11 Surprising Facts About Dog Whiskers You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

Shutterstock Dog whiskers may look like ordinary facial hairs, but these specialized structures play fascinating roles in how dogs experience the world around them. Known as vibrissae, whiskers are thicker and more deeply rooted than regular coat hairs, allowing them to provide valuable sensory information about nearby surroundings. Dogs have whiskers in several areas of the face, and each contributes to their remarkable awareness. Once you understand what these sensitive hairs actually do, you may never look at your dog’s wonderfully whiskered face quite the same way again. Whiskers Are Specialized Sensory Hairs Shutterstock Dog whiskers are not simply longer versions of ordinary coat hairs, as they are specialized sensory hairs known as vibrissae that differ significantly in their structure and function. They are generally thicker and stiffer than typical fur, and their follicles are richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels that allow movement of the whisker to provide valuable sensory information. When a whisker bends or vibrates after contacting something, receptors associated with the follicle help relay information to the nervous system, allowing the dog to become aware ...