The 10 Most Frequently Asked Dog Questions: Why Do Dogs Have Whiskers?

Do you ever wonder if you have the same questions as other dog owners? There are frequently asked dog questions cycling around the internet all the time, and you might think yours are strange, uncommon, or maybe just idle curiosities. Over the next 10 posts, we’ll be listing and answering the most frequently asked dog questions.
So what did Google tell us was the fourth most frequently asked dog question?

Why do dogs have whiskers?

Regular ol’ human folk like you and I use our fingers for touch. Dogs on the other hand, touch things through their whiskers.

Each whisker is packed with nerves that communicate lots of things to a dog: the size/shape/speed of things that are near by, changes in air currents, and anything that might be approaching. Since dogs don’t have great vision, whiskers help them “see” better.

Some dogs will also use their whiskers to see if they can fit through small spaces or to communicate what they’re feeling.

Whiskers play a vital role in dogs learning about the world around them. So whatever you do, please don’t trim them!