prey as far as 180 meters away.

The scientific term for these finely tuned sensory structures is "vibrissae." While the hairs themselves don't contain nerve endings, their base is surrounded by erectile tissue and a rich nerve supply. Like human eyelashes, they prompt the dog to close its eyes when they're brushed.

The whiskers on cats and dogs are highly sensitive to air currents and vibrations. Dogs react quickly when anything brushes against their whiskers -- see for yourself (with a friendly dog, obviously).

Many dog groomers clip their dog's whiskers for show purposes, although it can often impair a dog's ability to hunt and play.

Answer 2

The whiskers , or vibrissae (scientific name) is used as sensory device, and had evolved in the centuries when the animals used it for navigating themselves and hunting in the dark.

Whiskers are attached to a nerve under the skin, and these whiskers can provide with all sorts of information. They can tell the animal about its immediate surroundings and also help it move in closed-in areas where space is tight.

Over the years, dogs have lost that need for touch and had relied mostly on their sense of smell. Cats on the other hand still use this sensory appendage.

Dog grooming schools have included whiskers trimming as part of the routine.

During dog shows (bench trials) and other canine tests, their owners might shave them all off to look their best.

Some vets and experts argue that they should be left alone.

They all look cleaner without their whiskers, like their human counterparts when clean shaven :-).

Its up to you. They will always grow back.

Answer 3

a dogs whiskers kind of act like warning tentacles to let a dog know that a space he is trying to enter is too small for his head to fit into,if the space is smaller than the dogs head he feels his whiskers brush up against the sides but if the space is large enough he wont feel anything,some dogs have whiskers that also extend from the eyebrow used in conjunction with the frontal muzzle whiskers to basically do the same thing.

Answer 4

Almost the same reason as insects have antennae. Dogs and cats (mostly cats, though) use whiskers to determine the width of a space. They also use whiskers to feel.

Answer 5

i heard it was because their whiskers are the same width as their body so they can see if they can fit through a hole or something before they go through.

Answer 6

basically it is for them to know the approximate size of their head and body and it helps thme to know if they can fit into or though a hole or tunnel or somethng to that effect.

Answer 7

Not sure

Answer 8

Because they dont shave ....